Have you ever planted seeds for a spicy hot pepper, only to be disappointed when the pods finally came in and they lacked heat? Assuming your spice tolerance did not skyrocket overnight, there are a few reasons your spicy peppers may be coming in… not so spicy.
In this post, I will go over some of the reasons your peppers may be lacking in flavor and heat, as well as some techniques to grow spicier peppers. There is nothing more disappointing than harvesting your jalapeño or serrano peppers for a fresh hot sauce, only to find they’re not suitable for a hot sauce at all!
Peppers come in a wide range of heat levels from sweet bell peppers to scorching hot habaneros and ghost peppers. While genetics play a big role in determining the pungency of a pepper variety, there are some steps you can take to maximize the heat of your peppers.
What Makes Peppers Spicy?
The chemical compound capsaicin is what gives peppers their heat and spiciness. Capsaicin binds to pain receptors in the mouth, causing the sensation of heat and burning. The highest concentration of capsaicin is found in the ribs and seeds inside the pepper.
The amount of capsaicin in a pepper variety is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The ratings range from 0 SHU for a sweet bell pepper to over 2 million SHU for the spiciest peppers like the Carolina Reaper.
Why Might My Peppers Lack Heat?
There are a few reasons why your spicy pepper variety might be coming out mild:
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Genetics Not all pepper seeds of the same variety are identical. There can be natural variation in heat levels among plants of the same type.
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Early harvesting: Harvesting peppers before they fully ripen can result in less heat. Allow peppers to fully mature on the plant.
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Cool temperatures: Peppers often produce less capsaicin when nighttime temperatures are lower, below 55°F (13°C).
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Overwatering: Too much water can dilute spiciness. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
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Low stress: Higher heat levels often occur when plants experience minor stressors like drought, high temps, or nutritional imbalances.
5 Ways to Grow Hotter Peppers
Here are some tips and tricks to try for getting the most heat out of your pepper crop:
1. Choose the Hottest Varieties
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Select pepper varieties known for extreme heat like habaneros, ghost peppers, or scorpion peppers.
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Avoid “mild” versions of typically hot peppers which have been bred to reduce spiciness.
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Obtain seeds from reputable suppliers to ensure authenticity.
2. Maximize Heat with Growing Conditions
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Plant in full sun and use black or red mulch to warm the soil.
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Avoid overwatering, allow soil to partially dry out between waterings.
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Use a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen ratio to slightly stress plants.
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Allow peppers to fully ripen on the plant before harvesting.
3. Try Stressing Plants
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Mildly stressing pepper plants can increase capsaicin production.
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Allow plants to wilt slightly before watering. Stop fertilizing after fruit sets.
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Expose plants to heat over 90°F (32°C) which can boost spiciness.
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Don’t overdo it as too much stress can reduce yields.
4. Remove Capsaicin
- To tame heat, remove the ribs and seeds before using peppers. Much of the capsaicin is in these inner parts.
5. Add Heat After Picking
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Boost flavor by adding ground cayenne pepper, chili flakes, or hot sauce to dishes made with milder peppers.
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Make a spicy seasoning rub by grinding dried hot peppers. Coat mild fresh peppers before cooking.
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Infuse olive or vegetable oil with dried peppers to make a spicy cooking oil.
Troubleshooting for Heat
If your peppers still lack the expected amount of kick, here are some things to check:
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Verify pepper variety – could it be a naturally milder strain?
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rule out early harvesting. Allow all pods to fully ripen before picking.
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Ensure plants get 8+ hours of direct sunlight daily.
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Avoid heavy watering which can dilute spiciness.
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Try a new seed source next season for a genetic “reset”.
Enjoy the Burn!
With some planning and a few growing tricks, you can harvest peppers with the perfect amount of heat for your desired spiciness level. Getting the most out of your peppers’ natural capsaicin content takes a little work but is worth it when your dishes deliver that addicting chili burn.
How To Grow Spicier Peppers
There is a lot of ongoing research about growing hotter peppers. It’s important to disregard some of the false claims around growing spicier peppers. Planting your bell pepper next to your ghost peppers will not make spicy bell peppers. Here are some proven ways to ensure your peppers pack a punch.
Stress your plants
While we rarely recommend stressing your plants, many studies have shown that stressed pepper plants produce more capsaicin. Pungency increases with stress from high temperatures, drought, and imbalances in soil fertility.
If your peppers are lacking spice, try holding back on water. Stressing your plant a bit will help the pepper produce more capsaicin. To do this, allow the leaves of the plant to wilt and droop a bit before watering.
If you want to stress your plants and hold back watering them, you’ll want to do so after pods are already forming. Capsaicin begins to accumulate around 10 days after flowers form. Therefore, there is no benefit to stressing your plants before the flowering stage.
Stressing your sweet pepper plants with drought will not make them spicy. It is also worth noting this practice can result in smaller yields.
How To Grow Hotter Peppers (Harvest Spicier Pods)
FAQ
How do they make hotter peppers?
It turns out it was not a myth. The ingredient in hot peppers which gives them heat is called capsaicin and is referred to as the pepper’s natural defense. When jalapeno plants are stressed, as when they are lacking water, the capsaicin increases, resulting in hotter peppers.
Why are my peppers not spicy?
Peppers might be mild instead of spicy due to genetics and environmental conditions. Stressful growing conditions, like limited water and heat, can increase capsaicin production, making peppers hotter. If peppers are overwatered, they may be milder.
What conditions make peppers hotter?
- Controlled Water Stress: Slightly stressing the plants can increase capsaicin levels, making peppers spicier. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.
- Temperature: Higher temperatures can also enhance spiciness.
Does stressing peppers make them hotter?
Research has shown that water stress can significantly impact the accumulation of capsaicinoids, the compounds responsible for the heat in peppers.
How can you make hot peppers hotter?
To make hot peppers hotter, use a high nitrogen fertilizer and add extra to the plants. It is also believed that sulfur contributes to pepper heat. A simple solution is to place a strike anywhere match in the planting hole, as the sulfur in the match head can help increase the peppers’ heat.
How do peppers get hot?
The heat of a pepper comes from capsaicin, a compound concentrated in the pepper’s placenta (the white membrane inside the fruit). Capsaicin production is influenced by genetics, but environmental factors also play a significant role. By optimizing growing conditions, you can encourage higher capsaicin levels and grow hotter peppers. 1.
What is the best way to grow hotter peppers?
The best way to grow hotter peppers is not to stress plants with low nitrogen. Padrón pepper plants produced hotter fruit with higher fertilizer levels, indicating that providing ample nutrients can help increase the heat of peppers.
Are hot peppers easier to grow?
Gardeners in warmer weather regions will generally have an easier time growing spicy peppers than those in cooler regions. There is also evidence showing those at higher elevations may also have an easier time growing hotter peppers. This is due to the higher prevalance of the Fusarium fungus.
How hot do peppers get?
Temperature plays a direct role in how hot your peppers will be. Daytime temperatures between 80–90°F (27–32°C) help maximize capsaicin production. Warmer nights (above 70°F or 21°C) also contribute to spicier peppers. If you live in a cooler climate, consider growing peppers in a greenhouse or using black plastic mulch to retain heat in the soil.
Does Epsom salt make peppers hotter?
While Epsom salt can boost plant growth, there is no logic or scientific evidence that magnesium affects the hotness of peppers. If you want super hot peppers, harvest them when the fruit stops growing in size.