Organic Control for Tomato Hornworms on PeppersTomato Hornworms are really big green caterpillars that can devastate your pepper garden. Giant brown moths lay pearl-like eggs on your pepper leaves, from which the monsters will hatch and start to eat voraciously. They can decimate all the leaves on a plant overnight. The best organic control might be picking the caterpillars off the plants, but by then it could be too late to save your plants. Also, touching and pulling them off is gross, but depending on how mad you are, you won’t mind! ...
Pepper Growing for BeginnersA customer just asked us about his seedlings that were just starting to popup. He's a beginner and was wondering if he should keep the humidity dome on them if not all the seeds had sprouted yet, and when he should fertilize. Here's our quick answer: Don't keep a humidity dome over your peppers after they germinate as that can cause damping off and other problems. The rest should still mostly sprout if kept moist. You can also move the ones that haven't germinated under a h...
TomateoWe noticed a lot of you are searching for "Tomateo" – so we think you may be looking for Tomatillos which is a hard one to spell! We now carry Tomatillo seeds! They do go great with chiles, we must say.In fact, we have a tasty Tomatillo Salsa Recipe » In the meantime, make sure to try all of our wonderful Heirloom tomato seeds and chile pepper seeds. Make sure to grow all the amazing varieties we carry from around the world. It's easy to grow our Tomatillo seeds in your garden. ...
Growing Hot Peppers in PotsGrowing Hot Peppers in Pots is easy! Here are some of our top tips:Some varieties do better than others, so choose wisely, and make sure to plant them in a well-draining larger pot that is at least 5+ gallons in size. You want to make sure you have well-draining potting soil (not garden soil) with plenty of drainage holes so that the roots don't stay soggy. Here are all of our peppers that grow well in pots » OUR TOP TIPS:Growing Super Hot Peppers like the Carolina Reaper in Containers:...
When to Plant Cucumber SeedsWondering when to plant cucumber seeds? Well, it's mid-June and it is the perfect time to plant cucumber seeds! You can plant cucumbers seeds after all chance of frost has past, for many areas in the United States that is from May to June, depending on your growing region. As they are fast growing, you could also plant cucumber seeds in June and early July and still have time for a harvest in late summer and fall. We find that they do best when planted directly in the ground. But, if you ...
Growing Peppers with CompostDid you know that making and using homemade compost in your pepper garden will help your pepper plants thrive? Most vegetables love soil that is enriched yearly with quality compost. Great reasons to make your own compost:A great reason to make your own compost is you know exactly what goes in it, if you don't use chemicals in your landscape, and buy organic produce, then you are assured your compost is going to be free of chemicals, which is what you want. Homemade compost is also alive,...
Soil for PeppersBest Soil for Peppers: Best Soil for Starting Pepper Seeds When starting pepper seeds indoors, it's important to use a good quality seed/seedling starting mix such as Coast of Maine's which performs very well with all pepper seeds. Be sure to use seedling mix rather than garden soil or top soil as seedling/seed mixes are created to be well-draining. We do not recommend using those small Jiffy Pots or peat for starting pepper seeds, as they just don't seem to like to germinate ve...
Chiltepin PepperHave you grown “mother of all peppers,” the Chiltepin? These ancient tiny hot Chiltepin peppers do love heat, but they thrive best in the partial shade of a tree or bush. Their environment in the wild is often under other plants, where they get some shade. When growing in the wild, these peppers are most often found growing under plants like mesquite or hackberry, preferring a shaded area in the low desert. The Chiltepin, also known as Tepin peppers, grow abundantly on 36” tall plants. ...
Best Tomato CagesWhat are the Best Tomato Cages?Sturdy ones. We like using the sturdier thick cages, but they're a little harder to find. If you grow tomatoes, they're probably one of your favorite crops, like ours, and you want to ensure that the plants are healthy and supported so you get a great harvest. What kind of Tomato supports do you use?Those darned flimsy wire "tomato cages" that are sold at hardware stores are useless once a tomato plant gets large, as you can see in these photo...
Vegetarian Green Chili StewMake your own homegrown Vegetarian Green Chili Stew in the fall and winter months! This recipe is completely vegan & vegetarian for those of you who want a hearty healthy vegan meal. VEGETARIAN GREEN CHILE STEW RECIPE: Ingredients: 1½ tbsp olive oil 1-2 cups roasted homegrown green chiles, peeled, deseeded, and diced Mushrooms (optional) 3-5 Potatoes, diced (optional, but we love potatoes in this!) 1 onion, diced 2-4 Garlic Cloves, chopped finely 2 tsp salt 1½ tsp cumin 1½ tsp Mexican ...
