Jalapeno Pepper

25 seeds

Matures in 75 days

Planting companions: Basil, Coriander, Beans, Onion, Parsley, Tomatoes

The Jalapeno is a highly popular pepper. The upright plant can reach up to 30 inches in height and will produce peppers approximately 3 inches long for an extended period. They can be dried and smoked. Jalapenos have a Scoville Heat Unit rating of around 5000.

Eight weeks before the last expected soil frost, sow your seeds indoors at a depth of ¼ inch and maintain room temperature at 25 – 30 °C (60-65°F). Provide them with supplemental light to prevent plant elongation. When all risk of soil frost is eliminated, acclimate your plants for a few days and plant them in the garden at a distance of 12 to 16 inches apart. Pepper plants prefer rich, moist, and weed-free soil; provide them with mulch to help with better control.

Normally, peppers have a stronger flavor if allowed to ripen longer on the plant. However, ripe peppers signal the plant to stop production. Harvest them while still green to ensure a longer vegetable production.

During harvest, cut the stem with scissors to avoid breaking the plant's fragile stem. Protect your hands and eyes when handling peppers; they can cause irritation!