Why are bell peppers so hard to grow?Do you have luck growing bell peppers? Or do you struggle growing them? Do they only produce a couple peppers for the season? Growing Bell peppers can be challenging for some growing regions. Bell peppers are tropical natives that enjoy warm temperatures between 65-85˚F, and they generally prefer high humidity with fertile soil. In some regions, like the arid West with it's intense high altitude sun, bell peppers can be more challenging to grow. Bell peppers are especially prone to sunbur...
2026 Seed Catalog - Peppers of the WorldWe are so excited for our new 2026 Seed Catalog, packed with peppers, tomatoes, veggies and lots of recipes, growing tips and pepper growing info. Check out what we have coming in our newest Seed Catalog! Our seed catalog has 36 pages of colorful photos and info that is a great coffee or dinner table companion, and can be used in the kitchen, too! Dream up next season's vegetable garden with over 100 peppers and tons of tomatoes and vegetables to grow to have a variety of delicious harve...
What to do with a lot of Peppers? 28+ IdeasWondering what to do with a lot of peppers? This list above and below includes our favorite ways to use your pepper harvest from our latest Seed Catalog, which is packed with recipes and growing tips. Find links to our recipes for many of these ideas below...Too Many Peppers? If you find yourself with an abundance of peppers, there are several effective strategies for making use of them immediately or preserving them for enjoyment throughout the winter months. You can also share your veggie ...
Tomato spotted wilt virus - mottled tomatoesThe above photo of some wild looking mottled tomatoes is damage most likely caused by the Tomato spotted wilt virus. Plants infected with Tomato spotted wilt virus exhibit bronzing of the upper sides of young leaves, which later develop distinct, necrotic mottled spots. It looks wild, but it usually results in a less tasty tomato though it is still safe to eat if it doesn't taste too bad. This viral disease is infectious to many other plants including peppers, so it's best to remove ...
Pickle RecipesWe love pickles and make them out of a lot of our cucumbers and hot peppers like Cascabellas and Jalapenos and other Wax Peppers. Pickled peppers are delicious, we like to leave out the sugar and use hot peppers for a nice vinegary punch of heat and flavor anytime we feel like a snack. And spicy cucumber pickles are another perfect snack or side or topper for a sandwich or burger! Find all of our favorite peppers for pickling »If you don't have a huge harvest, make refrigerator pickles wh...
How to get Tomatoes to Ripen on the VineWondering how to get tomatoes to ripen on the vine? Did you know that picking ripe (or near ripe) tomatoes on your plants can speed up ripening of the the remaining tomatoes on the plant? It's true. Picking tomatoes (and peppers for that matter) can encourage the plant to ripen the remaining fruits faster. With tomatoes (and most peppers, too), you can pick them when they are partially ripe, so as the tomatoes turn halfway to their final color but aren't the full ripe color yet. If y...
Pesto RecipeSimple Pesto Recipe: 2 Cups of Basil – or more, who measures Basil? We usually just use all that we have on hand, you can make larger or smaller batches depending on how much basil you have. You can use both the leaves and any non-woody stems. 1/2 Cup of Nuts - we like to use hulled pumpkin seeds, pine nuts are traditional, but people also use walnuts, almonds, pistachios or even peanuts for pestos, they all bring their own flavor profile to the table. Vary quantity as desired 1/4 cup of...
Recipe for Spaghetti Verde – Pasta with Cilantro, Tomatillos, Jalapenos and Olive OilHere is a simple recipe for Spaghetti Verde, our version is pasta tossed with roasted tomatillos, jalapenos (or other spicy green peppers such as Hatch chiles) and cilantro. This is a pesto for those who like it spicy! Ingredients: 3-5+ Tomatillos, roasted and cooled 1-3+ Jalapenos, roasted and cooled (or use any green chiles for this recipe) 3+ Garlic Cloves, roasted 1 Bunch of cilantro 1/2 Cup Olive Oil Salt and pepper to taste Nuts - optional, add toasted No Shell Raw Pepitas, pine nuts...
Hot Sauce QuotesDo you love hot sauce like we do? Here are some fun quotes about Hot Sauce, our favorite condiment: "If peppers are a fruit, then hot sauce is a smoothie." “Everything’s better with Hot Sauce” “The secret ingredient is always Hot Sauce” “Spice up your life” (with Sandia Seed) “Hot sauce is my spirit condiment” “When life gives you peppers, make hot sauce” “Hot sauce: turning bland into grand since forever” “Keep calm and put hot sauce on everything!” “Hot sauce: the real MVP of eve...