Growing Tomatoes from SeedIt takes about six to eight weeks to grow tomatoes from a seed to a seedling plant that is ready to transplant outside. Start seeds indoors for best results. In 5 to 12 days your tomato seeds should germinate. Germination is best in warm temperatures (70° to 80° Fahrenheit). A heat mat for seed starting will dramatically hasten tomato seed germination. Sow seeds in cells filled with seedling mix and lightly sprinkle a bit on top to cover. Gently moisten the cells with water and place on a see...
Plant Vegetables in July!Did you know that July is the PERFECT time to get things outside for the fall season for many growing regions? It's not too late to add to your garden!Sandia Seed is excited to share that we just added lots more Vegetable Seeds to go with all of our 140+ different types of chile pepper and tomato seeds! July is a great time to plant any of the leafy greens like lettuce and spinach, and other veggies like carrots, beets, radishes, beans, scallions, and broccoli. July and August are a gr...
Purple PeppersSandia Seed has a wide variety of purple peppers that you can grow easily from seed! Purple in the garden is always a welcome sight! And, when you use purple peppers in your salads and recipes, they really add some great flavor and color! Our favorite purple peppers include both sweet and hot peppers. To start, we'll introduce you to our purple hot peppers. Our Purple Bhut Jolokia Ghost Peppers start out in beautiful purple then ripen to white/pale green and eventually turn to a deep pur...
Best Seed Catalog for 2020!If you're looking for the Best Seed Catalogs for 2020, make sure to check out Sandia Seed's new Seed Catalog, packed with over 100 different types of pepper seeds from around the world, as well as 44 tomato seeds. Many of our seeds are Organic, and all of them are non-GMO of course! Support our small, woman-owned seed company and spread the love of peppers in your neck of the woods. We specialize in Hatch Chile seeds, which are green chiles grown in the Hatch region of New Mexico. We...
2021 Seed Catalog is at the Printer!Sandia Seed's brand new 2021 Seed Catalog is at the Printer and should be arriving to be ready to ship out in a couple weeks in early January. So, if you are looking for something exciting to grow, you have found the right place. Enjoy our new 2021 Seed Catalog and we hope you find a new variety to grow along with your favorites. Sandia Seed expands our seed catalog every year to meet demand for different and unique peppers. This year is no different with 8 new seed varieties. Here at Sa...
Growing Peppers in Cold ClimatesPeppers are heat loving vegetables, and so if you want to grow them in cooler climates, here are our tips for greater success. 1. Choose Shorter Season Peppers: Make sure to choose peppers that mature quickly. A few good faster maturing peppers include:Sweet Chocolate Bell PepperOur earliest pepper, ripening around 57 days! Jalapeño Early SeedsThe best pepper for short seasons and cooler climates. Jalapeño Lemon SpiceShishito Pepper SeedsBanana Pepper SeedsPadron Pepper SeedsAnaheim Green Chi...
Fantastic! I will be ordering from Sandiaseed from now on.
Germination for nearly all of my varieties was 3-5 days (95% - 100% success rate). My varieties include: Red Ghost, Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion, Devils Tongue, Cayenne Ring of Fire, Habenero Red, Yellow Jamaican, Paprika Numex, and Bolivian Rainbow. Another thing that I really appreciated is that each packet seemed to contain 20% more seeds than indicated (each 10 seed pack contained 12 seeds) - Not sure if that is standard but it was a nice bonus.
I've found that when you combine roasted carrots, habaneros, lime juice and garlic, it will make the best hot sauce of your life. I think it's the sweetness and depth of the carrots that make the sauce even better, and pairs perfectly with the habanero heat. I got the inspiration from one of my favorite store-bought hot sauces, Marie Sharp's Habanero hot sauce. Sometimes I add some of your Chef's orange tomatoes too to make more of it, and they also give more flavor to the hot sauce and help tame the heat a bit. I grow these in my garden every year along with your orange habaneros, orange tomatoes and other hot peppers and veggies. Very reliable.
