Join the Hatch Chile Growers Group on FacebookJoin our Hatch Chile Growers Group on Facebook and help us share Hatch chile growing tips, stories, photos, and successes with growing Hatch chiles around the world. We will share our favorite tips throughout the chile growing season to help you know how to manage pepper problems, pests or questions. We know technically a "Hatch chile" has to be grown in Hatch to be called a Hatch, but we find that people grow our Hatch chile seeds all over the world – from Florida to California to...
How to Grow Heirloom Tomato SeedsWant to learn How to Grow Heirloom Tomato Seeds? Here are our tips: Germination Tip: Start seeds indoors 6 -8 weeks before transplant date. Sow 1/8” deep and keep soil moist and warm at 70-80˚F. Germination takes 5-10 days. Move to bright light once the first seedling emerges. Transplant to larger containers when the first two true leaves appear. Fertilize once or twice with dilute organic solution. Harden off plants outside before transplanting to garden.
How Tomatoes Should Really Taste!'Good News' #3 April 2017 from Sandia Seed Company Signup for our Good News emails » There is nothing quite like a Real Tomato... a tomato as it was meant to be grown and eaten. What is a Real Tomato? A ripe tomato should have a fragile skin that is under pressure to contain the juice and seeds within, splitting open easily and explosively. It should almost dissolve as you eat it, filling your mouth with intensely refreshing flavor. Unfortunately, there is the abundant fake t...
Jalapeno SeedsDo you love Jalapenos and are you looking for new Jalapeno seeds? Sandia Seed has not just one, but EIGHT different kinds of Jalapeño seeds!! Check out al of the varieties of Jalapenos we carry,ranging from the Early Jalapeno Seeds, to the beautiful and beloved Yellow Jalapeno, and the Orange Jalapeno. M Jalapeno SeedsThe addictive flavor of this Jalapeño M makes it America's most popular pepper! The Jalapeño M variety has larger fruit with more heat than the Early Jalapeño. The thi...
Fertilize Peppers Now - Here's HowEven if you have some of the greatest soil around...growing vegetables is a process that takes many important nutrients. Tomatoes and peppers are heavy feeders and need readily available nutrients from the soil. Most summer vegetables are heavy feeders, with tomatoes being one of the heaviest nitrogen consumers. Before putting your plants in the garden, work a slow-release fertilizer into the soil of the planting hole. A good organic slow release fertilizer is Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vege...
Create a Pollinator GardenVeggie plants, like tomatoes and peppers, are self-pollinating, but others such as zucchini, pumpkins, and other vine crops produce both male and female flowers on the same plant and require pollinators. Almost all flowering plants need to be pollinated and depend on bees, butterflies, and other animals for pollination. Pollinators need our help. Biologists fear several butterfly and bumblebee species have disappeared from parts of their range, including the once common western bumble bee. W...
Green Chile Gazpacho with TomatillosYou have to try this delicious variation of gazpatcho, made with green chiles and tomatillos: 4-6 HATCH GREEN CHILES, ROASTED, PEELED 2 POUNDS TOMATILLOS – REMOVE HUSK & RINSE (or you can use Heirloom Tomatoes for a classic Tomato gazpatcho!) 1/2 ONION, FINELY CHOPPED, SOAK IN COLD WATER FOR 15 MINUTES 1 STALK CELERY 1 CUCUMBER 1 JALAPEÑO FRESH, SEEDED 1/3 CUP RED WINE VINEGAR 1/4 CUP EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL 1/3 TEASPOON GROUND CUMIN 2 TABLESPOONS OF MAPLE SYRUP OR HONEY SA...
Is it Too Late to Start Seeds? No, it’s not too late to plant seeds! You can start seeds year-round. It depends on what you would like to accomplish after planting your seeds. There is short-season gardening, hydroponic growing, indoor gardening, jump-start growing to have huge plants to transplant in spring, etc. Short-Season GardeningBesides peppers and tomatoes, you can start lots of vegetable seeds year-round, depending on your climate, and if you have any winter protection such as cold frames or hoop houses. You ...
White Peppers SeedsLooking for White Peppers seeds? We carry some wonderful varieties of white pepper seeds, including the following following white peppers: Bhut Jolokia White Pepper SeedsThese super hot white peppers have a cool color and are very unique. This pepper, like all Bhut jolokia peppers, has heat that builds and builds in your mouth. The White Bhut jolokia is also known as White Ghost Pepper and it is very popular for making a white hot sauce. At 1,000,000 Scoville units, these white peppers are H...
