Question
I'm an ex-pat living in Kiev, Ukraine (green zone).  On my last trip back to the States I brought back a packet of Jalapeno M's seeds (hot) and ended up with about 14 plants on my balcony.  Unfortunatly they're only mildly hot, not nearly as hot as what I'm used to.  They are still producing fruit of course, some in 6 litre pots and others in a hanging flower box (about 5 ' long).  I water them just about daily.  Should I leave them on the plant longer?....less water?  Thanks.

Answer
Ken, unlike bell peppers, the longer you leave the jalapenos on the vine, the hotter they will get.  I would leave them until about 3 days before your first expected frost date.  Until then, water them as you normally would by letting the soil dry out almost completely, and then watering the pots very deeply. Then you can harvest them and either freeze or can the extras if you have too many to use at once.

Also, the reason your peppers are milder now than when you lived in the states is the soil.  Peppers grown in regular potting soil do not receive the same nutrients as those grown directly in the garden bed.  This affects the taste and growth habits of all vegetables, not necessarily for the worse, but just differently.

I hope this answered your question.  Please write again if you ever need assistance.

Regards,

Mike