This genus of plants is known for a specific compound and its many derivatives. That compound is capsaicin. Capsaicin is usually concentrated in the fruits and around the seeds of plants in this genus. It is an irritant to many animals, including humans, and causes a "burning" sensation when it comes in contact with any tissue. It is generally thought that capsaicin is concentrated around the seeds to prevent them from being eaten by animals. People have come to enjoy the spiciness of the compound as is proven by these plants' wide distribution and cultivation.
Contact with this compound can cause inflammation, which some scientists would agree is not entirely a bad thing. The compound promotes an increase in blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, which results in quicker and more efficient digestion. Not too mention, the compound increases the production of gastric juices.
Here's a guy who loves hot peppers as much as we do! We discovered Bill Hufnagle's cooking show several years ago while flipping through the cable channels. Bill is a freewheeling food lover, pepper gardener, vegetarian and Harley rider, totally committed to getting people to play more with their food, cook healthier and ride safe. Hot peppers, Bill says, make for more fun and more flavors than any other vegetable. So take your taste buds on a culinary road trip with Burpee's hot Biker Billy pepper seed.
This jalapeno is really packed with rich flavor. Billy likes 'em best when they are flaming red and at their sweetest. Fruits are very large, measuring 2" at the shoulder and 3-1/2" long. Upright plants up to 24" tall. Grows best in full sun. Harvest 66 days after transplanting into the garden.
| Plant Types: | Annual, Fruit, Perennial, Vegetable |
| Light: | Full Sun |
| Height: | 1 foot 6 inches to 2 feet |
| Width: | 1 foot 6 inches to 2 feet |
| Zones: | 10a to 15b |
| Bloom Seasons: | Early summer, Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall, Late fall |
| Special Features: | Edible |
| Type of Soil Preferred: | Clay, Loamy, Sandy, Well-Drained |
| Want to know where Hot Pepper will thrive in your house or garden? The EasyBloom Plant Sensor will give you a plant's-eye view of your environment to measure soil, sunlight, temperature and humidity. |
Watch a Video > Learn More > Buy EasyBloom > |
Sow indoors in a warm, sunny area about 8 weeks before the last threat of frost. Sow seed ¼" deep in light, airy soil. Keep moist while starting the seeds. Seedlings will emerge in 10 to 21 days at room temperature. Transplant to individual containers when seedlings have at least 2 pairs of leaves. Before moving the plants to a garden, transfer them to a sheltered area outside for at least 1 week.
Space plants 15-18" apart in rows that are 2-3' apart in a full sun location. The top of the root ball should be placed ½" below the soil surface.
Continuously harvesting peppers will induce more fruit production throughout the growing season. Pick sweet peppers regardless of color. They can be picked at any time. Hot peppers can also be picked at any color, but if you plan on drying the hot peppers allow the fruit to fully ripen and reach full color.
Use garden pruners to cut the stem above the fruit to minimize damage to both the plant and the pepper itself.
CAUTION: Use rubber gloves, or clean the hot peppers under running water to avoid skin burn from the pepper juice.
For best growth, Peppers need a long, warm growing season. If temperatures drop below 60°F, especially when there are fruits present on the stem, your harvest can be damaged.
Blooms star to bell-shaped solitary or clustered flowers in yellow, white, greenish white, pruple, or purple tinged.
Peppers thrive in soils that are constantly and thoroughly moist, but not soaked. Does best in well-drained soil.
When peppers have flowers on them, feed with a complete and balanced liquid fertilizer twice per month.
Susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, cutworms and pepper weevils. Simply spray the offending insects with a strong blast from a garden hose. Be careful not to harm the plant in the process however. Both the larvae and adult pepper weevils attack the fruit. It's best to destroy the infested plants.
Keep the soil weed-free.