The Jalapeno is a hot pepper that is usually green or red in color. They are named after the Mexican city of Xalapa, Veracruz.
The Jalapeno can be eaten raw but it’s most often cooked before consumption to remove its heat and make them taste better.
Growing hot jalapenos in your garden is a simple process. Jalapenos are not hard to grow and can be grown indoors or out, but they do need specific care.
They require more sunlight than other plants so you might need to move them around if they start looking leggy or droopy.
The key is to give them the right amount of moisture and warmth for their environment.
To grow hot jalapenos you’ll need to get a variety that is hot and the Rome Jalapeno is one of the hottest. You should sow seed or get young plants. Seed should be sown in late winter in shallow pots of compost in a warm place. The plants will grow slowly and will flower in mid summer, producing fruit which will ripen towards fall.
Where can I get hot jalapeno seeds?
Most garden centers will offer Jalapeno seeds and they normally have a wide variety.
Some will also sell young plants which may be a better and easier option for you.
You may also be able to locate specialised producers and you’ll find that many of these sell their seeds and plants via Amazon.
A great option that we’ve found is the Burpee Jalapeno which you’ll find available here.
Can you make jalapenos grow hotter?
If you restrict the amount of fertilizer that you give to them then you can create extra heat.
However, if you are going for maximum heat then why not try chillis?
My recommendation is the Carolina Reaper Chilli which is rated as being one of the world’s hottest.
I grew these chillies in 2020 and they were the hottest chillies that I’d ever tasted.
You’ll find young plants for sale on Amazon that are ready to produce this fire breathing fruit.
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Should I grow jalapenos in pots or in the garden soil?
For the best results you should grow your jalapenos in pots.
Potted jalapenos provide you with more options. You can position them outside in a sunny area of the garden and move them around to get maximum sun.
You’ll also be able to relocate them indoors if the weather turns nasty or cold.
Jalapeno plants make a great plant for a sunny windowsill or a conservatory or greenhouse too.
What is the best soil for a jalapeno plant?
A well drained, loamy compost with some coarse sand or other neutral aggregate makes an ideal soil for jalapenos.
It is important that the soil does not get cold or waterlogged as these plants hate having wet or cold roots.
Here are some tips on how to grow your own Jalapeños at home:
1) Find a pot with good drainage so that water doesn’t accumulate near the plant’s roots when you water it- this will promote root rot if left unchecked!
You may also want to invest in a planter specifically for growing jalapenos instead of using pots from other plants – they’re designed with special spacing or slits in the sides so that extra moisture can easily be released.
2) Jalapenos prefer to be warm in order to grow properly, so try placing your jalapeno plants near a window with sunlight.
If they need more light, you could supplement their light source with plant lights or a simple lamp. Make sure not to burn them though.
Overheating can kill your plants easily. You can even try placing the pot on a heating pad or under a grow light – just make sure that it’s not too hot for you to touch after some time and that it doesn’t overheat the plant if left on for long periods of time.
3) Water your Jalapeno plant regularly, but make sure not to over-water. Water that is left stagnant in the pot can easily cause root rot, which can negatively impact the health of the plant and prevent it from growing properly.
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After you water your plant, let it drain before giving it more water again – this will help prevent a buildup of water near the roots!
4) The best time to water your jalapeno plants is in the morning.
Also make sure not to over-water – if your soil is already moist, don’t “force” water into the plant by watering it again.
5) Fertilize your jalapeno plants with a liquid manure every few weeks.
This will help keep your plant healthy and growing well. You could also sprinkle some compost on top of the soil before you plant it in order to provide nutrients as well.
If you’d rather not add fertilizer, try adding mulch around the pot instead, which will slowly release nutrients that the plant’s roots can feed off of without getting too much at once.
6) You might want to start harvesting earlier than later if your peppers are looking pretty big.
If you’re going to start harvesting the peppers, try doing it before they’ve fully ripened and are turning red.
This will give them a longer shelf life and there will be less risk of the jalapenos over ripening.
Final Words
Jalapenos are an easy plant to grow and there are lots of different varieties available as either seeds or young plants.
If you keep them warm and well watered then you’ll soon have a great crop of jalapeno peppers.
If you’re feeling adventurous, then try growing some ghost peppers or habaneros too.
