Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, jalapeños are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing jalapeños.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Jalapeños Belong To?
Jalapeños (Capsicum annuum 'Jalapeño') belong to the Solanaceae family, also known as the nightshade family.
Some of their relatives include tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Jalapeños?
The minimum container size recommended for jalapeños is 2 to 3 gallons.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Jalapeños?
Some of jalapeños' best companions are as follows:
- Basil
- Tulsi
- Chamomile
- Oregano
- Other peppers such as bell pepper and habanero
- Tomatillo
- Dill
- Garlic
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Amaranth
- Orach
- Toothache plant
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Jalapeños?
Jalapeños are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with jalapeños are as follows:
- Brassicas such as broccoli and cabbage as well as kale in particular
- Peas
- Wild ginger
- Blackberry
What Soil Conditions Do Jalapeños Need?
Jalapeños prefer rich, moist, well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
How Long Do Jalapeños Take to Germinate?
Jalapeños take 1-3 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 65-90°F.
How Much Sun Do Jalapeños Need?
Jalapeños grow best in full sun.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and jalapeños grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Do Jalapeños Need?
Jalapeños need 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Jalapeños?
Jalapeños grow fastest in temperatures of 70-85°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some jalapeño varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Jalapeños Get?
The average height of jalapeños is 1-3 feet.
Are Jalapeños Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
In climates whose temperatures do not drop below 40°F, jalapeños are perennial, meaning that they live for longer than a couple years.
In colder climates, jalapeños are annual, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year, unless brought inside for the winter. They are not frost-tolerant.
How Do Jalapeños Reproduce?
Jalapeños reproduce by seed.
How Many Jalapeños Are Produced Per Plant?
For jalapeños, how many are produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type of jalapeño and, at times, the variety.
Most jalapeño plants produce 50-100 peppers per plant per year. The exact number varies based on growing conditions and length of growing season as well as the factors mentioned above.
Can Jalapeños Be Ingested?
Jalapeños fruits (peppers) are edible.
Jalapeño peppers have antiseptic and diaphoretic properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a jalapeño fruit tincture.
When eating, picking, or preparing jalapeños, avoid letting their juice or oil come into contact with your eyes.
Additionally, those who take monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antidepressants, or antihypertensive medications may also wish to consult with a physician before consuming jalapeños either herbally or culinarily.
There are no other known safety concerns associated with ingesting jalapeño fruits.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of jalapeños rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for jalapeños here!
Jalapeños are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: