No heat Jalepenos.

[meat hunter]

Ok, was just out in my garden, picking some japs so I could quickly make some poppers on the grill. All my big japs, have the lines/streaks on the skin, I think maybe overripe? But they are still green and about 3-3 1/2 inches long. Bit into them, zero heat. I mean nothing. I think it would be safe to rub them on your eyes. Bell peppers are hotter than these. So I went back out, picked a few little ones, about 1 1/2 long. One bite and my lips and tongue went numb with pain. What gives? Did I let my japs get to large or leave them on the plant too long?

 

[pignit]

I've always heard the smaller the hotter. Seems to hold true. If I'm looking for mild I pick out the larger ones.

 

[fire it up]

You can get a difference in heat from one pepper to the next when it comes to japs.
It also could be that the plant you had was cross contaminated (most likely not intentionally) with another pepper the year before if from seed and that could alter the genetics of the plant.
You didn't let them get too big or anything so it is weird the complete difference between the two, especially if from the same plant but it has been known to happen.
I actually have a no-heat jalapeno plant growing that was specifically designed for the exact look and taste of a jalapeno but absolutely none of the heat.
I would guess that you just had a seed or a plant form a seed that was not grown securely, if another pepper even 1/4-1/2 mile away is growing and gets cross pollinated the results would show up from the seeds produced and in the plant that was grown the following year.

 

[mballi3011]

That sounds weird but it's like to coin a phase It's "like a abt's mine field yiu don't know when you'll get the hot ones" Thats was stolen from Dennis the other night. Now I have had some not so hot jalapenos a couple of times but you can never prodited it. last time wasfor a 50 birthday party. They were a hit. I just said it ws the cooks fault why they tasted so good.

 

[meat hunter]

The 2 peppers were all from an assortment of plants. However, I did plant them next to other pepper plants, sweet peppers to be exact. Some red lipstick and giant marconni peppers, as well as some bells. Could those have an effect on them?

Oh man, I touched my eye a bit ago and the inside of my nose. My face feels like its falling off LOL.

 

[fire it up]

Planting next to other peppers wouldn't make any difference if they are simply growing near each other, but if you grew a hot pepper next to a mild pepper and saved the seeds then grew plants from the seeds the following year you wouldn't get have a pure strain anymore.

 

[beer-b-q]

From eating a ton of jalapeno peppers I have found that they are one of the most unpredictable peppers out there...

I have gotten pickled peppers at a national fast food chicken chain and one time they are almost too hot to eat and the next time you hardly taste the heat. They always use the same brand so I know it is not because of that.

I think the thing that has the biggest effect on them is the climate in which they are grown. If it is a hot dry year they seem to be hotter than if it has been cool and wet.

That is just my take on it and may not be the actual reasons...

 

[meat hunter]

Even thought the other peppers are a sweet variety, would that still have an impact on the seeds if I were save them for the following year?
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"BEER-B-Q
I think the thing that has the biggest effect on them is the climate in which they are grown. If it is a hot dry year they seem to be hotter than if it has been cool and wet. "

Well this year certainly has been unseasonably cool and damp. Everything is stunted. I bet thats it right there.

 

[geek with fire]

Man, I was so ready to disagree with you as I've always heard about cross pollination with chilies. But after some research, I bow to your knowledge. Here's an article that I found supporting your response:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/p...742030439.html
nice call. Sorry for doubting you.

Now, back to the original post: My take is that they are overly ripe jaleps. When I'm doing ABT's for people I know can't handle the heat, I always grab the biggest chilies.

 

[beer-b-q]

This may help explain it better...

http://www.harvestwizard.com/2009/03...ili_peppe.html

 

[alx]

What PAUL posted is my experience.My red japs for chipotles take a month from time they blush to the deep red i want in powders.They stabalize in heat and become very sweet....

 

[chefrob]

stressing a plant will produce hotter chillis.......hence where i live, i grow big jims that are not big and are hotter than most people's jalapenos. water and heat will always affect chillis.

 

[morkdach]

i agree with this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

as i have some large one like you that the skins have lines one be mild and the next oh wow

 

[got14u]

u nailed it !

 

[mrh]

Mine did the same thing this year. Looked great, big size, and no heat. I figured it was the cooler and wetter summer. Or maybe the variety, I got them as plants.

 

[got14u]

our summer started out the same...i checked about every 2 weeks for heat but nothing...then i started starving them of water after all the rains quit and oh my god are they burning hot !!

 

[kulok]

you guys make me want to plant a pepper garden/i love hot peppers

 

[smokin dad]

I to have noticed a pretty big difference in heat between jalapenos always figured it was just the difference in plants..
I may try growing my own this yr.

Thanks for the helpfull post above on growing info.