[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick Gross]

I have kept various jalapeno plants alive for several years but consider it 
a futile objective. The stems are brittle and difficult to control when 
plants get tall. Each fruit has a jillion seeds. Open a couple, wash them 
thoroughly. dry them in a shady spot. Then soak for 24 hours and plant them 
in a flat 1/4th inch deep. They should sprout in about 3 weeks if kept damp 
and warm, at least 80 degrees constantly for fastest germination.

Transplant and you will have yourself a whole herd of healthy Jalapenos.

Never reduce the foliage more than 50% is my own policy and it works for me. 
It is best to let the plant reach a desired height and keep it there with 
maintenance pruning rather than a drastic haircut infrequently. For more 
drastic pruning, if necessary, be sure soil is warm and the plant well fed 
and in a vigorous  growth mode.

It sounds, however, like there is something else going on with your peppers, 
Marlene. I don't know what that is but I believe you would get better 
production with newer plants in fresh soil.

If this is off the mark or if it opens up other questions, don't hesitate to 
respond, Marlene. There are surely some certified pepper experts out there 
who will eagerly dispute my analysis but that is okay because I, too, learn 
from them.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A MCCE


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <edenquest at juno.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 9:21 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Marlene Harris
> 85213
> edenquest at juno.com
>
> Hello!
>   I can't seem to get a definitive answer from anyone on this topic--even 
> when the question posed to knowledgable folks at the gardening outlets I 
> frequent (the web is no help either!).
>   My question: can you prune back a jalapeno plant when it over-grows, and 
> if so at what time of year, and how much is allowable without harming the 
> plant?
>   I've had 2 very vigorous plants that have died when I attempted to 
> manage their ramant growth by pruning. Is over-growth in the jalapeno 
> something that is inevitable and unmanagable?
>   Thanks in advance for the help!
> M. Harris
>
>
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