How to grow more peppersTo increase your pepper plant harvests, it is important to provide optimal growing conditions, such as in full sun and warm temperatures, plus good, loamy soil with lots of organic matter. Providing a balanced fertilizer, ideally organic, is also good for continued support of growth. Here are more tips on growing more peppers: 1. Choose Productive Pepper Varieties: Pick the fastest growing peppers to ensure a long, productive harvest. While all peppers will eventually produce a ton of pods...
Can you eat squash leaves?Did you know that squash, pumpkin and zucchini leaves and blossoms are edible? With the leaves, the young ones are the best as they are more tender and tasty – a great leafy green to add to all kinds of dishes. Add to soups, curries, quiches, frittatas, stir fry, risotto, you name it! They are also great lightly steamed for a minute or two with garlic, herbs of your choice, and a drizzle of olive oil. We chopped up some young Spaghetti Squash leaves, blossoms, plus Shishito peppers, garlic...
Growing Spaghetti SquashAre spaghetti squash hard to grow? Growing spaghetti squash seeds are some of the easiest and rewarding squashes to grow! They are easy to start from seed, you can direct sow them in mounds in your garden, no need to start them indoors. In fact, we find that direct sown squash often do better than their indoor-started counterparts, this is in part because they have sensitive root systems that don't like to be disturbed (aka transplanted). Make sure to provide good soil for them, they lik...
What is the hottest pepper you can grow?Well, technically in 2025 the hottest pepper you can grow is the Carolina Reaper. There is a new OFFICIAL hottest pepper that in 2023 beat out the Reaper in the Guinness World Records called Pepper X. However, the creator Ed Currie, is not selling seeds so you can't grow them in your own garden. Don't worry though, the Carolina Reaper and other super hot peppers like the Bhut Jolokia, Naga Morich and Trinidad Scorpion are so hot your tastebuds and heat addiction will be satiated. Eve...
What Seeds to Plant in June - Companion Plants!Wondering what seeds you should plant in June? It's not too late to start your garden! June is a great time to plant companion plants with your peppers, tomatoes and other veggies. There is a great range of seeds to choose from that you can plant in June including cilantro, squash, cucumbers, nasturtium, lettuce, basil, and many more. Read about them below... Cilantro - great for salsas, and the flowers attract lots of beneficial insects and produce more seeds (also known as Corian...
Hatch Chile Seeds: From Planting to HarvestIntroduction to growing Hatch Chile Seeds Growing your own delicious Hatch chile peppers from seeds is a rewarding experience, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner. These flavorful peppers, originating from New Mexico's Hatch Valley, are beloved for their versatility in dishes like stews, salsas, and chile rellenos. With the right care, you can cultivate a thriving crop of Hatch chiles in your garden, ranging from mild to fiery hot. You don't have to be in Hatch, NM to...
What kind of pepper is used for chile rellenos?Question: Could you recommend an interesting & delicious pepper to grow that I can eventually use to make chile rellenos? Answer: There is not just one perfect chile pepper for Chile Rellenos! While poblano peppers are historically the most commonly used peppers for rellenos, there are many varieties that are perfect for them. Our recommendation is to use any in-season variety of Hatch Chile, Poblano, or Anaheim Chile – you can enjoy any of them as chile rellenos! You can choose super h...
Seeds to Plant in May - Direct SowingA summer squash above was direct seeded in mounds in May at a community garden in Denver. Squash is best direct sown as it doesn't like to have it's roots disturbed, so we generally plant it directly in the garden in May and June. Is May too late to direct sow seeds? Answer: Nope! May is a great time to direct sow many seeds in most growing regions in most of the Northern Hemisphere! May marks the transition from spring to summer in many regions, and the days are super long in M...
First Peppers Photo ContestShare your pics of your first peppers for a chance to WIN A $20 GIFT CARD! THREE WAYS TO ENTER: 1. Post on Instagram and tag your image with #SandiaSeedFirstPeppers 2. Comment with your photo on this Facebook post »3. Not on social media? We get it! Email us your photos: support@sandiaseed.com P.S. You can post pictures of your pepper plants and blossoms, too, if you don't have any peppers yet! It's still pretty early for many growing regions or for super hots! Contest ends on June...
Edible Nasturtium for your Vegetable GardenNasturtium flowers are beautiful and add artistic flair to your vegetable garden! Plus, the leaves and flowers are edible – they are tasty and a bit spicy, their peppery flavor tastes great when added to salads or as a garnish on any dish. Easy to grow from seeds, direct sow them! They have beautiful edible flowers, leaves and seed pods. Nasturtiums are also a great companion plant for peppers and tomatoes as they attract beneficial insects and deter some pests in the garden. They are ...
Mild Peppers to GrowThere are so many tasty mild peppers to grow for people who don't want a lot of spice or any spice in their food. You can grow completely sweet peppers with 0 Scovilles (no heat), or you can grow mild pepper seeds with just a dash of spice. Check our our List of Peppers by Heat for all the mild peppers we carry at the top of the list - we carry seeds for over 101 peppers of the world, and there are so many unusual, exotic and delicious mild pepper varieties to grow for your kitchen. Check...
