Culinary PeppersWhat makes a culinary pepper? We just watched a Seed to Fork episode on YouTube, and Meg mentioned that she likes to grow "culinary peppers" – specifically that she likes to grow peppers that they can use year-round in the kitchen. So what makes a culinary pepper? Well, just about any pepper can be preserved and used for year-round use. Many peppers are especially good for drying and to be used dried, crushed or powered in recipes. Many dried peppers are used as herbs or spices aroun...
Washing TomatillosTomatillos are delicious, easy to grow, and come wrapped in a husk that helps them store well after harvesting. However, you have to remove and then wash the Tomatillo's sticky residue before using in recipes. Here are our tips for washing tomatillos: Remove the husk by pulling it off, compost the husks. If the tomatillo is damaged, cut off damage if possible to use what looks good or compost it. Once the husk is removed, you will quickly find that tomatillos have sticky sap, which hel...
Year Round GardeningYear Round Growing: Overwintering Crops Growing veggies in the Fall, Winter & Spring Just because it's fall, it doesn't mean you can't grow more veggies. Many vegetables are perfect crops for overwintering in the garden. Growing Vegetables in Winter:What vegetables can you grow during winter? Think lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, bunching onions, broccoli and beets! We're offering 50% off these seeds so you can get growing this winter. Many of these crops not only tol...
Disease-resistant PeppersPeppers in general are easy to grow and suffer from less diseases than most other vegetables. However, they can get diseases, so it's wise to practice good growing methods. To keep disease at bay, plant peppers with adequate spacing so there is good air circulation. Use supports to keep their branches off the ground, and prune off bottom leaves or branches near soil to help keep air circulation up and keep your pepper plants healthy. It's also great to mulch with grass clippings or le...
What is the fastest growing pepper?Wondering what is the fastest growing pepper? We love peppers at Sandia Seed, and we carry the fastest growing pepper seeds for people who want peppers sooner in the summer, and for those who live in short season climates. As this season comes to a close, many gardeners find that some of the longer-season peppers did not ripen before the first frost set in. Growing any of our favorite fastest growing peppers will ensure you'll have plenty of ripe peppers before the temperatures drop! Re...
Apple Hot Sauce RecipeApple Hot Sauce Recipe Have a ton of apples from a tree that you don't know what to do with? Like savory? Check out this yummy apple hot sauce recipe that has some sweetness from your apples! 3-6 cups hot peppers (2-3 lbs) 1-2 white onions 1 cup of tomatoes 2 medium apples (peeled, cored, seeds removed, diced, about 2 cups) 1-2 cups apple cider vinegar or white vinegar 10-20 garlic cloves ⅓ cup / 2 oz mustard seed (optional) 1-2 tablespoons salt (use ...
How long do Habanero Plants LiveHabanero plants can live for many years if protected from cold temperatures and given adequate light and water. Habanero plants are actually perennials in growing regions without frost, so they can live for many years in tropical gardens in USDA Zones 9 and above. Most of us in Zones 8 and below, however, grow Habanero plants as annuals. Here in the US West, we start Habanero seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost, then transplant them outdoors when the temperatures have warmed up to over 50-6...
20% OFF ALL OF OUR FASTEST GROWING VEGETABLE SEEDS!SORRY, THIS SALE HAS ENDED! Signup for our newsletter to get our future deals!20% OFF ALL OF OUR FASTEST GROWING VEGETABLE SEEDS! Use discount code: FASTERHARVEST to save big on all of our Fastest Growing Vegetable Seeds Collection!Now through Sunday, May 24, 2026!This collection has all of our fastest growing peppers, tomatoes plus lots of companion vegetables that make great companions for your peppers.Lettuce, chives, carrots, radishes, beans, cilantro, squash, basil, parsley, dill, orega...
Conserve Nutrients & Moisture in your Vegetable Pots with MulchConserve Nutrients & Moisture in your Vegetable Pots with Mulch Shown above, a new pepper plant has been transplanted into a large pot that has some lettuce growing in it currently. This pot was mulched with grass clippings to conserve moisture (which is important in our dry Western climate) and feed the soil life. Conserve Nutrients in your Veggie Pots:Adding mulch to your veggie pots can help them hold onto nutrients. Growing veggies in pots is a great way to expand your growing spac...
