Emerald Fire Hybrid Pepper Seeds

Days to Maturity: 90 from transplant

All-America Selections (AAS) Winner 2015 (for high yields, large fruit, and moderate heat)

Oh, you're going to love this jalapeño. Whether you grow your hot peppers for fresh salsa, for pickling, for grilling, for stuffing, or for all of the above, Emerald Fire fits the bill.

This award-winning powerhouse offers extra large, thick-walled, crack-resistant peppers, plump and delicious, with about 2,500 Scovilles of heat. That's not enough to send you running for ice water, but it definitely adds a big zing to any dish. Emerald Fire is so productive that you'll have enough peppers to share with your friends or use in a marathon canning session.

Emerald Fire is simply an all-around improved jalapeño. The plant is compact enough for patio containers, but you should probably give it some support to hold up the big bounty of peppers. The fruit arises very, very abundantly—20 fruits on a single plant is nothing special for Emerald Fire.

The fruit looks as good as it tastes, too. Plump, straight, and well-filled with solids and juices, these thick-walled peppers average about 3½ inches long by 1¼ inches in diameter at the widest point. Pick them green for the full complement of flavor, or let them turn to succulent red for an extra jolt of vitamins.

Emerald Fire is easy to grow. It stands up to heat, humidity, and other stressors, refusing to crack and resisting potato virus Y (PVY) effortlessly. This is a no-fuss, always reliable pepper you will find yourself putting at the top of the list for your vegetable garden year after year.

Emerald Fire takes its time getting to harvest, so in climates with shorter growing seasons, start the seeds indoors about 7 to 10 weeks before last scheduled spring frost. Transplant when the seedlings have at least 2 sets of true leaves and the soil has warmed. Fertilize the plants when the blooms appear, and water well all season. Enjoy.