Jalapeno plant question

[shauna]

I have 3 jalapeno plants going (I'm planning to make and can salsa this year!) and I've got LOTS of peppers going, but the ones I've harvested so far don't seem to be very hot. I have tried leaving them on until they are a yellow-ish green color, and also tried the ones that are dark green, like they look in the store... the yellowish ones are "hotter" but still not HOT, like I'm used to in a jalapeno. I ate a green one off the plant last night, and it might as well have been a regular green bell pepper! (Even the seeds and pith didn't add any heat!)

Am I just not leaving them on the plant long enough? Should I wait until they turn red? The ones in the store are dark green and are very hot, but my dark green ones are VERY MILD. This is my first year growing jalapenos, and I've consulted a few books, but can't seem to find my answer.

Is there anything special I need to do with them to get them to be hotter? Maybe it is the variety that I planted?

Shauna

[laura]

I spoke with a man from Texas, and he told me that the 'dryer' the soil the hotter the pepper.
My son is growing Jalapenos / cheyeen (ki-anne) / and Habeneros. We let the soil get dry to the point the leaves start to look "wilty" then give the water. Within an hour the leaves perk up, and we are off to the races again!!

His "chili peppers" are starting to turn red......so they may be close to done.
His jalapenos are not quite long enough to pick (the instructions said wait till they are about 3 inches long / or 75 days)
His Habeneros are not orange yet.

Laura