These fabulous peppers added lots of color to our patio pots. So pretty in multiple colors, plus you can pick them and add to salsa for a nice spicy kick. These are fun in any ornamental edible garden.
We let these hang dry, then ground them up – they made the tastiest pepper flakes. They have a nice kick, but good flavor too. Easy to grow plants, pretty peppers.
Great seeds, good germination, plants grow quickly and produce lots of pods for roasting. Great flavor and just the right amount of spice. We grow these every year in our garden in Utah.
I tried these purple Cherokee seeds on 2024. This is the first time growing these purple Cherokees and were amazed at the ease of germination and taste
These germinated in two days. I started them in midsummer and they fruited by late fall in my zone 10b garden and are overwintering just fine. I’ll have more to harvest by late spring. I made my red sauce for pozole for Christmas with my harvest!
Big Chiles with just enough heat to add to green enchilada's. The flavor after roasting is fantastic. Since green chile roasting is not a local thing in Eastern Washington we us a weed burner. The smell of roasting peppers is heavenly.
My favorite green chili to grow. Plenty of heat and after roasting sit perfectly on a hamburger. Also my wonderful wife makes Puelo Chili jam that is a real crowd pleaser
Organic Control for Tomato Hornworms on Peppers
Tomato Hornworms are really big green caterpillars that can devastate your pepper garden. Giant brown moths lay pearl-like eggs on your pepper leaves, from which the monsters will hatch and start to eat voraciously. They can decimate all the leaves on a plant overnight. The best organic control might be picking the caterpillars off the plants, but by then it could be too late to save your plants. Also, touching and pulling them off is gross, but depending on how mad you are, you won’t mind! ...
Pepper Growing for Beginners
A customer just asked us about his seedlings that were just starting to popup. He's a beginner and was wondering if he should keep the humidity dome on them if not all the seeds had sprouted yet, and when he should fertilize. Here's our quick answer: Don't keep a humidity dome over your peppers after they germinate as that can cause damping off and other problems. The rest should still mostly sprout if kept moist. You can also move the ones that haven't germinated under a h...
Tomateo
We noticed a lot of you are searching for "Tomateo" – so we think you may be looking for Tomatillos which is a hard one to spell! We now carry Tomatillo seeds! They do go great with chiles, we must say.In fact, we have a tasty Tomatillo Salsa Recipe » In the meantime, make sure to try all of our wonderful Heirloom tomato seeds and chile pepper seeds. Make sure to grow all the amazing varieties we carry from around the world. It's easy to grow our Tomatillo seeds in your garden. ...
Growing Hot Peppers in Pots
Growing Hot Peppers in Pots is easy! Here are some of our top tips:Some varieties do better than others, so choose wisely, and make sure to plant them in a well-draining larger pot that is at least 5+ gallons in size. You want to make sure you have well-draining potting soil (not garden soil) with plenty of drainage holes so that the roots don't stay soggy. Here are all of our peppers that grow well in pots » OUR TOP TIPS:Growing Super Hot Peppers like the Carolina Reaper in Containers:...
When to Plant Cucumber Seeds
Wondering when to plant cucumber seeds? Well, it's mid-June and it is the perfect time to plant cucumber seeds! You can plant cucumbers seeds after all chance of frost has past, for many areas in the United States that is from May to June, depending on your growing region. As they are fast growing, you could also plant cucumber seeds in June and early July and still have time for a harvest in late summer and fall. We find that they do best when planted directly in the ground. But, if you ...
Growing Peppers with Compost
Did you know that making and using homemade compost in your pepper garden will help your pepper plants thrive? Most vegetables love soil that is enriched yearly with quality compost. Great reasons to make your own compost:A great reason to make your own compost is you know exactly what goes in it, if you don't use chemicals in your landscape, and buy organic produce, then you are assured your compost is going to be free of chemicals, which is what you want. Homemade compost is also alive,...
Soil for Peppers
Best Soil for Peppers: Best Soil for Starting Pepper Seeds When starting pepper seeds indoors, it's important to use a good quality seed/seedling starting mix such as Coast of Maine's which performs very well with all pepper seeds. Be sure to use seedling mix rather than garden soil or top soil as seedling/seed mixes are created to be well-draining. We do not recommend using those small Jiffy Pots or peat for starting pepper seeds, as they just don't seem to like to germinate ve...