International Hot and Spicy Food Day - January 16th!January 16 is International Hot and Spicy Food Day? January 16th is the day where you get to celebrate and enjoy the spiciest food in the world. Countries of the world have lots of spicy recipes, and we love them all! Many of you grow some of the hottest peppers in the world from seed, as well as enjoy homemade hot salsas, hot sauces and spicy dishes. Check out all of our favorite spicy chile recipes » If you love spicy, check out our List of Peppers by Heat »
Growing seeds in winter: Winter Sowing in FebruaryCan I winter sow in February? Yes, February is a great time for Winter Sowing in many regions like the West. We usually have to wait until mid-May here in Colorado to bring out indoor-started peppers and tomatoes and other warm weather veggies to harden off and get ready to transplant into the garden. But that doesn't mean you can't start some seeds outdoors despite the freezing weather and snow... because you can Winter Sow! Cool weather veggies, herbs and native plants can do very...
Top 5 Peppers to Grow in 2025Here's our Top 5 Peppers to Grow in 2025 Make 2025 great with some super tasty (and spicy) new peppers that are sure to boost those endorphins and delight your tastebuds: #1 Tasmanian Ghost Pepper A new pepper in our lineup, this fruity pepper has nice flavor until the ferocious bite arrives. The chances of being attacked by a Tasmanian Ghost are very high after you chew it up swallow it down under! The aroma and flavor is fruity up front then forget about it – it's HOT! Great for ...
Free Shipping on Seeds this week!THIS OFFER HAS ENDED. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE DISCOUNTS » EXPIRED DISCOUNT:Free USPS Ground Shipping on all seed orders over $20 for 3 days only for customers in the USA Tuesday-Thursday, Feb 11-13, 2025Use discount code: FREESHIP25 Sorry the discount is expired!Subscribe below for more discounts:
Valentine's Day Gift Cards for the Gardener in your life!Gift Cards for seeds make the perfect last-minute but thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts. Give a gift to grow together! Sandia Seed's gift cards are a spicy addition to any Valentine's Day present – your loved one can buy all the super hot peppers to spice up your lives! Our gift cards are great for last minute gifts too, as they can be sent via email (or you can print it out and put it in a card!) We have over 101 peppers of the world to choose from, from super sweet to super spic...
Canned Salsa RecipesCanning: because you don't have to read ingredient labels when you're the one that filled that jar. Most of these salsa recipes can be canned, too! Canned Hot Pepper Salsa Recipe »Carolina Reaper Salsa Recipe »Trinidad Scorpion Salsa Recipe »Vinegar Pepper Sauce Recipe »Ghost Pepper Salsa Recipe »Orange Salsa Recipe » Pico de Gallo Recipe »Tomatillo Salsa Recipe »Hatch Chile Salsa Recipe » Quick Salsa » No-Peel Salsa Recipe »Green Tomato Salsa Recipe »Salsa Macha Recipe » Cab...
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...
Hot Sauce from Dried PeppersDrying peppers is a great way to preserve your summer harvest for year-round use. And, dried peppers make for great hot sauce, too! Here's a simple recipe to use some of your dried hot peppers to make a delicious hot sauce: DRIED PEPPER HOT SAUCE RECIPE 1 cup dried hot peppers (any varieties!) 1 cup apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar) 1 head garlic peeled Enough boiling water to cover ingredients Remove stems from dried hot peppers and place them in a glass pyrex bowl or jar. B...
“GREATEST SALE EVER”SALE HAS ENDED!Signup for our newsletter to get our future deals! ... Get 30% off all the USA seed varieties that we sell that have a city or state in their name! Did we miss any? SALE GOES FOR 3 DAYS ONLY: Jan 31 - Feb 2, 2025 (ENDED)Signup for our newsletter to get more deals on our seeds! Happy growing!
Seed DonationsWe love providing seed donations to Seed Libraries! We are thankful for organizations and groups that are helping their community through seed libraries and other seed sharing opportunities. Every year we donate lots of seeds to seed libraries, non-profits and community gardens over the years. We offer our seed donations in October each year. Do you know of a non-profit or seed library in your city that needs seeds? Have them contact us in September/October at support@sandiaseed.com to see i...
What are the best peppers to grow indoors?We recently had a customer ask: What is a good pepper to grow indoors? Many peppers can grow great indoors if you have the space and good lighting! If you have limited space, we think that the best pepper plants for indoor growing are smaller peppers such as Pequins, Chiltepins, Habaneros, Mini Bell Peppers, Aji, Carolina Reapers, Thai peppers, or small ornamental peppers like Fire and Ice. Of course, don't limit yourself to just these peppers, you can really grow any peppers indoors if y...