HUGE OVERSTOCK SEED SALE50% OFF SELECT OVERSTOCK SEEDS!NO DISCOUNT CODE NEEDED. While supplies last! Buy Discount Seeds »
Is it ok to reuse potting soil? Here are our Tips for reusing potting soil in pots for growing peppers.Recent customer question:“HELP! I garden in containers and have a nice amount of soil left from growing peppers this past year. I would like to revitalize the soil to use next year for my peppers and tomatoes. I plan on adding new soil too, but what nutrients would you suggest adding?” Answer: Yes, you can reuse potting soil for growing peppers, but it must be amended to replenish nutrients and structure. To replenish the soil, it's good to mix in some slow-release organic fertilizers, wo...
Freezing Jalapeno PoppersKeep it simple and warm up your winters by freezing jalapeño poppers when you have an abundance of jalapeños from the garden. How to freeze jalapeno poppers: 1. To make freeze poppers, first prepare the jalapeños* by slicing in half, and using a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Then, fill them with cream cheese (you can add other ingredients like shredded cheddar, chopped olives, minced garlic, bacon bits, etc if desired). 2. Put them on a baking sheet and "flash freeze" them in a sing...
November is National Pepper Month!Happy National Pepper Month! All month long we can celebrate peppers! While we love peppers all year long, November is a great time to give these delicious fruits the attention they deserve. Right now, loads of hot sauces, salsas, roasted chile and hot pepper flakes are being enjoyed by people around the world. Sandia Seed loves National Pepper Month because we love peppers! In fact, in 2008, we were the first seed packet company to focus exclusively on pepper seeds from around the world. At ...
Should I harvest peppers before frost?Should I harvest peppers before frost? Absolutely! Don't let the pepper pods freeze outside on the plants, as they will turn to mush. Harvesting peppers before frost: Do you have to harvest your peppers before a frost, but they're not ripe? Here are our suggestions: Pick your Peppers:You can pick the peppers, and if they are close enough to ripe, they may turn color on your counter. Many peppers like jalapeños are often picked green, so enjoy them green – you'll find that super...
Shishito RecipesThere are lots of delicious Shishito Recipes! Shishitos are great sweet peppers to grow in the garden as they are fast growing so they are one of the first peppers to harvest, and then they just keep producing all season long. They are one of the easiest peppers to grow, and are great for beginner gardeners. Shishitos grow happily in pots, too. You can pick them often to eat fresh or make a variety of dishes with them. Here are a few of our favorite Shishito Recipe ideas: Sautéed Shishitos ...
What do you love about GardeningWhat's not to love about Gardening? Seeing seeds sprout and grow into giant plants loaded with an abundance veggies and fruits like peppers, tomatoes, herbs and seed-filled flowers is like witnessing a miracle every time. And when the birds and pollinators show up, it is pure bliss. Watching a swallowtail butterfly and bumblebees visit the blooms, or a goldfinch enjoying the seeds of coneflowers and sunflowers is... time-stopping. We asked you... What do you love about Gardening? Here ...
Best way to Preserve Dill - Top TechniquesWe recently received this question from a customer about storing homegrown Dill: It's going to frost so I harvested some volunteer dill from my garden. What is the best way to preserve it for pickles next summer? Can I use the stems also? Should I separate the leaves from the stems? Best Way to Store Dill: We like freezing fresh dill in glass storage dishes to retain the fresh flavor of dill, but you can also dehydrate/dry it easily as well. Yes, you can use the stems if not woody! We...
How many Hatch chiles per plant?We recently had a customer ask us this in an email: “How many Hatch Chilis per plant? I want to grow enough for a bushel!” Answer: Each Hatch chile plant typically produces between 10 and 20+ pods, depending on variety and growing conditions. So if you want to grow a bushel of large green chile pods like Big Jims – assuming that an average bushel includes about 80-110 pods per bushel, depending on the size of the pods – we'd recommend growing at least 8-10+ Hatch chile plants so they ca...
