How to Grow Hot Pepper 'NuMex Big Jim'
Capsicum annuum 'NuMex Big Jim'
NuMex Big Jim is a popular warm-season pepper variety known for its robust growth and reliable yield in hot climates. Gardeners prize this plant for producing large, flavorful fruits that thrive when temperatures rise after the danger of frost has passed.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Hot Pepper 'NuMex Big Jim': indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Hot Pepper 'NuMex Big Jim' is not usually started indoors.
Do not transplant; wait until all frost danger has passed and soil temperatures are warm before moving seedlings directly into the garden.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil to a pH between 6.5 and 7.5, ensuring it is loose and well-draining for optimal root development. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until all risk of spring frost has passed and the soil is thoroughly warm before planting outdoors. Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last expected frost date. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep; they typically germinate within 10 to 21 days.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in full sun, providing at least six hours of direct light daily. While these peppers generally do not require trellising due to their compact height, staking may help if the fruit load becomes heavy. Water deeply about 1 to 2 inches per week to maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging the roots. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain soil warmth and suppress weeds.
Watch for chile thrips, aphids, pepper weevils, and spider mites; encourage beneficial insects or use organic sprays if infestations occur. Prevent diseases like bacterial leaf spot and Verticillium wilt by rotating crop locations annually and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest fruits 80 to 85 days after planting when they reach full size and your preferred color.
When to Plant Hot Pepper 'NuMex 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 Hot Pepper 'NuMex Big Jim'
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially enhancing pepper flavor
Loosens soil around pepper roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may improve pepper growth and flavor
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels cucumber beetles and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Similar growing requirements and can share support structures
✗ Keep away from
Can harbor verticillium wilt which easily spreads to pepper plants
Produces juglone which is toxic to peppers and causes stunted growth
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper development
Inhibits growth of peppers through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
