About this variety
What to expect from Pumpkin Spice Jalapeño Pepper Seeds
A pumpkin orange NMSU jalapeño with 22,000-25,000 SHU average reported heat.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
NuMex Pumpkin Spice is an NMSU-bred jalapeño selected for a distinct pumpkin orange mature color and a substantially hotter profile than a typical mild jalapeño.
NuMex Pumpkin Spice belongs to a three-cultivar group developed from a 1995 cross between Permagreen bell pepper and Early Jalapeño and released by NMSU in 2015. NMSU found its pods significantly longer than Early Jalapeño and reported little to no corking. The cultivar remains a Capsicum annuum jalapeño type; the color name should not be read as a flavor claim.
How to grow this pepper
Start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the average last spring frost. Sow 1/4 inch deep in a clean seed-starting medium and hold the root zone near 85°F. Under suitable moisture and temperature, emergence is commonly expected in 7 to 14 days. Provide strong light as soon as seedlings emerge. Harden plants gradually and transplant only after frost danger has passed, soil has warmed, and nights are consistently mild. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Keep moisture consistent without leaving roots waterlogged. Space plants about 18 inches apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart.
Harvest and use
Harvest green for the familiar immature jalapeño stage or leave pods on the plant until they mature pumpkin orange. NMSU reports 22,000-25,000 SHU reported across NMSU references as an average reference value. Actual pungency can shift with genetics, weather, water stress, and location. Use fresh, pickled, roasted, or in salsa wherever a hot jalapeño is appropriate.
Seed saving
Save seed only from fully mature fruit that has reached its final ripe color. Choose healthy, true-to-type plants and avoid saving from weak, diseased, or visibly off-type plants. Capsicum annuum varieties can cross through insect activity, so isolate flowering varieties or use blossom bags or pollinator-exclusion cages when varietal purity matters. Remove the seeds, spread them in a thin layer with good airflow away from direct heat and strong sunlight, and dry completely before labeling and storing them cool and dry. Save from multiple true-to-type plants when maintaining a population rather than merely saving a small household sample.





