My "Biker Billy" Jalapeños. I loved these things!

Monday December 24, 2007 - 03:05pm

Biker Billy Jalapeños: Worden-TN_7A Strain

Scoville Units: 4,000-10,000 conservatively
Harvested on 08/08/2007
+95% germination rate
24 seeds per packet
1^st generation from seed

Full Sun - 11 to 18 days to germination

Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost or direct sow in deep south 2-3 weeks after last frost. Sow seeds or transplant seedlings 12-18 inches apart. Harvest 66 days after transplanting. Plants grow up to 24 inches tall with fruits measuring over 2 inches at the shoulder and over 3½ inches long. When fully mature, fruits will be glossy red and extremely hot.

CAUTION: Wear gloves whenever handling peppers or seeds and avoid contact with skin. Discard gloves after use. Failure to follow these precautions may result in serious chemical burns due to capsaicin exposure. Wash exposed areas throughly and soak in milk. If pain and heat persists, proceed to the nearest hospital.

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The following is my record of the experiment used to determine "days until germination" and "germination rate".

Biker Billy Jalapeños (TN Generation 1)
Grown during 2007 from Burpee Transplant

• 08-08-2007 - Seeds harvested from mature peppers and dried.
  
• 12-03-2007 - 24 Harvested seeds selected for germination experiment. Seeds folded into a paper towel. Paper towel soaked in distilled water. Moistened paper towel put into a zip-lock plastic bag. Bag closed and marked with date and experiment data. Experiment placed on top of refrigerator.
• 12-14-2007 - 7 of 24 seeds show germination: Radicle visible outside of seed coat.
• 12-15-2007 - 9 of 24 seeds show germination. +33% germination established 1 week and 5 days after initial sowing.
• 12-16-2007 - 11 of 24 seeds show germination.
• 12-17-2007 - 12 of 24 seeds show germination. 50% germination established 2 weeks after initial sowing.
• 12-18-2007 - 16 to 17 of 24 seeds show germination. Radicles becoming tangled and difficult to visually count. Germination count unclear, between 16 and 17 radicles visible in strong back-light.
• 12-19-2007 - 17 of 24 seeds show germination. Visibly germinated seeds marked with black fine point permanent marker on outside of zip-lock bag.
• 12-20-2007 - 18 of 24 seeds show germination. Additional germinated seed marked marked with black fine point permanent marker on outside of zip-lock bag.
• 12-21-2007 - 23 of 24 seeds show germination. Additional germinated seed marked marked with black fine point permanent marker on outside of zip-lock bag. seeds shifted during marking and radicles damaged. Experiment ended on 12-21-2007, 2 weeks and 4 days after initial sowing. +95% germination reached at end of experiment.

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As many of you may or may not be aware, there was a drought here in the southern states during the growing season of 2007. The plant used for this experiment was the only Jalapeño in my garden that survived that drought. Due to stresses on the plant, the peppers became exceedingly hot and apparently drought tolerant. I had no weed problems, no disease problems and no pest problems on this one plant in my entire garden. It was grown in a mixture of potting soil and peat moss(to preserve the little moisture it did get) within a 5 gallon bucket with drainage holes drilled in the bottom. In the worst part of the heat and drought, I placed this bucket within another bucket to preserve more fluids and prevent burrowing insects from infesting the roots of the plant.

This gorgeous plant died at the first frost. I had intended to bring it inside prior, but my schedule did not permit leisurely digging in the garden. I collected quite a few seeds from this plant which I will be opening for trade in a few weeks. I'm watching the newest batch of seedlings from this plant very closely to determine viability.