Why are bell peppers so hard to grow?
Do you have luck growing bell peppers? Or do you struggle growing them? Do they only produce a couple peppers for the season? Growing Bell peppers can be challenging for some growing regions. Bell peppers are tropical natives that enjoy warm temperatures between 65-85˚F, and they generally prefer high humidity with fertile soil. In some regions, like the arid West with it's intense high altitude sun, bell peppers can be more challenging to grow. Bell peppers are especially prone to sunbur...
2026 Seed Catalog - Peppers of the World
We are so excited for our new 2026 Seed Catalog, packed with peppers, tomatoes, veggies and lots of recipes, growing tips and pepper growing info. Check out what we have coming in our newest Seed Catalog! Our seed catalog has 36 pages of colorful photos and info that is a great coffee or dinner table companion, and can be used in the kitchen, too! Dream up next season's vegetable garden with over 100 peppers and tons of tomatoes and vegetables to grow to have a variety of delicious harve...
What to do with a lot of Peppers? 28+ Ideas
Wondering what to do with a lot of peppers? This list above and below includes our favorite ways to use your pepper harvest from our latest Seed Catalog, which is packed with recipes and growing tips. Find links to our recipes for many of these ideas below...Too Many Peppers? If you find yourself with an abundance of peppers, there are several effective strategies for making use of them immediately or preserving them for enjoyment throughout the winter months. You can also share your veggie ...
Tomato spotted wilt virus - mottled tomatoes
The above photo of some wild looking mottled tomatoes is damage most likely caused by the Tomato spotted wilt virus. Plants infected with Tomato spotted wilt virus exhibit bronzing of the upper sides of young leaves, which later develop distinct, necrotic mottled spots. It looks wild, but it usually results in a less tasty tomato though it is still safe to eat if it doesn't taste too bad. This viral disease is infectious to many other plants including peppers, so it's best to remove ...
Pickle Recipes
We love pickles and make them out of a lot of our cucumbers and hot peppers like Cascabellas and Jalapenos and other Wax Peppers. Pickled peppers are delicious, we like to leave out the sugar and use hot peppers for a nice vinegary punch of heat and flavor anytime we feel like a snack. And spicy cucumber pickles are another perfect snack or side or topper for a sandwich or burger! Find all of our favorite peppers for pickling »If you don't have a huge harvest, make refrigerator pickles wh...
How to get Tomatoes to Ripen on the Vine
Wondering how to get tomatoes to ripen on the vine? Did you know that picking ripe (or near ripe) tomatoes on your plants can speed up ripening of the the remaining tomatoes on the plant? It's true. Picking tomatoes (and peppers for that matter) can encourage the plant to ripen the remaining fruits faster. With tomatoes (and most peppers, too), you can pick them when they are partially ripe, so as the tomatoes turn halfway to their final color but aren't the full ripe color yet. If y...
Pesto Recipe
Simple Pesto Recipe: 2 Cups of Basil – or more, who measures Basil? We usually just use all that we have on hand, you can make larger or smaller batches depending on how much basil you have. You can use both the leaves and any non-woody stems. 1/2 Cup of Nuts - we like to use hulled pumpkin seeds, pine nuts are traditional, but people also use walnuts, almonds, pistachios or even peanuts for pestos, they all bring their own flavor profile to the table. Vary quantity as desired 1/4 cup of...
Recipe for Spaghetti Verde – Pasta with Cilantro, Tomatillos, Jalapenos and Olive Oil
Here is a simple recipe for Spaghetti Verde, our version is pasta tossed with roasted tomatillos, jalapenos (or other spicy green peppers such as Hatch chiles) and cilantro. This is a pesto for those who like it spicy! Ingredients: 3-5+ Tomatillos, roasted and cooled 1-3+ Jalapenos, roasted and cooled (or use any green chiles for this recipe) 3+ Garlic Cloves, roasted 1 Bunch of cilantro 1/2 Cup Olive Oil Salt and pepper to taste Nuts - optional, add toasted No Shell Raw Pepitas, pine nuts...
Hot Sauce Quotes
Do you love hot sauce like we do? Here are some fun quotes about Hot Sauce, our favorite condiment: "If peppers are a fruit, then hot sauce is a smoothie." “Everything’s better with Hot Sauce” “The secret ingredient is always Hot Sauce” “Spice up your life” (with Sandia Seed) “Hot sauce is my spirit condiment” “When life gives you peppers, make hot sauce” “Hot sauce: turning bland into grand since forever” “Keep calm and put hot sauce on everything!” “Hot sauce: the real MVP of eve...
International Hot and Spicy Food Day - January 16th!
