Jalapeno Plant Stages: Growing Heat From Seed to Harvest Jenny Graham, January 9, 2024January 9, 2024 While jalapeño plants and hot peppers are pretty easy to grow, they do take time and require different things in growing through the jalapeno plant stages. Knowing the jalapeno plant stages will help you successfully grow jalapeno peppers from seed to harvest. Let’s get growing! The Seven Jalapeno Plant Stages Hot Pepper Seed Germination (7 to 21 days, depending on conditions and variety) Jalapeno Seedling Stage (1-3 weeks) Jalapeno Adolescent Stage (3-4 weeks) Vegetative Growth Stage (4-8 weeks) Maturation Stage (2-4 months) Flowering Stage (4 -5 months or a few weeks after full sun exposure) Fruiting Stage Jump to my video of making Fermented Apple Hot Sauce Jalapeno Plant Stages Now that we know the basics of the jalapeno plant stages, let’s take a closer look at each of the jalapeno plant stages and the specific care they require. Jalapeno Plant Stages & Seed Germination Jalapeno seed germination takes time and can be tricky. Depending on the variety, they can take anywhere from 7-21 days to germinate. Soil temperature is a key factor in germinating hot pepper seeds. Many growers use a seedling heating mat, as they require soil temperatures to be between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also use plastic wrap or a humidity dome on your seed trays while your seeds germinate. The best time to start jalapeno seeds is about 12 weeks before your last frost date. Your seed packet will have all the info you need on your specific variety. You can start them in a seed-starting mix, just be sure to provide essential nutrients and nitrogen a week or so after they germinate. Be sure to have them in a sunny spot or use a grow light. Jalapeno Seedling Stage The jalapeno seedling stage starts from the time the jalapeno seeds germinate up to getting it’s first set of true leaves, around 3-4 weeks old. Be sure to provide consistent bottom watering at this stage. You’ll also want to be sure you have a grow light on your seedlings for 16 hours a day. At around 1 week old, if your seed starting mix has no fertilizer in it, you’ll want to start a diluted fertilizer regimen. I prefer to use Fox Farms Grow Big at this stage. Jalapeno Adolescent Stage The jalapeno adolescent stage is typically around 3-4 weeks old. You’ll know that you have reached the adolescent stage when the young plants get their first sets of true leaves. This is the perfect time to pot up your jalapeno seedlings from the seed cell treys to larger pots, usually a 2-4 inch pot. Keep your bottom watering consistent, your grow light at 16 hours, and start providing fertilizer at the recommended rate. A fertilizer that has slightly higher nitrogen is what you want at this stage, such as Grow Big. Jalapeno Growth Stage You guessed it, this growth stage is where you’ll really see that jalapeno seedling putting off lots of plant growth. This stage is typically around 4-8 weeks. Keeping them under the grow lights will provide the light they need until you can put them outside. Continuing to provide regular watering and consistent fertilizer will help your young jalapeno plants develop a strong, healthy root system. By the time you reach 8 weeks old , your jalapeno pepper plants will be ready to pot up once again, for the last time. If you plan to grow them in containers, be sure to use a nice big pot. They will thrive in loamy soil or sandy soil with lots of organic matter. Jalapeno Maturation Stage The jalapeno maturation stage is from 2-4 months old. This is the stage that you can begin to harden off your jalapeno pepper plants and transplant them into the garden or larger pots, if the chance of frost has passed in your area. Be sure that they are in an area getting full sun, full strength fertilizer, and in a well draining soil. Too much watering and sitting in soggy soil is the main cause of pepper plant leaves turning yellow. Jalapeno Flowering Stage The jalapeno flowering stage requires different nutrients. In the previous stages, nitrogen was the main nutrient needed for growth. At this stage you’ll want to provide a phosphorus rich fertilizer, this will encourage flowering which will eventually lead to fruit production. I prefer to use Fox Farms Tiger Bloom, which has an NPK of 2-8-4, making it good for the flowering stage. Harvesting Jalapeno Peppers Homegrown jalapenos can be harvested at multiple stages. You will know it is the right time for harvest when they easily come off of the plant. This can be as early as a medium green stage jalapeno, a deep green jalapeno, or a red jalapeno. Consider the flavor you are after when deciding whether to harvest or wait. Young green jalapenos can often lack the heat and flavor profile of a fully ripened red hot pepper. Letting Jalapeno Pepper Plants Die Back Depending upon your area, most hot pepper plants will tend to die back or go into a vegetative stage when the hot summers are over and winter sets in. It is possible though to overwinter your pepper plants, giving you a head start on next years harvest. Are Jalapeño Plants Annuals or Perennials? In most areas jalapeno plants are grown as annuals, due to harsh weather conditions. Jalapeno plants however, are actually perennials. No matter what climate you live in you can overwinter your pepper plants by cutting them back, digging them up, giving them new soil, and a warm, sunny place to go into dormancy until spring time. Best Conditions for Jalapeno Plant Stages While germinating jalapeno pepper seeds can be tricky, growing jalapeno plants is not. During all jalapeno plant stages, they like warmth. For the growing season, jalapeno pepper plants prefer a full sun location, which is 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. They will thrive in loamy soil but will tolerate sandy soil as well. Once established jalapeno pepper plants are moderate feeders and don’t require much nitrogen fertilization. Starting From Seed Vs. Buying Starter Jalapeño Plants While I always think it’s good to be able to start plants from seed, germinating jalapeno seeds takes time and patience. In my opinion, it’s always good practice to try and start seeds if you have enough time. If you are unsuccessful there’s always the plant store. When Should You Start Jalapeno Seeds? For best results, starting jalapeño peppers needs to be done about 12 weeks before your last