climate
Capsicum annum prefers full sun in a warm climate, these plants are mostly perennial in sub-tropical and tropical regions; however, they are usually grown as annuals in temperate climates.

soil
Prefers warm, moist, nutrient-rich soil.

growing
Start seeds indoors and sow ¼ inch deep, 8 to 12 weeks before the last frost. You can pre-soak seeds in warm water overnight prior to planting. After planting, keep moist and warm in a sunny location. Good results are also achieved by putting plastic cling wrap over the containers to create a hothouse environment. Remove when seedlings emerge.

harvesting
The red jalapeños are picked and moved to a closed smoking chamber and spread on metal grills. Wood is put in a firebox, and the smoke enters the sealed chamber. Every few hours the jalapeños are stirred to mix in the smoke. They're smoked for several days, until most of the moisture is removed. In the end, the chipotles have dried up in a manner akin to prunes or raisins. The underlying heat of the jalapeños combines with the taste of smoke. Typically, ten pounds of jalapeños make one pound of chipotles.

preserving
To freeze, wash thoroughly and let dry. Cut off stem and leave the seeds in. Freeze in containers or plastic bags. They'll taste "fresh" any time you eat them.

You can also make your own gourmet crushed hot peppers. Preheat oven and broil to 250°. Put dried hot peppers into oven in pan or on tin foil. Roast about 5 minutes or until just starting to darken. Let cool and put in blender. Crush to desired size.

All dried forms may also be ground into a powder.

Store dried peppers or powder in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.

caution!
Caution should be taken when processing or handling this pepper as it is very hot and you would not want to touch your eyes or other sensitive areas after handling.