Gardeners who just can’t get enough of the fire of a capsaicin-rich pepper are always on the lookout as to how to grow hotter peppers. Heat can be a tricky thing when it comes to peppers, especially when you realize that the heat of individual fruits that grow on the same plant can vary widely. But there are some tricks and techniques that can help peppers fulfill their potential.
Not too much water
Likely the most critical tip to grow hotter peppers is to not over-water the plants. You should be a lot stingier with the water than usual and give the plants a drink only when the leaves start looking a bit droopy. This works best when the plant is just setting fruit, but it can be used throughout the growing process.
Why does this work? Under-watering creates a stress response in the plant. When pepper plants experience stress, such as lack of water, they produce more of the compound responsible for their spiciness, called capsaicin. Capsaicin acts as a defense mechanism for the plant, deterring animals from eating them. So, when chilies are under-watered, they may produce more capsaicin to protect themselves, making them spicier.
Not too much nitrogen, either, for hotter peppers
Fertilizing chili peppers with nitrogen can lead to less spicy peppers because nitrogen promotes leafy growth at the expense of fruit development. Spicy compounds in chili peppers, such as capsaicin, are produced as a defense mechanism against stressors like pests and lack of nutrients. When the plant receives an excess of nitrogen, it’s happy and healthy. So it focuses more on vegetative growth rather than producing compounds like capsaicin. As a result, the chili peppers may be milder in flavor.
So if you’re seeking a fertilizer, look for low nitrogen options. We typically recommend 5-10-10 fertilizer for chilies (5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium). If you’re seeking hotter peppers, try using an option with less nitrogen. One with N-P-K values of 2-10-10 is a place to start as that lessens the nitrogen from 5% to 2%, adding more stress to the plant.
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Add sulfur
Adding sulfur to a pepper plant can potentially increase the heat level of the peppers it produces due to, again, a stress response. Sulfur can, like the options above, trigger a defense mechanism where the plant produces more capsaicin. However, it’s important to note that while sulfur application may increase the heat level of peppers, it is essential to use it carefully and in appropriate amounts to avoid harming the plant or affecting the taste of the peppers.
As a way to moderate the amount, some gardeners toss a few unlit matches into the hole before they put the plant in. Match heads, after all, contain sulfur, and they’re cheaper to buy than great gigantic bags of the element.
Avoid cross-pollination
Since peppers are closely related to each other, they can cross-pollinate. This means that a hot pepper can cross-pollinate with a sweet pepper and create future generations of seeds that are milder than expected. Make sure that different types of peppers are grown a good distance from each other.
Note: This only impacts the seeds of the fruit, not the current generation of peppers. Your chili peppers that first year would be as hot as expected. To learn more, read our post on what is a hybrid plant.
Let chili peppers age on the vine
The longer a hot pepper ages, the spicier they become. The amount of capsaicin in the fruit increases over time, as long as they are on the vine. So if you can wait until those green jalapeños turn red, then you’re in for a much spicier experience.
Must-read related posts
- Pepper Plants Growing Slowly? Here May Be Why: There are some common reasons you need to consider.
- 12 Common Pepper Plant Problems And Diseases: Learn about the most common issues you’ll face growing chilies.
- Are Dried Chilies Hotter Than Fresh? Does the drying process impact capsaicin, impacting the overall heat?
Help! My pepper plant is the lone survivor from 12 two years ago. I have only received one small pepper in this time. I live in Southern California the southern San Quine Valley 100 + degrees here how can I produce fruit from the lone survivor?
“Avoid cross-pollination”
that would only affect the future pepper plants grown from the seeds of the cross pollinated fruits, not the current pepper. a jalapeño plant will only produce hot peppers regardless of whether it was crossed with sweet pepper or a habanero. only the seeds would carry the traits of the sweet pepper or habanero.