NuMex Pumpkin Spice

• Grown, sold, and described by Bunny Hop Seeds
• Time to maturity: early season
• Heat: medium to hot (around 22,000 SHU)
• Approx. number of seeds per pack: 15+
• Capsicum annuum
• Bagged Bloom Seeds

“NuMex Pumpkin Spice” is a gorgeous jalapeno that I am very glad to add to my collection of varieties created by the New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Breeding Program, which also brought us NuMex Lemon Spice. NuMex Pumpkin Spice is one of three final selections from an original cross of ‘Permagreen’ bell pepper and ‘Early Jalapeno.’ Three final selections were developed using a pedigree breeding method with three backcrosses to a jalapeno pod type and single plant selection. The pedigree is pretty amazing to see: https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/50/7/article-p1104.xml?ArticleBodyColorStyles=pdf-4377
The three selections were named NuMex Pumpkin Spice, NuMexLemon Spice, and NuMex Orange Spice. Height of the plants is compact, from 14 to 20 inches, making them quite suitable for pot growth. NuMex Pumpkin Spice is the least spicy of the three varieties, with 22,198 SHU versus the fiery 79,442 SHU of NuMex Orange Spice.
Although NuMex Pumpkin Spice, NuMex Lemon Spice, and NuMex Orange Spice were all bred for the high temperatures and low humidity of New Mexico, I found that Lemon Spice tolerated humidity very well. Pumpkin Spice struggled a bit through my very wet and humid, hot summer, but then put on incredible blooms and unblemished fruit for the fall. Productivity would have made up at that point for the earlier summer’s struggle; however, along came Hurricane Sally in direct line with my garden, and she huffed and puffed and literally destroyed the blooms and ripe fruits. Therefore, my stock is limited for this season. I am growing it again though, and hope to have many more seeds to offer in this following season.