How Should You Care for a Jalapeno Pepper Plant?

Plant the peppers in a location that has around six hours of full sunlight a day. Jalapenos thrive when they are in direct sunlight for this amount of time each day.

Plant the jalapeno plants 14 inches apart to allow them to expand outward as they grow. A full-sized jalapeno plant can grow to 3 feet in height and roughly 1 foot in width. If you plan to grow several plants, leave two feet between each row.

Avoid overwatering the jalapeno plants. Watering every second or third day is typically adequate, but remember to monitor the plant's leaves. If they appear wrinkled and wilted, give the plant more water. One inch of water per week is typically enough for the plant; to gauge this amount, place an empty tuna can in the garden and fill it over the course of one week.

Fertilize the jalapeno plants with 10-10-10 plant fertilizer, if desired, a couple times during the growing season. Avoid overfertilizing the plants. A scoop or partial scoop of fertilizer diluted in a watering can is adequate.

Pick the jalapenos when they are roughly 3 inches in length. Some peppers will occasionally turn red, but the peppers reach maturity when they are dark green. Even as you harvest the peppers, the plant should continue producing blooms that turn into peppers throughout the growing season.