Q. Why can't I grow the seeds that come from the dried chiles at the grocery store? A. Most dried chiles at the grocery store have been oven dried not sun-dried. The oven reaches a high temperature that kills the seeds. If you are buying the chiles to make red chile, reserve some seeds for a germination test. (Put vermiculite in a cut off styrofoam cup at about 2 inches high. Place 10 seeds all around the top about 1/4" deep. Keep moist and in bright light for at least 4 weeks. If they sprout transfer to containers.) Additional Note Most dried chile pod bags just say "Red Chile" and not the particular variety. Q. I can't decide which variety to grow, I want the actual "New Mexico Green Chile" that I eat at restaurants when I am in New Mexico. A. "New Mexico Green Chile" consists of several varieties. I suggest growing the NuMex Big Jim Variety first. This is a nice medium hot chile with a good harvest. It is a really big chile and fun to share with fellow gardeners! This variety can be roasted and then made into traditional tasting New Mexico green chile sauce. They can be cooked fresh for chile rellenos and also freeze well after roasting. After your first chile growing season, you can choose chile varieties for pungency (hotter or milder than Big Jim) and for your growing conditions (long or short season). If you have the garden space, try at least three varieties the first time! I would grow Big Jim, Espanola Improved and New Mexico #6. Q. Is your New Mexico #6 variety the New Mexico #6-4 that I like? A. Yes, it is. The New Mexico #6, New Mexico #6-4 and the College #6 are all the same chile variety. This particular variety has remained the most popular with New Mexican home gardeners over many decades. It is mild to medium and can be used in so many ways for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 2009 Update: The New Mexico #6 has recently been developed into another variety with all its best attributes. It is called NuMex Heritage 6-4. Q. This is not a question, I just wanted to comment that I am so happy that you are selling green chile seeds in packet size quantities. I love green chile, and as a gardener, I want to try a bunch of them. You have given me this opportunity for a small price. A. Your very welcome. It is my pleasure to sell green chile seeds in packets. It has always been a dream of mine to sell seeds. Please let me know what I can do to provide better service and products. Thanks again. Q. I'm just wondering, are your seeds non-gmo? A. All of our seeds are non-gmo. In fact, there are not any 'genetically modified organism' chile seeds developed yet. Many of our seeds are heirlooms and have been grown for generations. Heirloom seeds can be collected and grown again the following year. The NuMex varieties of green chile we offer have been hand selected at NMSU for desireable traits. This research takes several years and field grown trials to produce a chile plant with pods that have great taste, good yield, and other desireable characteristics. NuMex seeds can be collected and grown the following year. Hybrid seeds are not offered by Sandia Seed at this time. They have two different parent plants that produce a seed with all the vigor and greatness from each parent. These cannot usually be collected and grown the next year to produce the same result. “I love these seeds!!” I have planted some of your seeds here in So. California and I have good things to report! First, the Heritage 6-4 plants are produced some BIG boys. I will be preparing rellenos tomorrow night to try them out—I am excited! The Sandias are lookin' good. But I think I may let them turn red for ristras— not sure. I can't wait to taste these chilies. It's been so long since I have savored real New Mexico chilies. We have relatives in Belen & Deming and I suppose I could get my husband's cousin to send us some fresh, but this is so much more fun! Thanks for the seeds!   Jocelyn  Please e-mail your questions to sales@sandiaseed.com with "FAQ" in the subject line. Thank you.