Jalapeno Seeds: Can You Grow Jalapenos from Store Bought Peppers?

When buying Jalapeno peppers, do you ever wonder if you can start growing Jalapenos from seeds inside those chilies? Jalapeno seeds aren’t hard to come by, but it can seem wasteful not to start harvesting jalapeno seeds that are readily available.

So back to the original question: Can you grow Jalapenos from store bought peppers?

The simple answer is yes. Having said that, this leads to more questions about what you can expect from these types of seeds. For example, are these seeds harvested from mature peppers, and are you collecting seeds from hybrid chillies?

Below, are some tips to help you pick out the best jalapenos from the store and the steps you’ll need to grow them out.

Get Jalapeno Seeds From Mature Peppers

When harvesting jalapeno seeds, make sure you choose mature chillies. The seeds from ripe pods have a better chance of germinating (sprouting).

Ripe peppers are the color of their maturity. In the case of conventional jalapenos, this color is red.

Likewise, some jalapenos have “corking” on the skin. These light, beige stretch marks can be another sign of maturity.

Planting Seeds From Grocery Store Produce

Jalapenos and other grocery produce are typically F1 hybrids. It’s harder to try growing Jalapenos from fresh seeds that are hybrids.

Why?

When you grow out seeds from hybrid peppers, you won’t get jalapenos like the ones you bought in the store. In other words, hybrids won’t produce an exact duplicate of the original plant and what you’ll get instead are variations. For example, your jalapenos might be smaller, taste differently or hardly produce at all.

Hybrids are specifically developed to have desirable traits for commercial retailers. Their seeds, however, are genetically unstable.

The Best Store Bought Peppers For Seeds

If you have an organic or natural health foods store nearby, check out their supply of jalapeno peppers. You might find “heirloom” varieties. These types of seeds are the best for growing.

Likewise, your local farmer’s market (if your area has one) would be another great option. Ask the vendor about their jalapenos. Heirloom or open pollinated varieties work really well for planting.

How To Plant Jalapeno Seeds From The Pepper

Once you have your jalapeno peppers, you’ll need to harvest the seeds and then plant them so they germinate. Below, is a brief overview of each process.

Harvesting Jalapeno Seeds

Note: Put gloves on before starting this process so you don’t burn yourself.

Cut the jalapeno open and scrape the seeds out on a napkin or plate. Let the seeds dry for a couple of weeks before planting them.

(If you’re harvesting a bunch of peppers, here are some other ways to harvest your chillies so this process goes quicker.)

Saving Jalapeno Seeds After Harvesting

If you don’t plant your seeds right after they’re dry, be sure to store them in a cool, dry place. You can use envelopes or small, sealable baggies.

Germinating Jalapeno Seeds

Make sure you’re planting at the right time before you attempt to start growing jalapenos from seeds. This is generally six to eight weeks before your last frost date.

An effective way to germinate your seeds is to do a seed viability test. (This is also known as the “baggie method.”)

This simple test uses a paper towel, sealable baggie and plant heat mat. Seeds are germinated in a napkin and then transferred to seed-starting mix or other growing media.

You have more options for sprouting your seeds. In the case of sowing seeds from store bought jalapenos, I would definitely do this test because it lets you know if your seeds can even grow so you don’t waste a lot of time.

Jalapeno Seeds Not Germinating?

Even if you pick the best store-bought peppers, they still might not grow.

Here are a couple of things you can do to give seeds the best chance at germinating:

• Keep the napkin moist during the seed viability test. Seeds won’t germinate if they dry out.
• Use a plant heat mat to keep the seeds warm so they can sprout. Pepper seeds need the right temperature to germinate.

Seeds from store bought jalapenos can be a fun experiment. Use these types of seeds in the spirit of adventure.

If you prefer to know exactly what you’ll get, it’s best to purchase jalapeno seeds.

» Related: Where to Buy Pepper Seeds Online

I hope this article gives you a better understanding of growing jalapenos from store bought peppers. After your jalapeno seeds sprout, be sure to check out this guide to caring for your pepper seedlings.

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• Jalapeno Pepper Varieties: Which One Will You Grow?
• When to Pick Jalapenos: How to Know When They’re Ready for Harvest
• Growing Peppers from Seed to Harvest – The Ultimate Guide
• Are Peppers Fruits or Veggies? Depends on Who You Ask