January 16 is International Hot and Spicy Food Day? January 16th is the day where you get to celebrate and enjoy the spiciest food in the world. Countries of the world have lots of spicy recipes, and we love them all! Many of you grow some of the hottest peppers in the world from seed, as well as enjoy homemade hot salsas, hot sauces and spicy dishes. Check out all of our favorite spicy chile recipes » If you love spicy, check out our List of Peppers by Heat »
Growing seeds in winter: Winter Sowing in February
Can I winter sow in February? Yes, February is a great time for Winter Sowing in many regions like the West. We usually have to wait until mid-May here in Colorado to bring out indoor-started peppers and tomatoes and other warm weather veggies to harden off and get ready to transplant into the garden. But that doesn't mean you can't start some seeds outdoors despite the freezing weather and snow... because you can Winter Sow! Cool weather veggies, herbs and native plants can do very...
Top 5 Peppers to Grow in 2025
Here's our Top 5 Peppers to Grow in 2025 Make 2025 great with some super tasty (and spicy) new peppers that are sure to boost those endorphins and delight your tastebuds: #1 Tasmanian Ghost Pepper A new pepper in our lineup, this fruity pepper has nice flavor until the ferocious bite arrives. The chances of being attacked by a Tasmanian Ghost are very high after you chew it up swallow it down under! The aroma and flavor is fruity up front then forget about it – it's HOT! Great for ...
Free Shipping on Seeds this week!
THIS OFFER HAS ENDED. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE DISCOUNTS » EXPIRED DISCOUNT:Free USPS Ground Shipping on all seed orders over $20 for 3 days only for customers in the USA Tuesday-Thursday, Feb 11-13, 2025Use discount code: FREESHIP25 Sorry the discount is expired!Subscribe below for more discounts:
Valentine's Day Gift Cards for the Gardener in your life!
Gift Cards for seeds make the perfect last-minute but thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts. Give a gift to grow together! Sandia Seed's gift cards are a spicy addition to any Valentine's Day present – your loved one can buy all the super hot peppers to spice up your lives! Our gift cards are great for last minute gifts too, as they can be sent via email (or you can print it out and put it in a card!) We have over 101 peppers of the world to choose from, from super sweet to super spic...
Canned Salsa Recipes
Canning: because you don't have to read ingredient labels when you're the one that filled that jar. Most of these salsa recipes can be canned, too! Canned Hot Pepper Salsa Recipe »Carolina Reaper Salsa Recipe »Trinidad Scorpion Salsa Recipe »Vinegar Pepper Sauce Recipe »Ghost Pepper Salsa Recipe »Orange Salsa Recipe » Pico de Gallo Recipe »Tomatillo Salsa Recipe »Hatch Chile Salsa Recipe » Quick Salsa » No-Peel Salsa Recipe »Green Tomato Salsa Recipe »Salsa Macha Recipe » Cab...
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...
Hot Sauce from Dried Peppers
Drying peppers is a great way to preserve your summer harvest for year-round use. And, dried peppers make for great hot sauce, too! Here's a simple recipe to use some of your dried hot peppers to make a delicious hot sauce: DRIED PEPPER HOT SAUCE RECIPE 1 cup dried hot peppers (any varieties!) 1 cup apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar) 1 head garlic peeled Enough boiling water to cover ingredients Remove stems from dried hot peppers and place them in a glass pyrex bowl or jar. B...
“GREATEST SALE EVER”
SALE HAS ENDED!Signup for our newsletter to get our future deals! ... Get 30% off all the USA seed varieties that we sell that have a city or state in their name! Did we miss any? SALE GOES FOR 3 DAYS ONLY: Jan 31 - Feb 2, 2025 (ENDED)Signup for our newsletter to get more deals on our seeds! Happy growing!
Seed Donations
We love providing seed donations to Seed Libraries! We are thankful for organizations and groups that are helping their community through seed libraries and other seed sharing opportunities. Every year we donate lots of seeds to seed libraries, non-profits and community gardens over the years. We offer our seed donations in October each year. Do you know of a non-profit or seed library in your city that needs seeds? Have them contact us in September/October at support@sandiaseed.com to see i...
What are the best peppers to grow indoors?
We recently had a customer ask: What is a good pepper to grow indoors? Many peppers can grow great indoors if you have the space and good lighting! If you have limited space, we think that the best pepper plants for indoor growing are smaller peppers such as Pequins, Chiltepins, Habaneros, Mini Bell Peppers, Aji, Carolina Reapers, Thai peppers, or small ornamental peppers like Fire and Ice. Of course, don't limit yourself to just these peppers, you can really grow any peppers indoors if y...