What zone do Hatch chiles grow in?Hatch Chile can be grown outdoors in zones 5-11. Pretty much anywhere you can grow tomatoes you can grow Hatch chile! Hatch chile varieties are easy to grow! Find all of our green chile seeds including Hatch chile seeds » Learn more about what makes Hatch chiles so special » Find our top tips for How to Grow Hatch Chile »
Specialty peppersLooking to grow specialty peppers in your garden to make recipes with? Sweet specialty peppers can add a ton of color and flavor to your dishes. Sweet peppers don't include just bell peppers and snack peppers, there are so many wonderful sweet pepper specialties! Read about all of our favorite specialty peppers below... Marconi sweet peppers, shown above, are so deliciously wonderful when roasted! Cubanelle Peppers, shown above, are beloved by chefs for their crispy texture and thin wa...
So, as a life long BOC fan and an avid gardener who loves the quality of seeds I’ve always received from Sandia Seeds. I just had to have this shirt. It rocks! I ordered a couple more for some fellow BOC fans as well. Great quality and the graphic is outstanding!
I'm going to grow these every year, they are HOT!! They make great poppers and salsa. Very productive, easy to grow, quick germination and fast growing plants. Thank you for the stellar seeds.
I planted several cultivars from wholesale seed. These were prolific. See all that RED (and green)?!? Looking forward to harvesting in a few days. Thank You Sandia Seed!
I pretty much use Sandia seeds exclusively! A few years ago I just happened to order your Jalapeño M. To me it's the perfect Jalapeño! Really nice size! Perfect heat for what we like! Wonderful flavor with a meatyness that's perfect for many different uses! I make my own Sriracha so I wait for them to turn red. They're one of my base peppers for my sauce! I praise them to all my personal friends and to members of groups that I belong to!
Serrano Hidalgo Seeds fromSandia Seed produce even in the HOT drought of central Illinois this year! I love adding a little Mexican kick to my salsa but also tossing these on the grill! They have great flavor and produce all summer long!
I had looked high & low, and searched the web with many word combinations ‘looking’ specifically for my favorite chili, the Dynamite xx Hot… so I could grow my own. The peppers were sold in Colorado at select places during roasting season, but you couldn’t buy seeds for them… anywhere!
Finally, as luck and persistence would have it, I discovered Sandia Seed Company.
Thank you Sandia! I planted them and had a great crop this year. I plan on growing them every year as well as trying some of their other seeds,
There's just something fun about growing a jalapeno that is light enough in color that some people think it's a banana pepper. LOL! I picked these just for color variety, and I'm very pleased that my plants have been loaded with them all season! We donated about 50 lbs of mixed peppers this year from our garden and I still had enough to freeze some and can more jars of recipes than we'll probably be able to use before next season. All my peppers were from Sandia Seed Company. I've never had such great pepper production before using these seeds!!
This spinach germinated well, and produced way more spinach than I'd initially expected. It grew really well, was slow to bolt in the summer, and has a really nice mild flavor for salads or steamed.
This was my first time growing these and I will definitely be growing them from now on. Great germination and very sturdy plants that have withstood some really high winds. Huge long peppers that are excellent green or red, very easy to peel skin.
Growing these in Florida, (Recent transplant of NM).
Lovely peppers. Took a couple weeks is all and wow! I have several budding; 2 large enough to nickname. They're still in their infancy, but I can tell they are going to be great! Love the seeds!
Culinary Peppers
What makes a culinary pepper? We just watched a Seed to Fork episode on YouTube, and Meg mentioned that she likes to grow "culinary peppers" – specifically that she likes to grow peppers that they can use year-round in the kitchen. So what makes a culinary pepper? Well, just about any pepper can be preserved and used for year-round use. Many peppers are especially good for drying and to be used dried, crushed or powered in recipes. Many dried peppers are used as herbs or spices aroun...
Washing Tomatillos
Tomatillos are delicious, easy to grow, and come wrapped in a husk that helps them store well after harvesting. However, you have to remove and then wash the Tomatillo's sticky residue before using in recipes. Here are our tips for washing tomatillos: Remove the husk by pulling it off, compost the husks. If the tomatillo is damaged, cut off damage if possible to use what looks good or compost it. Once the husk is removed, you will quickly find that tomatillos have sticky sap, which hel...
