Joe E. Parker Chilli

Capsicum annuum (nightshade)

Also known as: NuMex Joe E. Parker

A modern New Mexico chile, bred at New Mexico State University and released in 1990, named to honour Joe E. Parker, a long-time agricultural evaluator who helped select it. An Anaheim-type variety with genuinely thick, meaty walls and a rich, earthy flavour, it grows into long, tapering pods that mature from green to a deep red, with dense foliage that helps protect the fruit from sunburn. A cornerstone of Southwestern cooking, well suited to roasting, stuffing, canning whole, or the classic chiles rellenos. Mild heat of around 500–2,500 Scoville Heat Units.

Days to harvest 70–79 days
Fruit size 15–20cm, thick-walled, tapering
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 10–25 days at 24–29°C
Spacing 45–60cm apart
Aspect Full sun, well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Full sun, well-drained soil

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun spot with deeply worked, fertile soil. Dense foliage naturally shades the fruit, helping prevent sunburn even through a long, hot season. Suits 30L pots.

Soil preparation: Deeply worked, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter, pH 6.0–6.8.

Support: Staking recommended to keep fruit off the ground once plants are carrying a full crop.

Watering & feeding: Water deeply but avoid overwatering. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser once flowering begins.

Harvest: Pick first fruit early to encourage continued production. Can be harvested green or left to ripen fully to red for a sweeter flavour. Cut rather than pull to avoid damaging the plant.

Timing: Expect first harvest around 70–79 days after transplanting, with continued cropping through the warm months.

Key features

  • Open-pollinated, released 1990 (New Mexico State University)
  • Mild heat — 500–2,500 Scoville Heat Units
  • Long, thick-walled, meaty fruit to 15–20cm
  • Rich, earthy flavour
  • Dense foliage protects fruit from sunburn
  • Excellent for roasting, stuffing, canning, and chiles rellenos

Short season tips

Best started indoors on heat mats — this variety needs 24–29°C soil to germinate reliably, and germination can be slow, sometimes taking up to 3–4 weeks. Sow 8–10 weeks before the last frost or purchase as 6–8-week-old seedlings. Transplant into the garden only once soil temperature has reliably warmed to at least 15–16°C. Avoid disturbing roots when transplanting — chillies resent being moved and stall easily.

  • Spring
  • Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

  • Basil (particularly good for capsicums and chillies) Marigolds Onion Carrots
  • Other nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes) Fennel

Developed at New Mexico State University and released in 1990, part of the university's long-running Chile Breeding Program alongside other NuMex varieties. Named after Joe E. Parker, an agricultural evaluator who contributed to its selection, it remains closely related to both the classic Anaheim pepper and the famous Hatch green chile of New Mexico.