- Open-pollinated
- Mild
- 70 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- 1,000–1,500 SHU
- Green
TAM Jalapeno
TAM Mild Jalapeno-1 · Tam Jalapeno
Open-pollinated mild pepper from United States, 1981. Jalapeno flavour at a fifth of the heat, from a Texas A&M breeding line. Ready in about 70 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Oct 2, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Heat
- Mild 1,000–1,500 SHU
- Pod
- Elongated ~1 oz (20–35 g) (estimated)
Shiny dark green pods about 76 mm, blunt-tipped, ripening red if left on the plant.
- Species
- Capsicum annuum
- Days to harvest
- 70 days (estimated) from transplant · Midseason
- Plant height
- 1½–2 ft (46–61 cm) Compact
- Spacing
- 18 × 24 in (46 × 61 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 3 gal (15 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Easy (estimated) 1/5
- Skin
-
- Green
- Red
Heat
Scoville heat units
Mild
TAM Jalapeno Scoville heat units: 1,000–1,500 SHU
Warm rather than hot, around a Cubanelle, a Pepperoncini or a Shishito. Most people eat these without reaching for water.
Flavor
“Jalapeno flavour at a fifth of the heat, from a Texas A&M breeding line.”
Growing calendar
70 (estimated) days from transplant Midseason
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 7–9 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
- T Tobacco mosaic virus
- TEV Tobacco etch virus
- PepMoV Pepper mottle virus
- PVY Potato virus Y
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Canning
- Stuffing
- Roasting
- Beginner friendly
- Kid friendly
- Container star
- Disease tough
- Hot climate
Origin
TAM Jalapeno is the jalapeno with the heat bred out of it. The Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions compendium records TAM Mild Jalapeno-1 from B. Villalon at Texas A&M in 1981, out of USDA PI 342947, Avelar and Jalapeno L, as an open-pollinated Vera Cruz type with a compact frame and tolerance of high temperatures at fruit set. Sellers agree on the point of it: 1,000 to 1,500 Scoville heat units against 3,000 to 6,000 for an ordinary jalapeno. The flavour is unchanged, which is what makes it useful for anyone who wants whole jalapeno in a dish rather than a trace of it.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyLinks may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Oct 16, 2026.
All photos
Questions
How do you grow a TAM Jalapeno plant?
A TAM Jalapeno plant grows 1½–2 ft (46–61 cm) tall. Space plants 18 in (46 cm) apart in rows 24 in (61 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 7–9 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–21 days. It needs full sun.
How long does TAM Jalapeno take to mature?
TAM Jalapeno is ready in about 70 days from transplant.
How hot is TAM Jalapeno?
TAM Jalapeno sits in the mild range, about 1,000–1,500 Scoville heat units. Figures vary between seed sellers, so treat them as a band rather than a measurement.
Can TAM Jalapeno be grown in a container?
Yes — TAM Jalapeno grows well in a container of at least 15 L (3 gal).
Is TAM Jalapeno resistant to disease?
TAM Jalapeno carries documented resistance to Tobacco mosaic virus, Tobacco etch virus, Pepper mottle virus, and Potato virus Y.