Year Round Gardening
Year Round Growing: Overwintering Crops Growing veggies in the Fall, Winter & Spring Just because it's fall, it doesn't mean you can't grow more veggies. Many vegetables are perfect crops for overwintering in the garden. Growing Vegetables in Winter:What vegetables can you grow during winter? Think lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, bunching onions, broccoli and beets! We're offering 50% off these seeds so you can get growing this winter. Many of these crops not only tol...
Disease-resistant Peppers
Peppers in general are easy to grow and suffer from less diseases than most other vegetables. However, they can get diseases, so it's wise to practice good growing methods. To keep disease at bay, plant peppers with adequate spacing so there is good air circulation. Use supports to keep their branches off the ground, and prune off bottom leaves or branches near soil to help keep air circulation up and keep your pepper plants healthy. It's also great to mulch with grass clippings or le...
What is the fastest growing pepper?
Wondering what is the fastest growing pepper? We love peppers at Sandia Seed, and we carry the fastest growing pepper seeds for people who want peppers sooner in the summer, and for those who live in short season climates. As this season comes to a close, many gardeners find that some of the longer-season peppers did not ripen before the first frost set in. Growing any of our favorite fastest growing peppers will ensure you'll have plenty of ripe peppers before the temperatures drop! Re...
Apple Hot Sauce Recipe
Apple Hot Sauce Recipe Have a ton of apples from a tree that you don't know what to do with? Like savory? Check out this yummy apple hot sauce recipe that has some sweetness from your apples! 3-6 cups hot peppers (2-3 lbs) 1-2 white onions 1 cup of tomatoes 2 medium apples (peeled, cored, seeds removed, diced, about 2 cups) 1-2 cups apple cider vinegar or white vinegar 10-20 garlic cloves ⅓ cup / 2 oz mustard seed (optional) 1-2 tablespoons salt (use ...
How long do Habanero Plants Live
Habanero plants can live for many years if protected from cold temperatures and given adequate light and water. Habanero plants are actually perennials in growing regions without frost, so they can live for many years in tropical gardens in USDA Zones 9 and above. Most of us in Zones 8 and below, however, grow Habanero plants as annuals. Here in the US West, we start Habanero seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost, then transplant them outdoors when the temperatures have warmed up to over 50-6...
20% OFF ALL OF OUR FASTEST GROWING VEGETABLE SEEDS!
SORRY, THIS SALE HAS ENDED! Signup for our newsletter to get our future deals!20% OFF ALL OF OUR FASTEST GROWING VEGETABLE SEEDS! Use discount code: FASTERHARVEST to save big on all of our Fastest Growing Vegetable Seeds Collection!Now through Sunday, May 24, 2026!This collection has all of our fastest growing peppers, tomatoes plus lots of companion vegetables that make great companions for your peppers.Lettuce, chives, carrots, radishes, beans, cilantro, squash, basil, parsley, dill, orega...
Conserve Nutrients & Moisture in your Vegetable Pots with Mulch
Conserve Nutrients & Moisture in your Vegetable Pots with Mulch Shown above, a new pepper plant has been transplanted into a large pot that has some lettuce growing in it currently. This pot was mulched with grass clippings to conserve moisture (which is important in our dry Western climate) and feed the soil life. Conserve Nutrients in your Veggie Pots:Adding mulch to your veggie pots can help them hold onto nutrients. Growing veggies in pots is a great way to expand your growing spac...
HUGE OVERSTOCK SEED SALE
50% OFF SELECT OVERSTOCK SEEDS!NO DISCOUNT CODE NEEDED. While supplies last! Buy Discount Seeds »
Is it ok to reuse potting soil? Here are our Tips for reusing potting soil in pots for growing peppers.
Recent customer question:“HELP! I garden in containers and have a nice amount of soil left from growing peppers this past year. I would like to revitalize the soil to use next year for my peppers and tomatoes. I plan on adding new soil too, but what nutrients would you suggest adding?” Answer: Yes, you can reuse potting soil for growing peppers, but it must be amended to replenish nutrients and structure. To replenish the soil, it's good to mix in some slow-release organic fertilizers, wo...
