Growing Jalapeno Peppers

Jalapeno pepper plants, like any chili pepper, start off a bit slow, so it is helpful to start to grow your plants indoors a few weeks (anywhere from 8-12 weeks) before transferring them outside. Keep the early soil and budding plants constantly moist, but do not over water. Keep them warm (80 -85 degrees is best) and in a sunlit place.

Once there is no worry of frost, you can plant your pepper plants to your garden or chosen spot. Choose a location with full sunlight, as jalapenos LOVE the sun. Mix in some mushroom compost or other organic compost to make the soil fertile and moist.

Space the jalapeno pepper plants 18 - 36 inches apart with about 2 -3 feet between rows. The plants will eventually grow to nearly 3 feet high.

Water ! Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soaking wet. Jalapeno peppers love water as much as they love sun, but you don't want to inundate the plants, or you run the risk of rotting. Water every other day or every third day. Include a good plant food product.

Keep your jalapeno garden well weeded. You don't want nasty weeds stealing the water from your jalapeno peppers.

In 3 - 4 month's time, you'll be ready to pick your jalapeno peppers. Ripe jalapenos are a 5 - 7 inches long, fat, firm, and develop a bright sheen. They will turn a bright green, then begin to darken to a deeper green, then to black, and then to red. Jalapenos are ready to be picked when they are firm and bright green, but you can leave them on the plant all the way until they turn red, but beware. Peppers will eventually fall off the plant if you leave them for too long, which will increase the chance of rotting.

Red jalapeno peppers are sweeter to the taste and not quite as hot, though they absolutely retain their jalapeno heat and flavor. It is all a matter of personal taste.