Description
Key Facts
- Ideal for appetizers, salsa and hot japanese recipes.
- Mild to Hot
- Easy to grow.
- Takes about 2 to 3 months to grow
- Available from Amazon
Below is our summary for Jalapeno pepper – advice on how to grow it and example recipes further down the page.
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Background
Quick Summary
- Originally from South East Mexico (Veracruz) now grown all over Mexico.
- Mild to Hot (Generally the more ‘brown scars’ the hotter it will be)
- Ideal for Mexican recipes (like salsa) as well as hot Japanese recipes.
- Days from seed to harvest – about 75 (2 to 3 months)
- About 70 to 90 cm high
Example Jalapeno pepper recipes
The Jalapeno pepper is that ideal pepper for appetizers, salsa and hot japanese recipes.
Typical recipes:
- Jalapeno Poppers
- Smoked Chipotle Peppers (Recipe used by the Inca’s)
- Fluke Sashimi in Jalapeno sauce
How to grow Jalapeno pepper at home
Growing Jalapeno Hot Chilli Peppers is very similar to growing Sweet Peppers and Tomatoes.
How to grow the Jalapeno peppers outdoors (garden, balcony, etc.)
The peppers prefer direct sunlight, well drained soil and need to be frost free.
If you want to grow them outdoors then the best option is to start them indoors about 8 to 12 weeks before the last frost and then transfer them when the nights are warmer.
Sow early December-January, or for main crop March- April. Sow the seed into compost either into a seed tray or into modules with a temperature between 20-24oC and cover with a light layer of compost.
Germination
Germination typically takes 14 – 21 days. Cover the compost with clear plastic film which helps raise the temperature aiding germination. Once seedlings emerge they do not require quite as much heat, temperatures can be reduced to 18oC by day and no lower than 16oC at night.
It is best to re-pot in stages before their final pot size. Once in final pot size plants may need staking for support. Water regularly but be careful not to over water, surface of compost can be allowed to dry out slightly between watering. Please note that germination can be slow and erratic on some open pollinated hot peppers.
Fully grown they can be upto 100 to 150 cm in height i.e. an individual pot might be the best option.
How to grow Jalapeno pepper indoors (hydroponics or aquaponics)
Because of the importance of moisture and light the peppers are ideally suited for hydroponics with additional lights.
Not only are they easier to grow, but you will also get fast results.
For best results it is advised to grow the crop indoors with heat. This means that crops can be grown all year round with the correct temperatures. A very hot pepper extremely pungent plants reach up to 1 meter under cover.
Hot peppers can be harvested from green or once ripened into yellow, orange or red. A Hot Pepper’s heat usually intensifies with maturity. Once ripe fruits can remain on plant in good condition until temperatures begin to drop.
Minze Vries –
Nice slighly hot pepper to grow and ideal for many different types of recipes