Growing Jalapeno PeppersGrowing jalapeno peppers is not hard to do. Peppers generally like hot weather and this pepper is no different. I like the pepper on my pizza and on nachos.
The jalapeno is a medium to large-sized chili pepper which is prized for its burning sensation when eaten. Ripe, the jalapeno can be 2 to 3½ inches long and is usually eaten when still green. Sometimes they are left on the plant until they turn red. They will still be hot but have a sweeter taste. When growing jalapeno peppers, seeds can be sown directly into the ground in early spring. The soil should be well dug, and have a pH balance around 6.5. Plant your seeds 24 inches apart in an area that receives six to eight hours of sunlight. Water frequently, keeping the soil moist. The peppers will put out a white flower when they are ready to start producing. A few at first and then many more after that. The bush will grow to about three feet high and two feet in diameter. I had one plant that lived for several years. I had it in a pot by the house so I guess it was protected from the cold weather. But it finally died while I was in Iraq. No one would take care of it while I was off working in Iraq. I was asked recently why are some jalapenos hot and others not so hot. I think the main purpose for this is how much water they receive just before maturity. If they get a lot of water, they they will not be as hot as we would like.
If you buy them in the store in a jar, you will usually find that the house brand is not as hot as the brand name. This is because the house brand is those that did not pass the quality test for being "hot". Some people believe that growing jalapeno peppers can grow hotter when they are stressed just before maturity. If pepper plants are deprived of water or exposed to higher temperatures while growing, they will develop greater heat levels. If you've ever seen the thin white lines that can form on jalapeno peppers, that look like veins or small cracks on the flesh, this is called "corking". There is no actual scientific study that we are aware of, but some people believe that jalapeno peppers with corking have a greater chance of being hotter.
Then I took a big bite out of it and ran for the water, cucumbers, carrots and anything I could to get the hot cooled down.
My daughter tells me that in school they teach that the hot pain taste on the end of the tongue are nerve cells dying. In comparison with other chili peppers, the jalapeno has a heat level that varies from mild to hot depending on cultivation and preparation. I have eaten some jalapeno peppers that are really hot and some that are mild. I guess I should say some that only kill a few nerve cells and some that kill a lot of nerve cells. They also have a distinct acidic taste. Handling fresh jalapenos may cause mild skin irritation in some individuals. Some handlers wear gloves while cutting, skinning, or seeding jalapeños. Of course after touching a chili pepper, make sure you do not touch your eyes.
Below are some pictures of some growing Jalapeno peppers. During the summer it was so hot here in San Antonio that the pepper plants hardly produced anything. Then about a week or so ago we got some good rain and cooler temperatures. Now they are putting out faster than I can keep up.
For more on peppers visit Growing Cayenne Peppers, Growing Bell Peppers and Growing Peppers from Seed. Your Garden StoryDo you have a garden story to share with us? Thank you for visiting this site.
Go to Home Page from Growing Jalapeno Peppers.
|