chance of frost. Jalapeno seed germination can take anywhere from 7-21 days, depending on the variety and conditions. A seedling heat mat helps jalapeno seed germination. Keeping them warm and in moist soil will help them germinate. Sunlight, Watering and Fertilizing of Jalapeno Plant Stages Jalapeno seedlings and jalapeno plants need full sun to thrive. They also like consistent watering in a well-drained soil. During the growing season, young jalapeno plants like a fertilizer that has higher nitrogen to encourage growth. Once they reach the flowering stage they have different requirements. Jalapeno Plant Care During Flowering and Fruiting Stage At the beginning of the flowering stage, switching to a fertilizer with higher phosphorus, like Tiger Bloom, will help them flower for better fruit production. They still will require a fair amount of water in a well-draining soil. How to Tell When Jalapeno Peppers are Ripe You’ll know that your jalapeno peppers are ripe when they turn to a dark green color and easily come off of the plant. If you want an even more complex and hot flavor, let them ripen to red. Red jalapenos tend to be sweeter and hotter than green jalapenos. Better yet, wait until you see “corking” on your jalapeno peppers. Common Issues and Solutions During Jalapeno Plant Stages While jalapeno plants are generally easy to grow, they do have their share of common problems that can occur during all jalapeno plant stages. Blossom Drop on Jalapeño Plants It is perfectly normal for healthy plants to drop a few blossoms here and there. The blossoms that are not pollinated will naturally fall off the jalapeno plant. Your jalapeno plants should not drop all or most of their blossoms though. High temperatures or a lack of phosphorus can also cause jalapeno flowers to fall of the plant. Fruit Drop on Jalapeño Plants Fruit drop on jalapeno plants can be caused by a few different things. Heat stress can cause hot peppers to drop when combined with insufficient watering. Excessive nitrogen can also be a cause, as well as cooler temperatures. Fungal Diseases and Powdery Mildew During Jalapeno Plant Stages A white powdery growth on your pepper leaves is a sign of a fungus, powdery mildew. It can happen during any of the jalapeno plant stages and may cause dampening off and leaf drop. According to Plant Natural, baking soda is one of the best remedies to treat powdery mildew. For this method, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon liquid soap in 1 gallon of water. Transfer it into a spray bottle and spray the tops and underside of leaves and any other affected areas. FAQs How Hot is a Jalapeño? While jalapenos can be spicy, they only fall between 2,000-8,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Unit), which is quite a bit lower than some of the hottest peppers on the Scoville scale. What is the Lifespan of a Jalapeño Plant? Jalapeno plants are a perennial, although most people grow them as an annual. If in the right climate or protected in the winter months, jalapeno plants can live up to 10 years. That’s a lot of hot peppers! How Many Peppers Will One Jalapeño Plant Produce? A healthy jalapeno plant can easily produce upwards of 50 peppers per plant. How Long After Flowering Do Jalapenos Appear? Once your jalapeno plant has flowers on it, you can expect to see jalapeno fruits setting in 20-30 days. Be sure to support your jalapeno plant with essential nutrients and a phosphorus rich fertilizer during this stage. Why is My Jalapeño Plant Flowering but Has No Fruit? Jalapeno flowers must me pollinated to set fruit. If you are growing jalapeño pepper plants outside, pollination will usually take care of itself by way of insects, bees, and wind. If you are growing hot peppers inside, you may need to encourage pollination by gently shaking your jalapeno pepper plants or running a fun nearby your plants. Can I Grow Jalapeno Plants in Containers? Yes, you can grow jalapeno plants in containers. Be sure you plant them in loamy soil that is well drained in a large container, around 3 gallons for a fully mature jalapeno plant. Just be sure to keep it watered and in full sun. Jalapeno plants will also do well in raised beds or traditional garden beds. How Can I Increase the Heat Level of My Jalapeno Peppers? While it’s important to provide consistent water to your young jalapeno plants while they are maturing, watering too much when they have ripening fruits can actually water down the capsaicin in the hot peppers. Stressing your jalapeno pepper plants out a bit by cutting down the watering while fruits are ripening will make your jalapenos hotter. Furthermore, letting jalapenos fully ripen, going through a color change from deep green fruits to red jalapeños, will also increase the heat level of your hot peppers. How Many Jalapeño Plants Do You Need? Jalapeno plants are self pollinating plants, meaning you only need one to produce fruit. You may want several if you are planning to make my hot sauce. Each plant can produce a bountiful harvest, up to 50 peppers in a growing season. Can You Save Seeds to Start New Jalapeno Plants? There are many different varieties of jalapenos. Some are hybrid varieties, which were made for production and disease resistance. Saving seeds from a hybrid variety may not give you the exact pepper you grew. Whereas heirloom varieties are open pollinated and saved generation after generation and are perfect for seed saving. Fermented Apple Hot Sauce My go to recipe for hot sauce when I have an abundance of hot peppers is my fermented apple hot sauce. You may also enjoy reading: When to Pick Heirloom Tomatoes for the Best Harvest Download our Free Square Foot Gardening Template Printable Happy Homesteading & Gardening, Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10 acre Florida farm, that they built from the ground up, 8 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and a lot of their vegetables. From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Pastured Poultry, Sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. All the while, striving to butcher at home, as much as possible, and use the bits and pieces of their harvest by preserving food, making bone broth, and (Jenny’s favorite) tanning all kinds of hides! Sources: https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/powdery-mildew/ https://peppergeek.com/gardening/ Gardening Homesteading