Heirloom Jalapeño SeedsSandia Seed has several varieties of Heirloom Jalapeño Seeds for your garden. Easy to grow, Jalapeño seeds come in a wide variety of colors, heat-levels, and sizes. One of our favorite Heirloom Jalapeños is the Early Jalapeno – These are one of the earliest peppers at just 65 days from seed to the first harvest. Everybody loves Jalapeños because they can be prepared in so many different ways. Jalapeño poppers, jalapeño jelly, and pickled jalapeños are just a few examples. Jalapeños have ...
Seeds to plant in JanuaryCan you plant seeds in January? Yes, because for us gardeners, it's hard to resist waiting! And there is no reason to wait. That said, in most growing regions, starting seeds outside in January isn't realistic (at least without cover, read more about that lower below.) In growing regions with cold winters, in January the ground is often frozen or covered in snow, and ongoing frosts are imminent. But there are some cool weather veggies that can be started outdoors, or under cover, and ...
Fan for seedlingsIs a fan necessary for seedlings? A fan definitely helps prevent damping off, and encourages your seedlings to be much stronger and more stout (they won't get as leggy with a light breeze!)An oscillating fan simulates natural breezes that seedlings don't get when growing indoors. You don't have to run it all the time, but it definitely helps seedlings to have some movement and air circulation every day. How long should you leave a fan on your seedlings? You can also do this for ...
Winter Sowing Green OnionsYou can start green onion seeds using the Winter Sowing Method! Winter sowing is an easy and low-cost technique that produces strong onion seedlings. Here are some tips for winter sowing green onion seeds: You can use a recycled container with holes for drainage and ventilation, like a vinegar/water/milk jug or plastic salad container. Scatter the onion seeds on top of a 3-4" layer of well-draining & pre-moistened seed starting mix (don't use garden soil!) Cover the seeds with a...
Peppers of the World SeedsThe infamous Peppers of the World seeds are offered by Sandia Seed Company! We love our green chile and are proud to offer the best selection New Mexican chile seeds in the world. In 2008, we were founded on the idea that seeds for green chile should be available for everyone. So, during the past 15 years, we have grown from our original six green chile seed choices to now over twenty peppers from New Mexico. We also offer Colorado chile seeds, too. Of course, these are just a part of our pep...
National Stay at Home with Seed Catalogs DayTOMORROW IS NATIONAL STAY AT HOME WITH SEED CATALOGS DAYJUST MADE THIS UP... SPREAD THE WORD! Don't have our seed catalog yet? Order a seed catalog » Happy dreaming and growing!
Freeze Peppers!What is the best way to freeze peppers? At the end of the season, sometimes you have a ton of peppers but not much time to make salsa or use them in recipes. An easy way to preserve them is to pop them whole into the freezer for later use! Make sure to freeze them within a day of harvesting so they are as fresh as possible with no chance of mold growing inside. Can you freeze peppers whole?You sure can! First, wash and dry your fresh hot peppers or sweet peppers, making sure to remove any ...
What to do with unripe PeppersWondering what to do with unripe pods? With winter approaching, many gardeners have a lot of unripe peppers. But don't despair, you can still likely salvage them! Depending on stage, many peppers will ripen off the plants if you're lucky. And, keep in mind, many peppers are harvested green ON PURPOSE such as Hatch Chile, Green Chile, Jalapenos, Shishitos, Serranos, Bell Peppers, so just because they are green it doesn't mean they aren't edible or delicious. Jalapenos are ofte...
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...
What is the best time plant pepper seeds?We recommend that you start pepper seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last average frost date. For gardeners in growing zones in northern climates, January-March are good months to start seeds for peppers indoors. You want to get them growing so they are big enough to transplant after your night time temperatures get up to 50°F or higher without any chance of frost. For many growing regions with winters, frost-free weather starts in mid-to-late May to June.But it really depends on where y...
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...
When to Pick TomatoesThis Chef's Choice Orange Tomato is getting soft and ready to pick. How do you know when your tomatoes are ready? You know that tomatoes are ready to pick when their skin has changed color, is glossy and there is no green tinge. You will also know a tomato is ready to be picked when it begins to lose its firmness. Once they start to turn to their expected color, just gently squeeze your tomatoes to see if it is firm or gives a bit – if they are starting to get soft, tomatoes are ripe and...
