Mexico

In Mexico, hybrid varieties and open-pollinated, along with what are called criollo (“native” type in Spanish), jalapeno peppers are grown in Mexico.

In summary, 2 out of every 3 green chiles grown in Mexico come from Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí.

The majority of the U.S. commercial jalapeño supply is grown in New Mexico, Texas, and California, but many small farms throughout the southwest grow peppers for sale to local markets.

Before you move your plants outside, we recommend that you prune early pepper flower buds off of the plant. Be sure to allow the flowers to grow large enough so you don’t damage the young leaves when picking. However, if you are growing faster varieties like jalapenos or bell peppers, early flowers can be pinched back.

Peppers need warm temperatures to germinate, so they should be planted after soil temperatures reach at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes three to four months from germination for jalapeños to produce fruit that can be harvested.

Jalapeno seeds are easy enough to purchase so it may seem wasteful not to use the supply that’s right there inside those pods. So can you grow jalapenos from store bought peppers? The simple answer is yes.

Jalapeño peppers should be planted outdoors during the spring when the soil temperature reaches about 65 degrees Fahrenheit; the peppers are sensitive to cooler temperatures at night. Most garden centers start stocking jalapeño pepper transplants in spring.

How to Plant Jalapeño Peppers

1. Begin to harden off jalapeño seedlings about 10 days before transplanting outdoors.
2. Once nighttime temperatures reach at least 60°F (15°C), transplant seedlings outdoors, spacing them 14 to 24 inches apart.
3. Water deeply at the time of planting.

The good news is that jalapenos grow perfectly well both indoors and outdoors. It’s also perfectly acceptable to grow outdoors in the warmer months, then move them indoors in the summer. You can easily move their container indoors, or even transplant them from the ground to a new container when moving them indoors.

Ideal Growing Conditions If your plants have already germinated but still aren’t growing, improper soil or growing conditions could be the culprit. Jalapenos need lots of sunlight, so first ensure there is no shade or foliage blocking direct sunlight from the jalapeno plants.

Hot peppers can be planted in garden beds or in containers. If growing hot peppers in pots, be sure there are adequate drainage holes in the bottom of the container and use a high quality potting mix.

About Growing Peppers Indoors Indoor pepper plants need the same requirements as those grown outside. They need enough space in a container for their roots to grow. They need plenty of sunlight; a south- or west-facing window is ideal. If you don’t have enough light available, use a grow light.

Peppers, like tomatoes, are sensitive to temperature. Most peppers will drop their blooms when daytime temperatures get much above 90 degrees F. in combination with night temperatures above 75 degrees F. They will also drop their blooms in the early spring if temperatures remain cool for extended periods.