Freezing Jalapeno Poppers
Keep it simple and warm up your winters by freezing jalapeño poppers when you have an abundance of jalapeños from the garden. How to freeze jalapeno poppers: 1. To make freeze poppers, first prepare the jalapeños* by slicing in half, and using a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Then, fill them with cream cheese (you can add other ingredients like shredded cheddar, chopped olives, minced garlic, bacon bits, etc if desired). 2. Put them on a baking sheet and "flash freeze" them in a sing...
November is National Pepper Month!
Happy National Pepper Month! All month long we can celebrate peppers! While we love peppers all year long, November is a great time to give these delicious fruits the attention they deserve. Right now, loads of hot sauces, salsas, roasted chile and hot pepper flakes are being enjoyed by people around the world. Sandia Seed loves National Pepper Month because we love peppers! In fact, in 2008, we were the first seed packet company to focus exclusively on pepper seeds from around the world. At ...
Should I harvest peppers before frost?
Should I harvest peppers before frost? Absolutely! Don't let the pepper pods freeze outside on the plants, as they will turn to mush. Harvesting peppers before frost: Do you have to harvest your peppers before a frost, but they're not ripe? Here are our suggestions: Pick your Peppers:You can pick the peppers, and if they are close enough to ripe, they may turn color on your counter. Many peppers like jalapeños are often picked green, so enjoy them green – you'll find that super...
Shishito Recipes
There are lots of delicious Shishito Recipes! Shishitos are great sweet peppers to grow in the garden as they are fast growing so they are one of the first peppers to harvest, and then they just keep producing all season long. They are one of the easiest peppers to grow, and are great for beginner gardeners. Shishitos grow happily in pots, too. You can pick them often to eat fresh or make a variety of dishes with them. Here are a few of our favorite Shishito Recipe ideas: Sautéed Shishitos ...
What do you love about Gardening
What's not to love about Gardening? Seeing seeds sprout and grow into giant plants loaded with an abundance veggies and fruits like peppers, tomatoes, herbs and seed-filled flowers is like witnessing a miracle every time. And when the birds and pollinators show up, it is pure bliss. Watching a swallowtail butterfly and bumblebees visit the blooms, or a goldfinch enjoying the seeds of coneflowers and sunflowers is... time-stopping. We asked you... What do you love about Gardening? Here ...
Best way to Preserve Dill - Top Techniques
We recently received this question from a customer about storing homegrown Dill: It's going to frost so I harvested some volunteer dill from my garden. What is the best way to preserve it for pickles next summer? Can I use the stems also? Should I separate the leaves from the stems? Best Way to Store Dill: We like freezing fresh dill in glass storage dishes to retain the fresh flavor of dill, but you can also dehydrate/dry it easily as well. Yes, you can use the stems if not woody! We...
How many Hatch chiles per plant?
We recently had a customer ask us this in an email: “How many Hatch Chilis per plant? I want to grow enough for a bushel!” Answer: Each Hatch chile plant typically produces between 10 and 20+ pods, depending on variety and growing conditions. So if you want to grow a bushel of large green chile pods like Big Jims – assuming that an average bushel includes about 80-110 pods per bushel, depending on the size of the pods – we'd recommend growing at least 8-10+ Hatch chile plants so they ca...
What zone do Hatch chiles grow in?
Hatch Chile can be grown outdoors in zones 5-11. Pretty much anywhere you can grow tomatoes you can grow Hatch chile! Hatch chile varieties are easy to grow! Find all of our green chile seeds including Hatch chile seeds » Learn more about what makes Hatch chiles so special » Find our top tips for How to Grow Hatch Chile »
Specialty peppers
Looking to grow specialty peppers in your garden to make recipes with? Sweet specialty peppers can add a ton of color and flavor to your dishes. Sweet peppers don't include just bell peppers and snack peppers, there are so many wonderful sweet pepper specialties! Read about all of our favorite specialty peppers below... Marconi sweet peppers, shown above, are so deliciously wonderful when roasted! Cubanelle Peppers, shown above, are beloved by chefs for their crispy texture and thin wa...
