Jalapeno Gigante Pepper

When you crave a jalapeno popper, you might as well enjoy a healthy serving. Jalapeno Gigante is one of the largest jalapenos and a favorite of cooks for stuffing. The glossy green peppers grow to nearly 5 inches long by maturity, which takes just over 2 months. That’s pretty quick for a flavor-packed hot pepper this size. You get plenty of moderate heat with each fruit grown.Jalapenos are hotter than ancho peppers but not nearly as hot as cayennes. They score between 2,500 and 5,000 Scoville units. Jalapeno Gigante only grows to about 24 inches tall, but the plant can be packed with pretty green peppers for a big batch of hot salsa. It is best to clip harvested jalapenos off than to twist and pull on the stem.Gigante Jalapeno Pepper Plant CareWhether planting Jalapeno Gigante in a container, raised bed or garden row, be sure it gets a warm start. The soil should be rich, fertile and warm, and the nighttime temperatures should be above 60 degrees. Space the pepper plants 18 to 24 inches apart to give them room to grow and get air circulation. Other than that, peppers need regular water and little other care.Growing Gigante Jalapeno PeppersJalapeno Gigante plants need full sun, at least 6 hours a day. With plenty of sun, warm temperatures and water, the plant should reach its 2-foot height and reward the grower with plenty of jalapeno peppers within about 2 months. You can harvest jalapenos while green or red.Despite the size of Jalapeno Gigante fruit, the plant is fairly small, and fits well into large patio containers. The pot should be nearly 2 feet wide at the mouth and have good drainage.Watering Gigante Jalapeno Pepper PlantsJalapenos need plenty of regular watering equivalent to 1 to 2 inches of rain a week. Slow watering with drip systems or soaker hoses work best.Feeding Gigante Jalapeno Pepper PlantsThere is no need to fertilize Jalapeno Gigante often. The plant does fine in rich, good quality soil. Monthly fertilizing with a balanced fruit and vegetable food might improve pepper production; too much fertilizing produces more leaves and less fruit.Gigante Jalapeno Pepper Plant InformationCommon Name: Jalapeno Gigante PepperBotanical Name: Capsicum annuumPlant Type: Jalapeno Pepper – Mild HeatEdible Type: VegetableVegetable Size: 4-5 inchesLight Exposure: Full Sun (+6 hrs.)Spacing: 18 – 24