How to Grow Anaheim 'New Mexico Big Jim'
Capsicum annuum 'New Mexico Big Jim'
Anaheim 'New Mexico Big Jim' is a popular warm-season pepper variety prized for its reliable yield and disease resistance. Gardeners cultivate this plant to enjoy fresh green chilies that mature into flavorful red fruit, making it an excellent choice for home gardens seeking productive, easy-to-grow vegetables.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Anaheim 'New Mexico Big Jim': indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Anaheim 'New Mexico Big Jim' is not usually started indoors.
Do not sow directly in the ground before the last frost; instead, start seeds indoors immediately after the danger of frost has passed to ensure warm soil conditions upon transplanting.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil by ensuring the pH falls between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal growth. Since peppers are warm-season crops, start seeds indoors only after all danger of frost has passed or when soil temperatures are consistently warm. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep in a seed-starting mix; they typically germinate within 10 to 21 days.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to ensure good air circulation and fruit production. While this variety does not require trellising, staking tall specimens can prevent stems from breaking under the weight of heavy fruit clusters. Water consistently about one inch per week, avoiding wetting the foliage to reduce disease risk. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and feed plants with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, pepper weevils, and cutworms; use insecticidal soap or hand-pick pests early. Prevent bacterial spot, phytophthora blight, and verticillium wilt by practicing crop rotation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest green chilies 75 to 85 days after transplanting, or wait until they turn red for maximum flavor and heat.
When to Plant Anaheim 'New Mexico 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 | — | August – 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 'New Mexico Big Jim'
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Help break up soil for pepper roots and don't compete for space or nutrients
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling squash bugs
Deter aphids, thrips, and other pests with their sulfur compounds
Deters pests like aphids and spider mites with its strong aromatic oils
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Share similar growing requirements and can help deter hornworms when planted together
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone which is toxic to peppers and causes stunting and yellowing
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper growth through root competition
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
