Do Jalapeno Peppers Like Acidic or Alkaline Soil?

Soil pH

• The correct soil pH is vital for your pepper plants to grow. At the wrong pH, plants can't take in certain nutrients and this leads to a weak plant. Peppers can tolerate acidic soil, but prefer a soil pH between 6.0 to 6.8. To raise your soil pH, amend your soil with lime or wood ashes. To lower pH, add iron or ammonium sulfate, conifer needles or used coffee grounds to your soil.

Soil Type

• Peppers need loose, fast-draining soil. If you have clay or sandy soil, amend it with compost at least a month before planting your peppers. Another option for gardeners with less-than-perfect soil is to grow the peppers in containers or raised beds filled with potting soil.

Soil Temperature

• Although it's tempting to put out your jalapeno seedlings on the first warm day of spring, don't do it. Peppers are a warm-season crop and need the soil to warm up to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit before planting. To help warm the soil, place a layer of clear plastic over the area where you will plant your peppers. If growing your peppers in potting soil, simply leave the bag of potting soil in a sunny spot until you are ready to transplant your pepper.

Feeding Time

• Jalapenos and other peppers need extra food to have the energy and nutrients to produce those tasty peppers. Feed your plant when you transplant it, again when it blooms and then once more when fruits start to develop. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers since these encourage leaf growth, not flowers and fruit. Look for an organic fertilizer with twice as much potassium and phosphorus as nitrogen. For example, the label will read 2-4-4 or 4-8-8.

Other Conditions

• Peppers need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day; eight hours of full sun is ideal. However, if temperatures rise above 90 degrees when the jalapeno plant blooms, move it to a cooler location. High temperatures will cause the flowers to fall off. Provide your jalapeno plants with 1 to 2 inches of water each week depending on how hot and dry your climate is.