Jalapeño Gigante

Family: Solanaceae Hot Pepper

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Jalapeño Gigante to a garden.

Sink your senses into Jalapeño Gigante’s glossy, deep-green pods that mature to a bold, warm red—thick-walled, impressively long, and beautifully uniform.

Expect a bright, peppery snap with a lively heat that builds pleasantly, making these peppers a standout for roasting over open flame, quick pickling, and bold fresh salsas and sauces. Grow for a vigorous 75-day season and enjoy pods that look as spectacular as they taste—straight from the garden to the jar.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Jalapeño Gigante

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Jalapeño Gigante Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Jalapeño Gigante’s thick walls give you a pepper with real structure—less shrivel, more bite—so it shows up in salsas and sauces as distinct, toothsome pieces. Roast or pickle them and the heat stays friendly and forward, never turning chalky or watery.

Best Uses

roast over flame and blister for smoky, sweetening char
quick pickle for crisp heat that cuts through richness
chop into chunky salsas and sofritos—pods hold their shape
blend into a thick, spoonable hot sauce (less watery than thinner jalapeños)

Flavor Profile

bright, green pepper snap medium-warm heat that builds then settles thick-walled pods with juicy, lightly vegetal bite

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic cotija cheese smoked pork black beans poblano

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most often affects Capsicum annuum (jalapeño) and how can I control it at home?

A very common issue is aphids, which cluster on new growth and can lead to curled leaves and sticky honeydew. Rinse plants with a strong spray of water, then apply insecticidal soap (follow label) and repeat every 5–7 days until new growth stays clear. If you see leaf spots or wilting that worsens in humid weather, remove affected leaves early and avoid wetting foliage when watering.

How often should I water Jalapeño gigante during the main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruit set, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—about 1 inch of water per week total, adjusted for rainfall and container size. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, and make sure excess water drains away (Capsicum annuum is prone to root stress in waterlogged soil). Mulch helps stabilize moisture so fruits size up evenly.

How do I tell when my jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 75 days after sowing when the fruits reach their full size and have a firm, glossy skin. For jalapeño-type peppers, pick when they are green and still firm; if you wait longer they will ripen toward red, which changes flavor and sweetness. Use scissors or pruners to cut the stem to avoid tearing the plant.