2025 Seed CatalogAre you excited for the 2025 growing season? We sure are! Make sure to order our seed catalog to add to your winter reading and dreaming so you can grow peppers of the world plus lots of tomatoes and veggies, too. 2025 Seed Catalog Cover shown above, finalized with Ristras!We just sent our 2025 Seed Catalog to the printer! It's packed with seeds for 101 specialty peppers, 59 tomatoes in all sizes, and 42 easy to grow vegetables. Our Seed Catalog also includes lots of growing tips, pepp...
August Gardening Tips1. Harvest your Peppers (and other veggies)!Simply harvesting your peppers and other summer vegetables like tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and eggplant can help them continue to produce more fruits over time. Harvesting will encourage the plant to produce more blooms. Does picking peppers make more grow? Yes, the more peppers you pick, the more peppers will continue growing on your plant! Keep harvesting peppers as soon as they are ripe and firm so you can grow more! Read more »2. How to know wh...
How long does it take for Padron peppers to grow?How long does it take for Padron peppers to grow? Padron peppers are short season peppers, and they begin to harvest in about 65 days after starting from seed. These heirloom peppers are beloved by gardeners because they are extremely early and highly productive, giving you peppers long before other pepper varieties come to harvest. Planting them in warm conditions is best for fastest growth! Make sure not to overwater or underwater them for the best success – they don't like to have sog...
Garden Photo Contest - Win Free Seeds!OUR CONTEST HAS ENDED! Congratulations to our three winners for entering our photo contest in August! Josh, Richard P. and Brant P. were the lucky recipients of $25 gift cards to shop our online seed store, sandiaseed.com. Thanks to EVERYONE who entered, there were so many great photos of your gardens and harvests! Stay tuned for future contests, and keep sharing your photos and tagging us with #sandiaseed so we can see them. Happy growing! Brant's winning photo – he says: My f...
Heirloom Jalapeño Seeds
Sandia Seed has several varieties of Heirloom Jalapeño Seeds for your garden. Easy to grow, Jalapeño seeds come in a wide variety of colors, heat-levels, and sizes. One of our favorite Heirloom Jalapeños is the Early Jalapeno – These are one of the earliest peppers at just 65 days from seed to the first harvest. Everybody loves Jalapeños because they can be prepared in so many different ways. Jalapeño poppers, jalapeño jelly, and pickled jalapeños are just a few examples. Jalapeños have ...
Seeds to plant in January
Can you plant seeds in January? Yes, because for us gardeners, it's hard to resist waiting! And there is no reason to wait. That said, in most growing regions, starting seeds outside in January isn't realistic (at least without cover, read more about that lower below.) In growing regions with cold winters, in January the ground is often frozen or covered in snow, and ongoing frosts are imminent. But there are some cool weather veggies that can be started outdoors, or under cover, and ...
Fan for seedlings
Is a fan necessary for seedlings? A fan definitely helps prevent damping off, and encourages your seedlings to be much stronger and more stout (they won't get as leggy with a light breeze!)An oscillating fan simulates natural breezes that seedlings don't get when growing indoors. You don't have to run it all the time, but it definitely helps seedlings to have some movement and air circulation every day. How long should you leave a fan on your seedlings? You can also do this for ...
Winter Sowing Green Onions
You can start green onion seeds using the Winter Sowing Method! Winter sowing is an easy and low-cost technique that produces strong onion seedlings. Here are some tips for winter sowing green onion seeds: You can use a recycled container with holes for drainage and ventilation, like a vinegar/water/milk jug or plastic salad container. Scatter the onion seeds on top of a 3-4" layer of well-draining & pre-moistened seed starting mix (don't use garden soil!) Cover the seeds with a...
Peppers of the World Seeds
The infamous Peppers of the World seeds are offered by Sandia Seed Company! We love our green chile and are proud to offer the best selection New Mexican chile seeds in the world. In 2008, we were founded on the idea that seeds for green chile should be available for everyone. So, during the past 15 years, we have grown from our original six green chile seed choices to now over twenty peppers from New Mexico. We also offer Colorado chile seeds, too. Of course, these are just a part of our pep...
