How to Grow Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño'
Capsicum annuum 'Purple Jalapeño'
The Purple Jalapeño is a vibrant warm-season pepper variety prized for its striking deep purple foliage that turns red when fruit ripens. Gardeners grow this easy-to-handle plant to enjoy flavorful heat in their dishes while adding bold color to summer vegetable beds or containers.
📷 Wikipedia: Capsicum annuumStarting Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño': indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño' is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed sufficiently for this sensitive warm-season crop.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.2 and 7.0 for optimal growth. Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date, as this crop requires warm conditions. Sow seeds about one-quarter inch deep in small pots or trays. Expect germination within 10 to 21 days once temperatures are consistently warm enough to support seedling development.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in full sun, ensuring they receive at least six hours of light daily. Water deeply about one inch per week, allowing the topsoil to dry slightly between sessions. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and feed the soil regularly with balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.
Watch for aphids, thrips, pepper maggots, and flea beetles; inspect leaves frequently and remove affected parts or use organic controls. Prevent bacterial leaf spot and other diseases by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest fruits 70 to 80 days after planting when they reach your desired size and color.
When to Plant Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño'
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 Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño'
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially enhancing pepper flavor
Help break up soil around pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing them away from peppers
Deter aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects that attack peppers
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and spider mites
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on pepper pests
Share similar growing conditions and can help deter each other's pests
✗ Keep away from
Can harbor diseases like verticillium wilt that easily spread to pepper plants
Releases juglone toxin that stunts pepper growth and can kill plants
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper growth through root competition
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
