Spicy Slice

Family: Solanaceae Hot Pepper

Planting Schedule

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Meet Spicy Slice Jalapeño—an aromatic, medium-hot pepper with a bright, grassy snap and a clean, peppery bite that lingers pleasantly.

At maturity, the fruit hangs in an upright, slicer-friendly shape with smooth, glossy skin and a crisp, thick-walled feel that shines in fresh salsas, roasting, and quick pickling. Grow Spicy Slice for bold flavor you can count on at about 75 days, when the peppers turn from deep green to a vivid, confident red.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

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Spicy Slice 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	Mar 30th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	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	Upright
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

Spicy Slice Jalapeño earns its keep with thick walls and a grassy, crisp bite—so it doesn’t turn to mush in salsa or on a hot pan. Slice it for fresh heat and crunch, or pickle/char it so the skin blisters and the peppery bite stays clean rather than hollow.

Best Uses

thick-ring slicing for fresh salsa where it stays snappy
quick pickling for crunchy pepper coins and tangy heat
roasting on high heat for charred edges without collapsing
searing into fajita-style strips for a crisp bite

Flavor Profile

bright grassy snap clean, peppery heat with a pepper-lingering finish thick-walled crunch that stays crisp in slices slight sweetness when fully red

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic cilantro white onion smoked paprika cotija cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum), and how can I manage it?

Watch for aphids and thrips, which can cause curling leaves and stippling—check the underside of foliage weekly. Spray insecticidal soap or horticultural oil and remove heavily infested shoots early; keep plants well-spaced in full sun to reduce humidity around leaves. If you see sudden wilting with dark stem areas, suspect bacterial wilt—remove and destroy affected plants to protect the rest of your Capsicum annuum crop.

How often should I water jalapeños during the main growing phase (roughly weeks 3–10)?

Water deeply whenever the top 1 inch of soil dries out, typically about 2–3 times per week in warm weather. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; peppers in Solanaceae are prone to root stress when constantly wet. Mulch around plants helps stabilize moisture for steady fruit set through the 75-day growing period.

How do I know when my jalapeños (Capsicum annuum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest jalapeños at about 75 days when fruits reach their typical size and feel firm, with a glossy skin. They start green and can be left on the plant longer for red jalapeños, but green harvest timing is best for the classic “spicy slice” flavor. Use pruning shears and cut the fruit with a short stem to avoid damaging the plant.