National Stay at Home with Seed Catalogs Day
TOMORROW IS NATIONAL STAY AT HOME WITH SEED CATALOGS DAYJUST MADE THIS UP... SPREAD THE WORD! Don't have our seed catalog yet? Order a seed catalog » Happy dreaming and growing!
Freeze Peppers!
What is the best way to freeze peppers? At the end of the season, sometimes you have a ton of peppers but not much time to make salsa or use them in recipes. An easy way to preserve them is to pop them whole into the freezer for later use! Make sure to freeze them within a day of harvesting so they are as fresh as possible with no chance of mold growing inside. Can you freeze peppers whole?You sure can! First, wash and dry your fresh hot peppers or sweet peppers, making sure to remove any ...
What to do with unripe Peppers
Wondering what to do with unripe pods? With winter approaching, many gardeners have a lot of unripe peppers. But don't despair, you can still likely salvage them! Depending on stage, many peppers will ripen off the plants if you're lucky. And, keep in mind, many peppers are harvested green ON PURPOSE such as Hatch Chile, Green Chile, Jalapenos, Shishitos, Serranos, Bell Peppers, so just because they are green it doesn't mean they aren't edible or delicious. Jalapenos are ofte...
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...
What is the best time plant pepper seeds?
We recommend that you start pepper seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last average frost date. For gardeners in growing zones in northern climates, January-March are good months to start seeds for peppers indoors. You want to get them growing so they are big enough to transplant after your night time temperatures get up to 50°F or higher without any chance of frost. For many growing regions with winters, frost-free weather starts in mid-to-late May to June.But it really depends on where y...
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...
When to Pick Tomatoes
This Chef's Choice Orange Tomato is getting soft and ready to pick. How do you know when your tomatoes are ready? You know that tomatoes are ready to pick when their skin has changed color, is glossy and there is no green tinge. You will also know a tomato is ready to be picked when it begins to lose its firmness. Once they start to turn to their expected color, just gently squeeze your tomatoes to see if it is firm or gives a bit – if they are starting to get soft, tomatoes are ripe and...
2025 Seed Catalog
Are you excited for the 2025 growing season? We sure are! Make sure to order our seed catalog to add to your winter reading and dreaming so you can grow peppers of the world plus lots of tomatoes and veggies, too. 2025 Seed Catalog Cover shown above, finalized with Ristras!We just sent our 2025 Seed Catalog to the printer! It's packed with seeds for 101 specialty peppers, 59 tomatoes in all sizes, and 42 easy to grow vegetables. Our Seed Catalog also includes lots of growing tips, pepp...
August Gardening Tips
1. Harvest your Peppers (and other veggies)!Simply harvesting your peppers and other summer vegetables like tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and eggplant can help them continue to produce more fruits over time. Harvesting will encourage the plant to produce more blooms. Does picking peppers make more grow? Yes, the more peppers you pick, the more peppers will continue growing on your plant! Keep harvesting peppers as soon as they are ripe and firm so you can grow more! Read more »2. How to know wh...
How long does it take for Padron peppers to grow?
How long does it take for Padron peppers to grow? Padron peppers are short season peppers, and they begin to harvest in about 65 days after starting from seed. These heirloom peppers are beloved by gardeners because they are extremely early and highly productive, giving you peppers long before other pepper varieties come to harvest. Planting them in warm conditions is best for fastest growth! Make sure not to overwater or underwater them for the best success – they don't like to have sog...
Garden Photo Contest - Win Free Seeds!
OUR CONTEST HAS ENDED! Congratulations to our three winners for entering our photo contest in August! Josh, Richard P. and Brant P. were the lucky recipients of $25 gift cards to shop our online seed store, sandiaseed.com. Thanks to EVERYONE who entered, there were so many great photos of your gardens and harvests! Stay tuned for future contests, and keep sharing your photos and tagging us with #sandiaseed so we can see them. Happy growing! Brant's winning photo – he says: My f...