Hatch SeedsIf you love Hatch green chile, then grow your own Hatch seeds and have the freshest best tasting Hatch green chiles around! While technically you have to grow our Hatch varieties in the Hatch region in New Mexico to be considered true "Hatch" chiles, these are the same varieties grown by Hatch farmers and we think they taste just as great when homegrown in gardens around the world! We have happy customers bringing a little New Mexico to their gardens and farms everywhere, from Florida...
Faith in Pepper SeedsWe love this quote from Thoreau: I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Pepper Plant PestsPepper plants are not as prone to pests as other vegetables, but they do occasionally have problems with insect damage. We don't usually worry about a few holes in the leaves, but sometimes pests are more troublesome so we have our tips on pest prevention below. We never advise using insecticides or pesticides in your garden (remember, bugs are bird snacks!) instead, read our natural pest prevention and control tips below to keep your pepper garden healthy and happy: Top Pepper Plant Pest...
Companion Plants for Chile PeppersThe reason companion planting is so beneficial is not fully understood, but has been noted by farmers and gardeners for many generations. There are some basic concepts that do make good sense. The physical structure of companion plants with tall strong stems may protect your chile plants from wind damage. The root growth of companion plants with deeper root systems can improve the overall health of the compacted soil by opening up channels for better drainage and air exchange. Herbs produce c...
Aleppo PepperLooking for the Aleppo Pepper to grow in your garden? Sandia Seed is thrilled to add Aleppo Seeds to our catalog in 2024!Did you know that the Aleppo pepper was named the Herb of the Month by the Herb Society of America in September 2023 because of it's outstanding qualities? Read more about the Herb Society of America's pick »Aleppo Heirloom PepperThe Aleppo pepper, also known as the Halaby pepper, is commonly used as chile flakes in Mediterranean cuisine. It has a beautiful deep red...
How to Fertilize Hatch Chile PlantsAfter transplanting chile plants outside, fertilize every 2 weeks with a dilute Fox Farm 'Grow Big' liquid fertilizer. It is 6-4-4 and plants need to grow big and tall before blooming. The bigger the plant means the more fruit it will be able to produce throughout the season. (Chiles are a continuous crop and produce fruit all season.) When the chile plants first begin to flower, fertilize with dilute Fox Farm 'Tiger Bloom' 2-8-4. The increased phosphorus promotes flowering an...
Leggy Pepper PlantsIf you have leggy pepper plants when starting them from pepper seeds, here are the top tips from Sandia Seed to keep your pepper plants growing strong and stocky:1. Strengthen Pepper Plant Stems: Once they pepper plant seedlings have sprouted, brush them daily with your hands or run a fan on them for a few hours a day. This will help them to grow stockier and they won't get as leggy. Brushing them or putting a fan on them simulates the natural conditions pepper plants were to get if they ...
Plants that Attract Beneficial InsectsLacewing Eggs on a Tomato Plant “Every harmful insect has a mortal enemy. Cultivate that enemy and he will do your work for you.” ~ Eleanor PerenyiPlants that Attract Beneficial InsectsWe never use pesticides in our garden – instead, we enlist the help of our friends, the beneficial insects – who help us control pests. Planting lots of flowers and herbs to attract pest-controlling insects is one of the most fascinating ideas that is making a comeback amongst gardeners. If you plant lots of ...
How long are pepper seeds good for?We get this question from our seed customers often:How long are pepper seeds good for? How long pepper seeds remain viable depends on how they are stored, but we say that 2-5 years is realistic. It really depends on if they were fully dried before storing.To store for long term, you need to keep the seeds cool and dry. If seeds are too wet, they can rot in the fridge, or they can get frost damage in the freezer.If you store seeds in the refrigerator or freezer, place the packets in a small, a...
Common Tomato DisordersThe following tomato problems are caused by environmental stress. Basic prevention of these disorders includes keeping soil evenly moist, mulching, and maintaining mature foliage to shade tomatoes. Tomato Blossom end rot: The blossom end of the fruit blackens and becomes leathery. The problem is typically caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit due to variable soil moisture conditions. Prevention involves keeping the soil evenly moist. Mulches are helpful in this regard. Fruit is perfect...
