[68azbird]

Originally Posted by Cerberus

To increase the heat of the chiles, you need to stress the plants. Once the peppers are ripening, let the plants dry out until they are drooping a bit, then water the hell out of them. Repeated cycles of this stress the plant and make the peppers hotter. That's why peppers grown in the southwest are the hottest.

I have been growing pepper plant's for a few years here, actually have a few plants in the ground that are 3 years old. They last the whole year unless we get a good frost which will kill the plant.
What is the secret to growing a good meaty jalapeño?
Mine grow to a decent size but they are thin compared to the ones in the store.

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by 68azbird

I have been growing pepper plant's for a few years here, actually have a few plants in the ground that are 3 years old. They last the whole year unless we get a good frost which will kill the plant.
What is the secret to growing a good meaty jalapeño?
Mine grow to a decent size but they are thin compared to the ones in the store.

It may be the type of pepper you are growing or that you are picking them too early. Jalapeño peppers vary a lot in heat and size. I fertilize the hell out of mine with manure tea to get maximum yield and size, maybe yours need some more food?
I've grown peppers for 30 years, some do better than others. I save seeds from my best producing plants and have pretty good results.

[68azbird]

Thanks
I think I'll get a few more variety of plant's in the ground with some good soil and fertilizer.
Now is prime growing season here. My bell pepper plant's already have a bunch of peppers.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by Cerberus

... I save seeds from my best producing plants and have pretty good results.

Ditto.

what is with early jalepenos having NO heat, eat like a bell pepper, then maybe 2 week later they are super hot. Is there a rule to picking jaleponos?
I always pick them green & plump, and they vary in heat.

[4dblnkldude]

Theres a couple dozen varieties of jalapenos. I usually buy the jumbo ones to stuff, which aren't as hot as the regulars. Its relay a crapshoot sometimes with them, there are a couple that have no heat at all, just as mild as a bell. If your that crazy about them get the seed stable over years just as Cerebus does. Go to www.chiliplants.com and check them out. You want any jalap to be mild? Eat one ghost, naga, or Trinidad scorpion and youll be poppin jalaps like candy the following week.

[Alvin]

Serious question: Are your pepper plants eaten by insects?

Reason is had great Sweet Pepper Plants for years until STINK BUG invasion with the larve and pubescent bright red body w black legs devouring all of the peppers. Used many different Organic and Commercial treatments, powders, Soaps, Sprays and they won the war...bastards still show up to lay eggs at old former plant locations.

Resisted severe chemical treatments as much as possible due it being a food source.

How about your Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Chili's - any bug or parasite issues?

[pontibeast]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Serious question: Are your pepper plants eaten by insects?

Reason is had great Sweet Pepper Plants for years until STINK BUG invasion with the larve and pubescent bright red body w black legs devouring all of the peppers. Used many different Organic and Commercial treatments, powders, Soaps, Sprays and they won the war...bastards still show up to lay eggs at old former plant locations.

Resisted severe chemical treatments as much as possible due it being a food source.

How about your Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Chili's - any bug or parasite issues?

I try like heck to avoid using any insecticides that aren't natural but if I am having a real bad time in a certain area I have found Seven Dust to work rather well and you can use up to a week before harvesting and it's even shorter for some plants. I haven't had any problems in the small areas and amounts I have used and it works really well. I try to make sure I get good clean stock when I shop and any organic soil I use I add some type of organic bug juice from our nursery to help in soil nesting insect control. One thing I have learned in the relatively short time I have been gardening(8 years) is that there will almost always be some loss and I try to spread my plants out to four different gardens so if one is hit hard the others will give me the tomatoes, beans, peppers and potatoes my family loves and cans. Good luck with the bugs, they can drive you nuts.

[GRX]

Since it is "National Hot Dog Day" I decided to enjoy the first Ghost from my garden this season appropriately. Easy to see why these peppers were used as Elephant repellant.

[68azbird]

My plants peaked production about 2 months ago. Now they don't produce again till September or October

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by 4dblnkldude

Theres a couple dozen varieties of jalapenos. I usually buy the jumbo ones to stuff, which aren't as hot as the regulars. Its relay a crapshoot sometimes with them, there are a couple that have no heat at all, just as mild as a bell. If your that crazy about them get the seed stable over years just as Cerebus does. Go to www.chiliplants.com and check them out. You want any jalap to be mild? Eat one ghost, naga, or Trinidad scorpion and youll be poppin jalaps like candy the following week.

Super, thanks.

Horseradish is also my home-grow, make, & eats.