Pumpkin (Spice) Jalapeno

About This Variety

The Pumpkin (Spice) Jalapeno is a NuMex-bred open-pollinated variety that produces small, round, pumpkin-shaped jalapeno peppers. They mature to a beautiful orange color and pack mild to moderate heat (2,500–5,000 SHU). This is a unique novelty pepper — eye-catching in the garden and a conversation starter at the farmers market or dinner table. The squat, ribbed shape looks more like a tiny pumpkin than a traditional jalapeno.

How to Save Seeds

Let peppers ripen FULLY on the plant — past the eating stage, until they wrinkle slightly. The seeds need that extra time to reach full maturity.
Cut open the ripe pepper and scrape the seeds onto a plate or paper towel. No fermentation is needed (unlike tomatoes).
Spread seeds in a single layer on a plate or screen. Dry for 1–2 weeks in a warm spot out of direct sunlight.
Once completely dry, store seeds in a labeled envelope. Include the variety name and the year harvested.

Tip: Wear gloves when handling jalapeno seeds — even mild ones can irritate skin and eyes.

Cross-Pollination

All common garden peppers — jalapenos, bells, Anaheims, paprikas — belong to the same species: Capsicum annuum. They can and do cross-pollinate, primarily via bees and other insects. The fruit you harvest this year won't be affected (the mother plant's genetics determine the fruit), but the seeds inside may carry crossed genetics that show up next generation.

Warning — Drew's Garden: You have 5+ pepper varieties (all C. annuum) growing in the same garden. Expect 5–15% cross-pollination from bee activity. The good news: 85–95% of saved seed will still come true to variety.

Your options for maintaining purity:

Method	Effort	Purity
Accept the gamble	None	85–95% true
Isolate one priority variety at 150+ ft	Moderate	~98%+
Bag / hand-pollinate flowers	High	~100%