What does jalapeno pepper look like and how to grow it?

Jalapeno is one of the most popular spices in Mexican cuisine, giving traditional dishes a spicy flavor and distinctive aroma. The spice belongs to the group of hot chili peppers. In our article, we will dwell in more detail on the description of the main properties and characteristics of this unusual plant, as well as give recommendations for its cultivation.

The jalapeno pepper is native to Mexico. However, this culture has very successfully taken root throughout the American continent, and over time has spread throughout the world. Jalapeno got its name from the small town of Jalapa in the Mexican state of Veracruz: it is there that this culture grows in great abundance. This pepper is popularly called "jalapeno hooligan": this is due to its rather interesting feature. The fact is that the feeling of bitterness and stinginess in the mouth does not appear immediately after using the product, but only after a while.

Jalapeno pepper looks like a medium-sized bushy plant that grows up to 100 cm. Branched stems, ellipsoid leaves. The flowers are light: from white to gray. Unlike all other peppers, jalapenos differ in their small fruit size: from 5 to 9 cm. During the growing season, 20-35 pods with thickened, very juicy walls can be harvested from one plant. Moreover, the smaller the pepper, the more it is valued. Ripe ripe fruits of bright green color are considered the most spicy. Overripe peppers are red in color, they are less pungent, therefore they are not used raw: such fruits are either smoked or eavesdropped.

It should be noted that jalapenos belong to the group of hot peppers, but at the same time they have noticeable differences from the rest of the chili. So, according to the Scoville scale, the pungency of fruits from the chili category varies from 30 to 50 thousand units, while Mexican pepper gains only 2.5-8 thousand units. At the same time, the film inside the fruit and the seeds give a high pungency to the product: if they are removed, then the taste of the jalapeno will become more delicate.

There are several main varieties of jalapeno peppers. Early varieties are most popular.

• Espinalteco. This hot pepper is distinguished by a peculiar type of pods, which take on a pointed shape.
• Morita. The most famous variety in the territory of the former Soviet Union. The fruits of this hot pepper are more rounded.
• Peludo. Another hot pepper, its pods have an elongated shape and a juicy structure.

Despite the fact that warm Mexico is the homeland of hot pepper, it is quite possible to grow it in our natural and climatic zone. This is a rather unpretentious plant, and the rules for caring for it are not much different from growing the familiar bell pepper.

Most often, they resort to the seed method of growing jalapenos. You can buy seedlings at any specialty store for gardeners and gardeners. Usually the cost of packing planting material does not exceed 40-60 rubles. Seeds are planted in accordance with a specific algorithm.

• First, the inoculum must be disinfected: for this, it is kept in a pale solution of potassium permanganate for about 20-30 minutes.
• Then the seeds are germinated. For this purpose, they are placed in wet gauze for a couple of days and placed in a warm place. Every 4-5 hours it is necessary to spray the cloth from a spray bottle, not allowing it to dry out. The seeds will begin to swell under the influence of heat and water. Then you can move them to the seedling container.
• To grow jalapeno seedlings, you will need nutritious, well-drained soil. It is best to buy a ready-made soil mixture for garden or flower crops.
• Sprouted seeds are buried in the substrate by 1.5 cm. It is not necessary to bury them deeper, since in this case the grain will not germinate.
• The container is covered with plastic wrap or glass to create a greenhouse effect: this will accelerate germination. In this case, every day should be airing for 40-60 minutes.

Usually the first shoots appear within the first week. Seeds that have not sprouted during this period can be thrown away, most likely, they are not viable. A spicy spice is very fond of warmth and light, therefore it is advisable to grow it on a southern or southeastern windowsill, protecting it from drafts. Irrigation should be regular, but moderate. It is best to moisten the soil as the earthy coma dries up. Plants are transplanted into open ground in the last decade of May and during the first half of June.

It is best to grow jalapenos in a greenhouse. As soon as the sprouts reach a length of 15-18 cm, it is necessary to pinch the top to stimulate the branching of the bush. The flowering and formation of juicy peppers occurs throughout the summer months. Best of all, the culture grows and develops at an air temperature of 25-30 degrees. It should be planted in a well-lit place, protected from gusts of wind. Watering is carried out at least 2-3 times a week. It is advisable to use warm settled water. For active fruiting, the plant requires micronutrients: potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, at least once every 10-14 days, the beds must be fed with potassium humate or superphosphate, and they must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

At the end of fruiting, the dormant stage begins: the plant stops growing and begins to shed its leaves. At this time, you can transplant the peppers into pots and move them into the house, preferably in a cellar or other cool place where the temperature is kept within 12-18 degrees. For this period, feeding is stopped, the frequency of irrigation is reduced to one irrigation per week. As soon as spring comes and the plant enters the growing season, the container is transferred to a warm place, the standard watering and feeding are returned, and at the end of spring the bush is again transplanted into the open ground.

