How to Grow Anaheim 'Hatch Big Jim'
Capsicum annuum 'Hatch Big Jim'
Anaheim 'Hatch Big Jim' is a warm-season pepper variety prized for its reliable yield and good heat tolerance. Gardeners grow this easy-to-moderate difficulty plant to enjoy fresh chiles that thrive in full sun after the danger of frost has passed.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Anaheim 'Hatch Big Jim': indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Anaheim 'Hatch Big Jim' is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors; instead, direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last frost date once soil temperatures are warm enough for germination.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 for optimal growth. As a warm-season crop, you must start seeds indoors only after the last spring frost date or wait to sow directly outdoors once soil is warm. Sow seeds about one-quarter inch deep; germination typically takes ten to twenty-one days under proper conditions.
Space plants eighteen to twenty-four inches apart to ensure good air circulation. Provide consistent moisture, aiming for one to two inches of water per week with deep watering schedules. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and feed the plant regularly during its active growing season.
Watch for pepper weevil, aphids, spider mites, and corn borers; practice good sanitation and monitor plants closely. Diseases like bacterial leaf spot, chile wilt, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt can occur, so ensure proper spacing and airflow. Harvest fruits in eighty to ninety days after planting when they reach your desired size and color.
When to Plant Anaheim 'Hatch Big Jim'
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Anaheim 'Hatch Big Jim'
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially enhancing pepper flavor
Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients, good use of space
Deter nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting peppers
Repel aphids, spider mites, and other pests with sulfur compounds
Repels aphids, spider mites, and cabbage moths while attracting beneficial insects
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pests
Share similar growing requirements and can help deter pests through companion effect
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that inhibits pepper growth and can cause wilting
Compete heavily for nutrients and can stunt pepper growth and fruit production
Inhibits growth of peppers and most vegetables through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