Secret Garden TipsThe 3 best things for your food garden right now. Secret Tip #1 This secret tip is great to do early in the season when root growth is at a premium. Plants with strong root systems can grow faster, resist more stress, and bloom sooner. It is expensive and worth it. I’m talking about Superthrive. When transplanting your seedlings into the outside garden, water them in first with good clean water. Then return the next day and pour about one cup of diluted Superthrive mixed with water onto e...
Join the Hatch Chile Growers Group on Facebook
Join our Hatch Chile Growers Group on Facebook and help us share Hatch chile growing tips, stories, photos, and successes with growing Hatch chiles around the world. We will share our favorite tips throughout the chile growing season to help you know how to manage pepper problems, pests or questions. We know technically a "Hatch chile" has to be grown in Hatch to be called a Hatch, but we find that people grow our Hatch chile seeds all over the world – from Florida to California to...
How to Grow Heirloom Tomato Seeds
Want to learn How to Grow Heirloom Tomato Seeds? Here are our tips: Germination Tip: Start seeds indoors 6 -8 weeks before transplant date. Sow 1/8” deep and keep soil moist and warm at 70-80˚F. Germination takes 5-10 days. Move to bright light once the first seedling emerges. Transplant to larger containers when the first two true leaves appear. Fertilize once or twice with dilute organic solution. Harden off plants outside before transplanting to garden.
Jalapeno Seeds
Do you love Jalapenos and are you looking for new Jalapeno seeds? Sandia Seed has not just one, but EIGHT different kinds of Jalapeño seeds!! Check out al of the varieties of Jalapenos we carry,ranging from the Early Jalapeno Seeds, to the beautiful and beloved Yellow Jalapeno, and the Orange Jalapeno. M Jalapeno SeedsThe addictive flavor of this Jalapeño M makes it America's most popular pepper! The Jalapeño M variety has larger fruit with more heat than the Early Jalapeño. The thi...
Fertilize Peppers Now - Here's How
Even if you have some of the greatest soil around...growing vegetables is a process that takes many important nutrients. Tomatoes and peppers are heavy feeders and need readily available nutrients from the soil. Most summer vegetables are heavy feeders, with tomatoes being one of the heaviest nitrogen consumers. Before putting your plants in the garden, work a slow-release fertilizer into the soil of the planting hole. A good organic slow release fertilizer is Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vege...
Create a Pollinator Garden
Veggie plants, like tomatoes and peppers, are self-pollinating, but others such as zucchini, pumpkins, and other vine crops produce both male and female flowers on the same plant and require pollinators. Almost all flowering plants need to be pollinated and depend on bees, butterflies, and other animals for pollination. Pollinators need our help. Biologists fear several butterfly and bumblebee species have disappeared from parts of their range, including the once common western bumble bee. W...
Green Chile Gazpacho with Tomatillos
You have to try this delicious variation of gazpatcho, made with green chiles and tomatillos: 4-6 HATCH GREEN CHILES, ROASTED, PEELED 2 POUNDS TOMATILLOS – REMOVE HUSK & RINSE (or you can use Heirloom Tomatoes for a classic Tomato gazpatcho!) 1/2 ONION, FINELY CHOPPED, SOAK IN COLD WATER FOR 15 MINUTES 1 STALK CELERY 1 CUCUMBER 1 JALAPEÑO FRESH, SEEDED 1/3 CUP RED WINE VINEGAR 1/4 CUP EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL 1/3 TEASPOON GROUND CUMIN 2 TABLESPOONS OF MAPLE SYRUP OR HONEY SA...
Is it Too Late to Start Seeds?
No, it’s not too late to plant seeds! You can start seeds year-round. It depends on what you would like to accomplish after planting your seeds. There is short-season gardening, hydroponic growing, indoor gardening, jump-start growing to have huge plants to transplant in spring, etc. Short-Season GardeningBesides peppers and tomatoes, you can start lots of vegetable seeds year-round, depending on your climate, and if you have any winter protection such as cold frames or hoop houses. You ...
White Peppers Seeds
Looking for White Peppers seeds? We carry some wonderful varieties of white pepper seeds, including the following following white peppers: Bhut Jolokia White Pepper SeedsThese super hot white peppers have a cool color and are very unique. This pepper, like all Bhut jolokia peppers, has heat that builds and builds in your mouth. The White Bhut jolokia is also known as White Ghost Pepper and it is very popular for making a white hot sauce. At 1,000,000 Scoville units, these white peppers are H...
