Interesting comments...my own experience growing (and eating) both Jalapeno and Fresno's goes counter to some of the posts here.
In three seasons of growing both types, I had more trouble with my Jalapeno's than the Fresnos - the 'peno's seem to be far more sensitive to watering, produce less, etc., while the Fresno's grow like weeds. To that end, this year I grew only three 'peno plants (Mammoth, Giant and Early - all from seedlings bought at a local nursery), but six Fresno's (from last year's saved seeds). All planted in late February to early March. I've been harvesting probably one to two lbs. of Fresno's each week for the last six weeks, but so far probably only a pound or so (about a a dozen?) 'Peno's. I do let them mature to red, which to me has a far better flavor, if less heat, than picking them green. But they take twice as long as the Fresno's to fully mature for harvest, and each plant only produces 1/3 or so of what the same age Fresno plants produce (for me).
The Giants and Mammoths are a bit of a misnomer - they are fatter than grocery store habs, but only about 3 1/2" long max - not the "up to 6" as promised by the label on the nursery container. They do taste great, stuffed or fresh, and of the three 'Penos strains I think the flavor of the Early variety is the best
Comparing both types, I really prefer the rich fruity flavor and meaty texture of the red 'penos - I prefer to them to use fresh on everything, and freeze the Fresnos until I have enough to make a half-gallon at a time of homemade 'sriracha' tyle garlic and pepper sauce (I give a lot of it away to friends), or pickling them to use for stuffing with cream cheese. Way too many Fresno's and not enough Jalapenos...with at least five lbs. of Fresnos in the freezer, and four qts. of pickled peppers in the fridge, but only a couple Jalapeno's on hand at any one moment. Oh well.
In three seasons of growing both types, I had more trouble with my Jalapeno's than the Fresnos - the 'peno's seem to be far more sensitive to watering, produce less, etc., while the Fresno's grow like weeds. To that end, this year I grew only three 'peno plants (Mammoth, Giant and Early - all from seedlings bought at a local nursery), but six Fresno's (from last year's saved seeds). All planted in late February to early March. I've been harvesting probably one to two lbs. of Fresno's each week for the last six weeks, but so far probably only a pound or so (about a a dozen?) 'Peno's. I do let them mature to red, which to me has a far better flavor, if less heat, than picking them green. But they take twice as long as the Fresno's to fully mature for harvest, and each plant only produces 1/3 or so of what the same age Fresno plants produce (for me).
The Giants and Mammoths are a bit of a misnomer - they are fatter than grocery store habs, but only about 3 1/2" long max - not the "up to 6" as promised by the label on the nursery container. They do taste great, stuffed or fresh, and of the three 'Penos strains I think the flavor of the Early variety is the best
Comparing both types, I really prefer the rich fruity flavor and meaty texture of the red 'penos - I prefer to them to use fresh on everything, and freeze the Fresnos until I have enough to make a half-gallon at a time of homemade 'sriracha' tyle garlic and pepper sauce (I give a lot of it away to friends), or pickling them to use for stuffing with cream cheese. Way too many Fresno's and not enough Jalapenos...with at least five lbs. of Fresnos in the freezer, and four qts. of pickled peppers in the fridge, but only a couple Jalapeno's on hand at any one moment. Oh well.