Some people choose to grow jalapenos at home. In this case, the following conditions must be observed.

• Maintaining a comfortable temperature for hot peppers at 23-25 ​​degrees.
• Correct watering. At home, the plant requires abundant watering, a lack of moisture causes deformation of flowers and a reduction in fruiting. In this case, it is advisable to take settled water, since the chlorine present in tap water can adversely affect the development of jalapenos.
• Airing. From time to time, the pepper should be taken out into fresh air and ventilated. This is important for preventing fungal infections.
• Top dressing. In the flowering stage, ready-made complex fertilizers should be applied to the ground every one and a half to two weeks.
• Transfer. As they grow, it is necessary to transplant the bushes into larger pots. After such a transplant, a pinching is carried out in order to activate the growth of new shoots.

Bitter pepper has a fairly good immunity. However, and he sometimes encounters fungal infections... Most often it is struck by a black leg, as well as apical rot. The causes of the appearance of ailments are non-compliance with the rules for caring for the plant, for example, too abundant and frequent watering, which causes rotting of the roots. For the treatment of such pathologies, fungicides are successfully used; they are capable of destroying diseases at any stage.

Among the pests of the jalapenos, spider mites, whiteflies and aphids are attacked. Insecticides work well against them. Although in the early stages of damage, when there are not so many insects, folk remedies also give a good effect.

• So, dandelion or garlic tinctures work successfully against aphids and whiteflies. To prepare the healing composition, take 2 tbsp. l. the main component is poured with cool water and insisted for about a day. Then the solution is filtered and the damaged bush is sprayed with a spray bottle.
• A composition based on laundry soap and ammonia gives a good effect against spider mites. To prepare it, take 1 tbsp for 1 liter of water. l. soapy substance and ammonia, stir and spray the plants.

Hot pepper bushes are able to bear fruit throughout the summer months. Usually, peppers 5-6 cm long are harvested and have a green color. When the fruits begin to turn red, their pungency decreases, they become sweeter and lose their piquant flavor. Tip: It is advisable to wear gloves when harvesting as jalapeno juice can irritate the skin.

When fresh, the pods are stored in the refrigerator, cellar, or other cool place. If you plan to prepare Mexican seasoning for future use, you can freeze it or dry it. When dried, the spice is crushed and stored in a tin can with a hermetically sealed lid.

Jalapeno peppers are in great demand in cooking. It can be washed, dried, smoked, frozen for the winter and pickled to make it crunchy. Spicy pods become the basic component of all kinds of sauces, pepper is added to the second meat, vegetable, fish dishes and snacks. By the way, in the homeland of this product, soft drinks made from jalapenos, tomatoes and citrus fruits are very popular. By the way, this pepper has very unusual uses. In a number of countries, sweets are prepared from it: they make jam or glaze in chocolate.

The pungent jalapeno is highly prized in folk medicine. This is due to the high content of useful micro and macro elements in it. The product is rich in vitamins A, C, PP, as well as group B. Jalapeno is a real treasure of minerals, it contains magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, sodium, calcium, and carotene. This composition has a strengthening and healing effect on the human body. Pepper acts as an antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, immunomodulatory, analgesic, and even antidepressant. In alternative medicine, it is often prescribed to stimulate the digestive processes and eliminate the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Pepper contains a high concentration of substances that activate blood circulation. Therefore, it is widely used in cosmetology to create masks and anti-cellulite wraps. Spice tonics and lotions are widely used to improve hair condition and speed up hair growth. Due to its antibacterial properties, jalapeno quickly fights against sweating of the feet; for this, regular baths with a decoction of this Mexican vegetable are recommended.

However, it must be borne in mind that uncontrolled and excessive consumption of any hot peppers instead of the expected therapeutic effect can lead to exactly the opposite result and cause problems in the state of organs and tissues. Contraindications are as follows:

• burns, abrasions and other violations of the integrity of the oral mucosa;
• bleeding and weakened gums;
• the presence of tonsillitis, tonsillitis and other inflammatory processes on the tonsils and tonsils;
• pathology of the digestive system in the acute stage, stomach and intestinal ulcers, colitis and gastritis;
• disturbances in the functioning of the urinary system;
• the presence of individual intolerance to the product, which manifests itself in the form of allergic reactions.

You also need to keep in mind that it is not allowed to apply cosmetic masks, lotions and tonics with this pepper to the body in the presence of cracks, wounds, abrasions and other skin lesions. The use of the product is not recommended for children under 12 years of age, as well as for pregnant and lactating women.