Hatch Seeds
If you love Hatch green chile, then grow your own Hatch seeds and have the freshest best tasting Hatch green chiles around! While technically you have to grow our Hatch varieties in the Hatch region in New Mexico to be considered true "Hatch" chiles, these are the same varieties grown by Hatch farmers and we think they taste just as great when homegrown in gardens around the world! We have happy customers bringing a little New Mexico to their gardens and farms everywhere, from Florida...
Pepper Plant Pests
Pepper plants are not as prone to pests as other vegetables, but they do occasionally have problems with insect damage. We don't usually worry about a few holes in the leaves, but sometimes pests are more troublesome so we have our tips on pest prevention below. We never advise using insecticides or pesticides in your garden (remember, bugs are bird snacks!) instead, read our natural pest prevention and control tips below to keep your pepper garden healthy and happy: Top Pepper Plant Pest...
Companion Plants for Chile Peppers
The reason companion planting is so beneficial is not fully understood, but has been noted by farmers and gardeners for many generations. There are some basic concepts that do make good sense. The physical structure of companion plants with tall strong stems may protect your chile plants from wind damage. The root growth of companion plants with deeper root systems can improve the overall health of the compacted soil by opening up channels for better drainage and air exchange. Herbs produce c...
Aleppo Pepper
Looking for the Aleppo Pepper to grow in your garden? Sandia Seed is thrilled to add Aleppo Seeds to our catalog in 2024!Did you know that the Aleppo pepper was named the Herb of the Month by the Herb Society of America in September 2023 because of it's outstanding qualities? Read more about the Herb Society of America's pick »Aleppo Heirloom PepperThe Aleppo pepper, also known as the Halaby pepper, is commonly used as chile flakes in Mediterranean cuisine. It has a beautiful deep red...
How to Fertilize Hatch Chile Plants
After transplanting chile plants outside, fertilize every 2 weeks with a dilute Fox Farm 'Grow Big' liquid fertilizer. It is 6-4-4 and plants need to grow big and tall before blooming. The bigger the plant means the more fruit it will be able to produce throughout the season. (Chiles are a continuous crop and produce fruit all season.) When the chile plants first begin to flower, fertilize with dilute Fox Farm 'Tiger Bloom' 2-8-4. The increased phosphorus promotes flowering an...
Leggy Pepper Plants
If you have leggy pepper plants when starting them from pepper seeds, here are the top tips from Sandia Seed to keep your pepper plants growing strong and stocky:1. Strengthen Pepper Plant Stems: Once they pepper plant seedlings have sprouted, brush them daily with your hands or run a fan on them for a few hours a day. This will help them to grow stockier and they won't get as leggy. Brushing them or putting a fan on them simulates the natural conditions pepper plants were to get if they ...
Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects
Lacewing Eggs on a Tomato Plant “Every harmful insect has a mortal enemy. Cultivate that enemy and he will do your work for you.” ~ Eleanor PerenyiPlants that Attract Beneficial InsectsWe never use pesticides in our garden – instead, we enlist the help of our friends, the beneficial insects – who help us control pests. Planting lots of flowers and herbs to attract pest-controlling insects is one of the most fascinating ideas that is making a comeback amongst gardeners. If you plant lots of ...
How long are pepper seeds good for?
We get this question from our seed customers often:How long are pepper seeds good for? How long pepper seeds remain viable depends on how they are stored, but we say that 2-5 years is realistic. It really depends on if they were fully dried before storing.To store for long term, you need to keep the seeds cool and dry. If seeds are too wet, they can rot in the fridge, or they can get frost damage in the freezer.If you store seeds in the refrigerator or freezer, place the packets in a small, a...
Common Tomato Disorders
The following tomato problems are caused by environmental stress. Basic prevention of these disorders includes keeping soil evenly moist, mulching, and maintaining mature foliage to shade tomatoes. Tomato Blossom end rot: The blossom end of the fruit blackens and becomes leathery. The problem is typically caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit due to variable soil moisture conditions. Prevention involves keeping the soil evenly moist. Mulches are helpful in this regard. Fruit is perfect...
Secret Garden Tips
The 3 best things for your food garden right now. Secret Tip #1 This secret tip is great to do early in the season when root growth is at a premium. Plants with strong root systems can grow faster, resist more stress, and bloom sooner. It is expensive and worth it. I’m talking about Superthrive. When transplanting your seedlings into the outside garden, water them in first with good clean water. Then return the next day and pour about one cup of diluted Superthrive mixed with water onto e...
