 |
Pepper
(Jalapeno & Other Hot Types) Frank J. Dainello,
Extension Horticulturist
Department of Horticultural Sciences,
Texas A&M University |
|
VARIETIES
| Jalapeno- |
TAM Mild-1, TAM Veracruz, Coyama, Hy Mitla, Tula, Tulleon, Grande,
Delicias, Coyama, Sakata 616, Simmer Heat 6000 |
| Serrono- |
Fiesta, Tampico, Tuxlas, Hidalgo |
| Ancho- |
San Martin, Red Knight |
| Cayenne- |
Mesilla |
| Anaheim- |
Sonara |
|
SOIL PREFERENCE
Fine sandy loam, well drained, pH 6.0 - 7.5; can tolerate heavier soils
especially for fall crop. |
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS
Warm season crop, hot days (85 - 95oF) with cool nights (65
- 70oF). Bloom drop will occur with temperatures above 95oF.
Excessively high temperatures will reduce fruit size. |
ESTABLISHMENT METHODS
Direct seeded, can be transplanted.
Optimum time=
| Direct seed- |
|
| Spring- |
when soil temperature >60oF. |
| Fall- |
approx 120 days prior to average first frost date. |
| Transplant- |
|
| Spring- |
after last average frost date. |
| Fall- |
approximately 85 - 100 days prior to average frost date. |
| Seeding rate= |
2 - 4 lbs/A; |
| Approx seed/oz= |
4,500 |
| Seeding depth= |
0.5" -0.75" |
| Seedling spacing= |
1 - 2 rows on 30 - 40" raised beds with in-row spacing of 2 -
6", maximum of 8 ". If needed, thin seedlings to stand 35 - 40 days
after emergence. Approximately 30,000 plants / A required for optimum
yields. |
|
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION
Rates presented as actual lbs/Acre N2, P2 O5 and K2O (base application
rates on soil test results).
| Generalized rate lbs/A: |
150 - 60 - 60 |
| N= |
120 - 170; 60 lbs pre-plant broadcast incorporated + 30-50 lbs
side-dressed at thinning (4 -6" height) or after transplanting +
20 - 30 lbs after 2nd harvest. Calcium nitrate induces quicker plant
response than most other N forms. |
| P= |
50 - 80; band 2" below seed at planting. |
| K= |
40 - 80; pre-plant with N. |
|
| *NOTE - Use a high
phosphate starter solution with transplants.(5 lb/50 gallons water applied
at 8 oz. /plant. |
WATER/IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS
High water demand, 25 - 30"; uniform moisture distribution throughout
growing season. |
PEST MANAGEMENT
| Major Diseases |
Control |
| Alternaria or Anthracnose |
Cabrio, Endura, Flint, maneb, Quadris |
| Phytophythora blight |
High beds, good aeration, Ridomil Gold, Ridomil Gold Copper |
| Bacterial Leaf Spot |
fixed copper, Agri-mycin (transplants prior to field planting),
resistant varieties |
| Southern blight |
PCNB |
| Virus |
Resistant varieties |
| Nematode |
Furadan F (24c), K-Pam, Telone II, Telone C-17, Vydate |
|
| Major Insects |
Control |
| Flea beetle |
Asana, Capture, endosulfan, Guthion, permethrin, Sevin |
| Leafminer |
Agri-mek, Spintor, Trigard, Vydate |
| Aphid |
acephate, Actara/Platinum, Admire, Assail, diazinon, Di-Syston,
Fulfill, Knack, Metasystox-R, Provado |
| Mite (spider or broad) |
Agri-mek, Capture, Kelthane, sulfur |
| Corn earworm |
Asana, B.t.'s, Baythroid, Capture, Fury/Mustang |
| Beet armyworm |
Avaunt, B.t.'s, Intrepid, Lannate, Spintor |
| Pepper weevil |
Baythroid, cryolite, Lorsban WP(24c), permethrin, Vydate |
|
| Weeds |
Control |
| Preplant incorporated |
Devrinol, Prefar, Treflan (24c) |
| Preemergence |
Command (pretransplant), Dacthal, Dual Magnum (24c), Prefar |
| Postemergence |
Poast, Sandea (shielded layby application) Select |
|
*NOTE - The above
is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. some labels may
have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product
labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result
in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals
and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuses. |
HARVEST
Hand harvested, determinant types can be machine harvested
| Days after planting= |
110 - 120 days (75 - 85 days for transplants). Yields maximized
by delaying harvest until 5-10 % of fruit are red. |
| Optimum stage= |
Fully mature green, firm, solid pods 2-2.5" in length. |
| Field containers= |
Burlap bags. |
| Grading/Handling= |
| Fresh market- |
allow stems to remain on fruit. |
| Processing- |
stem removal required. |
| Packaging= |
Normally sold in bulk burlap bags. |
| Anticipated yield tons/A= |
8 - 10. |
|
STORAGE/TRANSIT CONDITIONS
45 - 55oF with 80 % RH; maximum storage duration 2-3 weeks.
Normally shipped unrefrigerated in bulk. |
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS
- Initiating harvest too early will result in reduction of yields.
Maximize yields by delaying first harvest until 5- 10 % of the fruit
show red color. Harvest on a 2-3 week interval thereafter.
- In the Lower Rio Grande Valley or in areas where high humidity prevails,
moisture stressing seedling 25 - 30 days after establishment enhances
root development, earliness and subsequent yields. This practice may
not be successful in drier areas.
- Deep cultivate bottom of water furrows, shallow cultivate closer
to plants. Do not root prune. Most roots run north and south.
- Can not tolerate any moisture stress during bloom.
- Scoville units is the measure of relative heat level of hot
peppers or capsaicin concentration (heat causing compound found
in capsicum species) of pepper fruits.
- Average heat level in Scoville units for jalapeno is 3,500 to
4,500. Scoville units for other hot peppers are:
Habanero/Scotch Bonnet = 200,000 - 300,000; Chiltecpin (round)
= 70,000;
Tabasco = 30,000 - 50,000; Chilipiquin (long)= 40,000; Cayenne
= 35,000;
Serrano = 7,000 - 25,000
|
Texas Cooperative
Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series
Revised November, 2003
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/jalapeno.html
Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger |