The Jalapeno pepper is named after Xalapa (Jalapa), a city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Jalapeno peppers can grow to be 60-90 cm tall. They have green leaves, and the flowers are white. After 70-80 days from transplanting, the first fresh fruits can be harvested. They are approximately 5-10 cm long and 1.0-1.5 cm wide. As they ripen, they transition from green to red. They have an elongated shape. A single Jalapeno pepper plant can yield 25-40 fruits. These fruits can be harvested multiple times throughout the season. The most commonly consumed fruits are green, while fully ripe ones are used for making spicy sauces. Red fruits are often smoked after harvesting, resulting in Chipotle peppers, which are synonymous with smoked Jalapeno fruits. The taste of Jalapeno peppers is very refreshing with a mild spiciness. That’s why this pepper is the most desirable pepper among Americans, and I believe it is the same in the rest of the world. Fresh fruits can be used in salads, sandwiches, homemade salsas, and chili con carne. Red fruits are often used for making spicy sauces, chipotle salsas and pastes, and they can be dried and ground to use as a dry spice.
Growing Conditions
Sowing Time: mid to late February
Light Requirements: Plant seedlings in a well-sunned location. Requires 6-8 hours of exposure to sunlight daily.
Soil Temperature for Sowing: 29°C
Germination Time: 4-18 days
Planting: Seedlings are transplanted directly into the soil or large pots at an air temperature >18°C, in our climate towards the end of May.
Temperature after Transplanting: 20-28°C
Required Pot Size: If planting in pots, use containers with a minimum capacity of 15 liters.
Spacing within the Row: 45-60 cm between two plants in a row
Spacing between Rows: 60-90 cm between rows
Watering: In the field, watering depends on rainfall; during dry periods, water at least once a week. Peppers in pots should be watered as needed, whenever the substrate at root level is dry. Water exclusively at the substrate near the roots, not by spraying on the leaves.
Fertilization: From transplanting until flowering, apply foliar fertilizer (spraying over the leaves) once a week with a formulation of 19:6:20, and during flowering until the end of harvest, use a formulation of 15:5:30.
