When to Plant Jalapeno Seeds?

Jalapeno peppers are an ingredient in many cuisines.

Planting jalapeno peppers in your garden can provide you with spicy ingredients for a lot of different cuisines, from Mexican to Indian. These peppers grow readily in warm weather with plenty of sunlight. Planting them too early can result in slow-growing or even stunted plants; start your jalapeno seeds indoors for a head start, and don't transplant them until conditions are right.

Starting from Seed

Pepper seeds are often slow to germinate, and are sensitive to cold. They require temperatures of at least 76 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate in 10 days or fewer. In warm climates, long germination time may not be a problem; in this case it's okay to direct-seed peppers once soil temperatures reach 60 degrees. In areas with a shorter growing season, planting indoors and transplanting seedlings once temperatures warm may be necessary to ensure a good harvest. Sow seeds between ½- and ¾-inch deep in moist, well-drained soil.

Transplanting

Once pepper seedlings are 4 to 5 inches tall, they can be planted outdoors. Keep seedlings in a sheltered area until nighttime temperatures reach at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Wet the root ball thoroughly and remove the seedlings from their pots. Plant in loamy soil with a neutral to slightly acid pH and good drainage. Jalapenos prefer full sun and warm days. Space pepper plants between 8 and 12 inches apart.

Misconceptions

A common myth is that planting hot peppers, such as jalapenos, close to sweet peppers can cause the sweet peppers to produce hot or bitter fruit. While peppers do cross-pollinate, the cross won't affect this year's fruit; you'll only experience problems if you save seed from these peppers for planting in the spring. Hybrid pepper plants may not produce seed even if cross-pollinated. If they do produce seed, they won't produce the same kind of pepper.

Time Frame

Jalapeno plants require 110 to 120 days to fruit if planted directly outdoors from seed. Transplants require 75 to 85 days to produce peppers. You can harvest jalapeno peppers at any stage of their growth, but fully mature peppers tend to have small cracks on the shoulders, near the stem. These have a fuller flavor. Jalapenos produce the best yield if harvested when about 10 percent of the peppers have turned red.

References

• Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Growing Great Peppers and Chiles
• Texas A&M University: Pepper
• University of Kentucky; Hot Peppers & Specialty Sweet Peppers; Brent Rowell, et al; November 2010
• Texas A&M University; Jalapeno & Other Hot Peppers; Dr. Joe Masabni, et al
• University of Arkansas; Peppers; Craig R. Andersen