How to Grow Jalapeño 'Gigante'

Soil, care & harvest

Prepare your soil with plenty of organic matter to maintain a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Since this is a warm-season crop sensitive to cold, start seeds indoors only two weeks before the last frost date or direct sow after all danger of frost has passed and soil warms up. Press seeds gently into the soil surface at a depth of about one-quarter inch, as they typically sprout within ten to fourteen days.

Space plants eighteen to twenty-four inches apart in full sun to ensure vigorous growth. Provide consistent moisture by watering one to one-and-a-half inches per week, keeping the soil evenly damp without waterlogging. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and add compost periodically to feed the plants as they develop fruit.

Watch for aphids, pepper weevils, cutworms, spider mites, bacterial leaf spot, and mildew; use insecticidal soap or neem oil for pests and improve air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Harvest peppers seventy-five to eighty-five days after planting when they reach your preferred color and size, cutting them with scissors or pruning shears to avoid damaging the stem.