Jalapeño, Mild

Overview:

The jalapeño is the most popular chili pepper in North America. Jalapeños are well suited for someone just getting into growing peppers because they are well known for their pleasant mild heat that isn't too overpowering. Jalapeños are a great choice when looking to spice up your garden!

General Plant Information:

• Common Name: Jalapeño, Mild

• Scientific Name: Capsicum annuum

• Planting Zone: 4-13

• Plant Type: Perennial (Jalapeños are perennial in warmer zones but can be planted as annuals in almost all other zones)

• Pot size: 12 inches or greater

• Days to Germinate: 10-12

• Planting Depth: 1/4 inch

• Seed Spacing: 12 1/2 inches

• Sun Requirements: Full sun

• Water Requirements: Moderate 1 inch per week

• Plant Size: 2-3 feet

• Days to Harvest: 72-75 

• Harvesting Code: Green (easy difficulty)

• Growing Code: White (easy difficulty)

Planting Instructions: 

• If you’re sowing seeds into trays or containers to plant in the ground later, fill them with a seed-starting mix that is best for growing chili peppers. (Potting mixes are fine but hold onto moisture a little too well, which peppers can’t stand). We recommend mixing a half-ordinary all-purpose peat-free potting mix combined with half coir or coco fiber, with a good few handfuls of vermiculite thrown in for good measure.

• Plant seeds just 1/4 inch deep (you can just cover lightly with seed-starting mix). Water in and keep peppers moist (though never wet). Ensure your seedlings have good airflow and aren’t crowded.

• Once the seedlings are a good enough size and big enough to outgrow a tray, we will re-pot them and give them some liquid feed, using half-strength seaweed feed.

• You can start with a bigger container if you wish to avoid repotting; bigger pots take more potting mix to fill, but they also need less watering. You can also decide to continue to grow your peppers in containers, especially if your region is temperate. But be sure your final container is about 12 inches or bigger—big enough to grow through harvest.

• About 10 days before transplanting your jalapeño seedlings outdoors, begin to acclimate the plants to better transition to the outdoors.  

• In cold regions, you can use black plastic or mulch to warm the soil prior to planting.

• Once soil and nighttime temperatures reach at least 60°F (15°C), transplant your seedlings outdoors, spacing them 12 1/2 inches apart.

• In cold climates, you can make slits in black plastic to plant.

• Rows should be spaced at least 2 feet apart to provide good airflow.

• For transplants, dig a planting hole just deep enough to cover the root ball of the plant, and when you set the plant in the hole, ensure the top of the root ball is level with the ground surface.

• A time-release fertilizer can be added to the soil before you backfill it and firm gently around the plant.

• Water thoroughly and mulch to hold in moisture.

Growing Information: 

• Don’t overwater. Chili peppers HATE sitting in the wet. Too much water can disrupt the flow of nutrients around the plant, causing growth problems and weakening plants so they’re vulnerable to attack from pests and diseases. 

• Let the top inch or two of soil dry out before watering again. We water just enough to keep plants from ticking over; these are plants that thrive in hot, dry conditions. You can even let plants wilt a little, especially later in the growth cycle when the fruits are maturing – and don’t water in the hours leading up to harvest if you want spicier fruits.

• When the first flowers appear, give your pepper plants a tomato feed or a feed that’s high in potassium. (There are also feeds made specifically for pepper plants.) Or you could also spread fish fertilizer around the base of the plant.

• Tall varieties—and those that bear a lot of peppers—will need some support. Bamboo sticks or small tomato cages work well.

• Weed carefully around young plants to avoid disturbing roots.

• In warmer regions, use shredded leaves, straw, or grass clippings to keep the soil moist and cool during blistering hot weather.

Harvesting:

• Your chili peppers are ready once they have taken on their final color and full size. (green or red and 3" or more)

• They’ll be at their spiciest once they’re mature, so resist the urge to pick them before they are ripe. However, the skin of the pepper may grow leathery over time, so harvest when peppers are green if you prefer that classic jalapeño snap.

• Never tug chili peppers off the plant. Use a sharp knife or pruning shares to cut peppers, leaving a short stem attached to the pepper. 

• Wear gloves!  And do not rub your eyes afterward!

• Remove the seeds from the pepper over a plate to collect the most seeds. Once the seeds have been removed, allow them to dry for a couple of weeks. 

• Store dried pepper seeds in an air-tight container in a dark, dry place at between 40-50 degrees F.  

Resources:

Stillman, J., Pierce , S., Hale , J. D., Burnett, J., Stonehill, H., Perreault, S., Boeckmann , C., Quinnell, C., Burnett, C., Korpi, S., & Edson, J. (2023, February 13). Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Jalapeño Peppers. Almanac.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.almanac.com/plant/jalapeno-peppers