Provide Consistent, Deep Watering
Jalapeños thrive when soil moisture is steady—neither bone dry nor waterlogged. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to deliver about 1–2 inches of water per week, deeply soaking the root zone. This encourages roots to grow downward, improving drought resilience and overall plant vigor.
I always mulch around my pepper beds with straw or shredded leaves to lock in moisture and create nesting pockets for ground beetles. These predators patrol the mulch layer, hunting slugs and snails that might otherwise nibble on tender seedlings.