A Jalapeno question

kas

kas

Hi, just growing my first Jalapenos with reasonable success (indoor plants). I have some lovely big pods coming along, however I feel that the pods themselves are quite pale green in colour, is this normal? Do they get darker as they age?
 
Xalapas (jalapenos) can be eaten either green or in the red/ripe stage like the ones in the photo. They are more picante in the red stage.

mex2.jpg
 
kas said:
Hi, just growing my first Jalapenos with reasonable success (indoor plants). I have some lovely big pods coming along, however I feel that the pods themselves are quite pale green in colour, is this normal? Do they get darker as they age?
Click to expand...

Well, how pale is pale? Are they pale enough to make you think they've got some sort of nutrient deficiency? To answer your question, though, usually they do get a darker shade of green before turning red
 
Pam said:
Well, how pale is pale? Are they pale enough to make you think they've got some sort of nutrient deficiency? To answer your question, though, usually they do get a darker shade of green before turning red
Click to expand...

no they are not nearer to yellow than green or anything like that, its just I expected them much darker, but if your right i will find out nearer the time, i cant wait to try them:)
 
Jalapenos hold a special place in my heart. I believe that they have the best flavor, despite not being the hottest pepper. I have never worried as much as you about their unripe color! That may mean that you are worrying needlessly, or it could mean that they really are pale. As long as they turn red, I would not worry. I am deciding what to do with some ripe ones right now! They are lovely pickled on nachos, but smoked red jalapeno powder is the pride of my spice cabinet. Fresh is great too, any thoughts for a fellow jalapeno lover?
 
Canuk Pepperhead said:
my problem is I keep eating them while im taking care of the rest of my garden lol
Click to expand...

cheezydemon said:
Jalapenos hold a special place in my heart. I believe that they have the best flavor, despite not being the hottest pepper. I have never worried as much as you about their unripe color! That may mean that you are worrying needlessly, or it could mean that they really are pale. As long as they turn red, I would not worry. I am deciding what to do with some ripe ones right now! They are lovely pickled on nachos, but smoked red jalapeno powder is the pride of my spice cabinet. Fresh is great too, any thoughts for a fellow jalapeno lover?
Click to expand...

But how soon can I eat them, I know you can eat them green but should I wait a while or dig in?
 
If you like them green, they are ready. I find that sometimes the first one has little heat, but it seems that after you pick 1 the others get hot as a defense mechanism. I have not read anything on this, but it is my theory.
 
Pam said:
Well, how pale is pale? Are they pale enough to make you think they've got some sort of nutrient deficiency? To answer your question, though, usually they do get a darker shade of green before turning red
Click to expand...
before joining this forum I never knew japs turned red...I leared something new today and ill get my wife to slap my fingers if I try to eat another one lol
 
kas said:
But how soon can I eat them, I know you can eat them green but should I wait a while or dig in?
Click to expand...

You should wait until they're red and ripe and come into their full flavor.

*haughty sniff*

It's only civilized.
 
Canuk Pepperhead said:
before joining this forum I never knew japs turned red...I leared something new today and ill get my wife to slap my fingers if I try to eat another one lol
Click to expand...

Yes! Yes!

And take lots of pictures of her slapping you!


What? It's for educational purposes.


No, really, for educational purposes.
 
Also how big can I expect them to get, they are just normal jalapeno and some early ones too? Some of them are bout the 4" mark but very smooth no skin cracking like I have seen in pictures, am I giving them too much water:?:
 
kas said:
Also how big can I expect them to get, they are just normal jalapeno and some early ones too? Some of them are bout the 4" mark but very smooth no skin cracking like I have seen in pictures, am I giving them too much water:?:
Click to expand...

Lol, all in good fun. I admire your enthusiasm, but what you are giving them too much of is thought! Do you think they wouldn't grow if you didn't baby them? You are worrying too much.

How big will they get? However big they get.

No skin cracking, no problems...too much water? If it ain't broke......
That is not to say that you aren't giving them too much water. I only water when they look wilted. Peppers like that. They are rugged, feisty, tough little plants.
;)More harm has been done to peppers with over watering and fertilizer than with neglect.
I'm sorry! They just don't need you that much.
 
kas said:
Also how big can I expect them to get, they are just normal jalapeno and some early ones too? Some of them are bout the 4" mark but very smooth no skin cracking like I have seen in pictures, am I giving them too much water:?:
Click to expand...

Do you know what variety of jalapeño you have? They come in different sizes, but 4 inches sounds like a healthy jalapeño! You can go to http://www.chileplants.com/ ,search on jalapeño and get pictures and descriptions of about 15 or 20 varieties. Or you can read more about them here: http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/profile_jalapeno.html
That might give you the information you want.


The skin cracking you see is called corking. Some jalapenos are advertised to resist corking, but I have no idea if they really do. Every jalapeno "expert" I've ever spoken with tells you something different about corking and what causes it, so I don't think I would worry about it if I were you as long as the plant looks healthy and is producing well.

What you might do is allow some of your jalapeños to ripen all the way so you can see for yourself how long it takes, and what they taste like and look like at each stage. I know it's hard to be patient, but it is a virtue, especially in gardening.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top