Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Jalapeño Hot Pepper seeds will produce thick-walled, cylindrical fruits with blunt ends ranging between 2 to 5 inches in length. These stocky upright plants grow up to 30 inches tall and will not fall over or break branches even with a heavy load of fruit. Jalapeno Hot Peppers are best for early season plantings for an early crop. Prolific yet heavy yielding, the Jalapeno Hot Peppers will produce over a long period of time.
Although edible and hot in their dark green stage, Jalapeno Hot Peppers are hottest and fully ripe when they turn dark red, reaching Scoville units of 2,000 to 8,000. Great used fresh, cooked or pickled! Looking for an even hotter kick to add to your culinary garden? Try out our Hot Cayenne Pepper seeds!
Named after their native Mexican city of Xalapa, Veracruz, Jalapeno Hot Peppers are the most well-known chili pepper in both the United States and Mexico. When smoked and dried, jalapenos become chipotles; this practice dates back to the time of the Aztecs. You will never want to buy jarred or canned jalapenos from the grocery store again once you try them fresh from the garden!
NAME: Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
VARIETY: Jalapeno
DAYS TO MATURITY: 65 – 75 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Annual in cool climates, perennial in hot climates
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 12
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
SOIL: Fertile, loose soil with a pH 6.5 – 6.8
PLANT HEIGHT: 18 – 30 inches
SPACING: 14 – 18 inches apart
TEMP: 55 – 95 °F
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Starting Pepper seeds indoors is recommended to ensure a longer growing season and higher success rate.
Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed starting soil mix 6 to 8 weeks before your last local frost, either in cell trays or small pots. Keep the soil moist and at 75°F and seedlings will emerge in 10 to 21 days.
As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3 inches beneath fluorescent/LED plant grow lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours, raising the lights as the plants grow.
If you are growing in small cells, you may need to transplant the seedlings to 4-inch pots when seedlings have at least 2 pairs of leaves before hardening off.
Harden off seedlings for several days. Do this by taking them outside during the day and bringing them in at night (Outside temps should be above 50°F when you start this process).
After hardening off, transplant into your pre-prepared bed 14 to 18 inches apart, in rows spaced 2 to 3 feet apart.
It is not recommended to start pepper seeds outdoors unless you are in far southern climates.
Wait until after the last frost date in your area when the soil has warmed up and temperatures are consistently above 60°F (15°C).
Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil.
Prepare the planting area by loosening the soil and amending it with compost if needed.
Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and space them 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 24-36 inches apart.
Cover the seeds lightly with soil and water gently to settle them.
Keep the soil consistently moist until the seeds germinate, which usually takes 7-14 days.
Thin the seedlings to the strongest plants, leaving 12-18 inches between each plant.
Before transplanting, you will want to prepare the bed ahead of time by selecting a location in full sun with rich & moist organic soil, removing weeds, adding compost and then covering the bed with mulch or tarp a week before you plan to transplant; this will heat the soil beneath and provide a better growing condition for young pepper plants.
Before planting into the soil make sure the ambient temperatures will not drop below 50°F during the day or night.
Peppers may also be planted in containers; use a container at least 18 to 24 inches wide and deep and use a commercial potting mix rather than garden soil..
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells; plants need about 1 to 2 inches of rain per week during the growing season.
Be sure to fertilize peppers with enough compost, calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.
Stake plants if they begin to lean over.
Jalapeno Peppers can be harvested when they reach their full size and color. Typically, they are ready to harvest when they are firm, glossy, and bright green, but they can also be left to mature to a red color.
Use scissors or pruners to cut the peppers from the plant, leaving a short stem attached.
Regularly harvesting ripe peppers encourages the plant to produce more fruit.
Enjoy fresh Jalapeno Peppers in salsas, sauces, or as a spicy addition to any dish. They can also be pickled or dried for longer-term storage and use.
