How to Grow Jalapeno Peppers Outside

Choose an outdoor area in which to grow your jalapeno peppers. Select an area that offers fertile soil that is not too wet. Collect a sample of your jalapeno pepper soil and take it to your local extension office for testing to find out its pH level -- or level of acidity and basicity. Note that the ideal pH level of soil used to grow vegetables, including jalapeno peppers, is 5.8 to 6.5, which is slightly acidic.

Check your jalapeno growing area to ensure the area is warm prior to planting. Do not plant your jalapeno peppers outside until the nighttime temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, as too cool of temperatures will force your starter plant leaves to turn yellow.

Position your jalapeno pepper starter plants in holes that will accommodate them in the ground, placing them about 1.5 feet to 2 feet apart in a single row. Allow the spacing between rows of pepper plants to be at least 14 inches. Also, consider planting your jalapeno pepper plants in a raised bed, which will allow excess water to drain from your plants and thus prevent problems such as fungal diseases.

Water your jalapeno pepper plants to a depth of about 6 inches. Make sure the soil remains moist. Apply mulch to the soil around your starter plants, which will help the soil to retain moisture as well as protect plant roots from extreme atmospheric temperatures.

Apply a fertilizer to your starter jalapeno pepper plants at the time of planting. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Consider using a 5-10-10 fertilizer at a rate of 3 pounds per 100 square feet. Add additional fertilizer once your peppers grow to the size of a dime. Simply apply 3 tablespoons of a 33-0-0 fertilizer for each 10 feet of row at this time.