Chiltepin Pepper
Have you grown “mother of all peppers,” the Chiltepin? These ancient tiny hot Chiltepin peppers do love heat, but they thrive best in the partial shade of a tree or bush. Their environment in the wild is often under other plants, where they get some shade. When growing in the wild, these peppers are most often found growing under plants like mesquite or hackberry, preferring a shaded area in the low desert. The Chiltepin, also known as Tepin peppers, grow abundantly on 36” tall plants. ...
Best Tomato Cages
What are the Best Tomato Cages?Sturdy ones. We like using the sturdier thick cages, but they're a little harder to find. If you grow tomatoes, they're probably one of your favorite crops, like ours, and you want to ensure that the plants are healthy and supported so you get a great harvest. What kind of Tomato supports do you use?Those darned flimsy wire "tomato cages" that are sold at hardware stores are useless once a tomato plant gets large, as you can see in these photo...
Vegetarian Green Chili Stew
Make your own homegrown Vegetarian Green Chili Stew in the fall and winter months! This recipe is completely vegan & vegetarian for those of you who want a hearty healthy vegan meal. VEGETARIAN GREEN CHILE STEW RECIPE: Ingredients: 1½ tbsp olive oil 1-2 cups roasted homegrown green chiles, peeled, deseeded, and diced Mushrooms (optional) 3-5 Potatoes, diced (optional, but we love potatoes in this!) 1 onion, diced 2-4 Garlic Cloves, chopped finely 2 tsp salt 1½ tsp cumin 1½ tsp Mexican ...
Growing Tomatoes from Seed
It takes about six to eight weeks to grow tomatoes from a seed to a seedling plant that is ready to transplant outside. Start seeds indoors for best results. In 5 to 12 days your tomato seeds should germinate. Germination is best in warm temperatures (70° to 80° Fahrenheit). A heat mat for seed starting will dramatically hasten tomato seed germination. Sow seeds in cells filled with seedling mix and lightly sprinkle a bit on top to cover. Gently moisten the cells with water and place on a see...
Plant Vegetables in July!
Did you know that July is the PERFECT time to get things outside for the fall season for many growing regions? It's not too late to add to your garden!Sandia Seed is excited to share that we just added lots more Vegetable Seeds to go with all of our 140+ different types of chile pepper and tomato seeds! July is a great time to plant any of the leafy greens like lettuce and spinach, and other veggies like carrots, beets, radishes, beans, scallions, and broccoli. July and August are a gr...
Purple Peppers
Sandia Seed has a wide variety of purple peppers that you can grow easily from seed! Purple in the garden is always a welcome sight! And, when you use purple peppers in your salads and recipes, they really add some great flavor and color! Our favorite purple peppers include both sweet and hot peppers. To start, we'll introduce you to our purple hot peppers. Our Purple Bhut Jolokia Ghost Peppers start out in beautiful purple then ripen to white/pale green and eventually turn to a deep pur...
Best Seed Catalog for 2020!
If you're looking for the Best Seed Catalogs for 2020, make sure to check out Sandia Seed's new Seed Catalog, packed with over 100 different types of pepper seeds from around the world, as well as 44 tomato seeds. Many of our seeds are Organic, and all of them are non-GMO of course! Support our small, woman-owned seed company and spread the love of peppers in your neck of the woods. We specialize in Hatch Chile seeds, which are green chiles grown in the Hatch region of New Mexico. We...
2021 Seed Catalog is at the Printer!
Sandia Seed's brand new 2021 Seed Catalog is at the Printer and should be arriving to be ready to ship out in a couple weeks in early January. So, if you are looking for something exciting to grow, you have found the right place. Enjoy our new 2021 Seed Catalog and we hope you find a new variety to grow along with your favorites. Sandia Seed expands our seed catalog every year to meet demand for different and unique peppers. This year is no different with 8 new seed varieties. Here at Sa...
Growing Peppers in Cold Climates
Peppers are heat loving vegetables, and so if you want to grow them in cooler climates, here are our tips for greater success. 1. Choose Shorter Season Peppers: Make sure to choose peppers that mature quickly. A few good faster maturing peppers include:Sweet Chocolate Bell PepperOur earliest pepper, ripening around 57 days! Jalapeño Early SeedsThe best pepper for short seasons and cooler climates. Jalapeño Lemon SpiceShishito Pepper SeedsBanana Pepper SeedsPadron Pepper SeedsAnaheim Green Chi...
