Capsicum annuum Seeds | Jalape Chile Pepper Jalapeno
LATIN NAME: Capsicum annuum
COMMON NAME: Jalapeño
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Jalapeño, Capsicum annuum is a fast-growing, annual in the nightshade family. The jalapeño beams rounded, dark-green fruits along sturdy, upright stems, broad, oval leaves around them, and the whole plant stands in the solid, productive look of the warm kitchen garden. It is a plant of open, sunny, deep, rich, moist, well-drained ground. Its flowers draw a steady traffic of bees and other beneficial insects. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Capsicum annuum sits in the nightshade family, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. It retains a following among breeders and collectors, which keeps seed stocks in circulation.
Uses & Benefits
Jalapeño works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. The jalapeño is a solid, useful plant of warm kitchen garden and study collection. It is a solid, useful plant of open, sunny, deep, rich, moist, well-drained garden. The jalapeño seeds grow quickly in a rich, loamy soil kept warm and steadily moist. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
Chili pepper’s fire is capsaicin, one of the most useful plant molecules in medicine: topical capsaicin preparations are approved for nerve and arthritis pain, and population studies link regular chili eating with metabolic and cardiovascular benefits. Beyond the heat, peppers are superb sources of vitamin C.
Growing from Seed
Jalapeño is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. The seed responds well to a cool, moist stratification period, which helps it break dormancy evenly. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
The traditional uses covered above are what first made this species worth cultivating. Jalapeño settles in quickly once it finds its footing. A few weeks of cold, moist stratification before sowing mirrors its natural cycle.
Related Reading
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