PLANTING DATE, FERTILIZER RATE, AND HARVEST TIMING AFFECT YIELD OF JALAPENO AND BANANA PEPPERS

Planting date, fertilizer rate, and timing of harvest can affect yield of Jalapeno and banana peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Seedlings of the Jalapeno 'Mitla' and Long yellow wax 'Sweet Banana #504' were transpl anted in Apr. and July 1995 into beds fertilized with either a recomme nded or a higher rate. Fruit were harvested either three times or once , the latter corresponding to the last of several harvests. Significan tly higher yields were produced from the July planting of both cultiva rs and with once-over harvesting, The recommended rate of fertilizer i ncreased yield of 'Sweet Banana #504' and decreased that of 'Mitla' co mpared to the higher rate.