20% OFF SEEDS TO PLANT IN MAY & JUNEMay and June are great months to sow seeds! That's right, May and June is great time to sow many seeds in most growing regions in most of the Northern Hemisphere.To help you get started, we're offering 20% OFF SEEDS TO PLANT IN MAY & JUNEUse discount code: PLANTNOWExpires May 23, 2025 SHOP SEEDS ON SALE » Learn more about what seeds are best to direct sow in May & June »
Grow Hatch Chile SeedsGrow Hatch Chile seeds in your garden this year and experience one of the best flavors in the world! Growing Hatch chile plants is easy – if you can grow other peppers or tomatoes, you have the right growing conditions for Hatch chile! Hatch Chile varieties range in heat, so you can pick out mild, medium-hot to extra hot chiles for your tastes. See all of our Hatch Chile seed varieties » If you don't live close enough to New Mexico to get chile from the farmers, then grow them! You can ...
When to Top Pepper PlantsAre you thinking about topping your chilli plants? Wondering when to top your pepper plants? Our answer: Keep it simple, we say don't worry about topping your plants at all! If you grow peppers from seed – you may wonder if (and when) you should top your pepper plants. In our experience, topping pepper plants does not necessarily result in more peppers than their un-topped counterparts. If you are growing your peppers outdoors, we don't think topping is necessary. We find that toppi...
Hardening Off Pepper PlantsHardening Off Pepper Plants is important but simple – you just want to gradually expose your indoor-started pepper seedlings to the outside sun and breezes so they are not shocked by full sun on their first day outside. Don't let them get a sunburn! Hardening off pepper seedlings is simple – it just means gradually exposing seedlings to sunlight, wind, and temperature changes over a few days or a week, toughening them up and allowing them to develop thicker leaves and stems. This process...
How to Prune Tomato PlantsIf you grow tomato seeds, here are our top tips for how to prune tomato plants so they are more productive and healthy all season: First, you can start with pruning your young tomato plants – pruning off some of the first blossoms can help the tomato plant will help it put more energy into growing bigger. Pruning off the first blossoms on your seedlings and plants is especially good to do before transplanting, so they can spend energy getting their roots settled in before going into seed pr...
Habanero Pepper Heat ScaleHabanero Pepper Heat Scale Our Habanero seeds grow Habaneros that range from 0 to 450,000 Scovilles. That's right, we have two no-heat Habaneros that pack all the great fruity flavor of Habaneros but without heat so they're considered sweet peppers. Our classic Orange Habanero Seeds produce pods that have around 250,000 Scovilles. Get our hottest Habanero with our newer Yellow Caribbean Habanero seeds which produce pods with 450,000 Scovilles. Our second runner up is our Red Caribbean...
Best Peppers for SalsaIf you love salsa like us, growing hot peppers from seed is a great way to step up your salsa game! Best Peppers in Salsa: With tons of different peppers to choose from in different heat levels, flavors and colors, don't limit yourself to just Jalapenos and Serranos – which are the most popular choices – be sure to try all sorts of hot peppers in your salsa to taste the rainbow of flavors! Roasted Anaheim chile, green chile and poblano peppers offer a milder, smoky flavor. Or for a wi...
Books about PeppersIf you love peppers, and love growing peppers, here are some great books about peppers! One of our favorite books about peppers was a book called Hot Peppers: The Story of Cajuns and Capsicum by Richard Schwid that goes into the history of peppers and goes into depth about Tabasco peppers. An interesting read! The whole time while reading I was craving hot sauce. Chasing Chiles: Hot Spots Along the Pepper Trail by Gary Paul Nabhan, Kraig Kraft, and Kurt Michael Friese is also good to read. ...
Why are pepper plants turning yellow even with fertilizer?Wondering why some of your pepper plants are turning yellow even with fertilizer?Yellow leaves on your pepper plants may not be because you aren't fertilizing enough, they could have plenty of fertilizer but other issues can cause yellow leaves. While it is true that not enough nitrogen in the soil is a reason pepper plant leaves turn yellow, that is definitely not always the case! There may be plenty of nitrogen and other nutrients, but too much of another thing - water. One of the most ...
How to grow more peppers
To increase your pepper plant harvests, it is important to provide optimal growing conditions, such as in full sun and warm temperatures, plus good, loamy soil with lots of organic matter. Providing a balanced fertilizer, ideally organic, is also good for continued support of growth. Here are more tips on growing more peppers: 1. Choose Productive Pepper Varieties: Pick the fastest growing peppers to ensure a long, productive harvest. While all peppers will eventually produce a ton of pods...
Can you eat squash leaves?
Did you know that squash, pumpkin and zucchini leaves and blossoms are edible? With the leaves, the young ones are the best as they are more tender and tasty – a great leafy green to add to all kinds of dishes. Add to soups, curries, quiches, frittatas, stir fry, risotto, you name it! They are also great lightly steamed for a minute or two with garlic, herbs of your choice, and a drizzle of olive oil. We chopped up some young Spaghetti Squash leaves, blossoms, plus Shishito peppers, garlic...
Growing Spaghetti Squash
Are spaghetti squash hard to grow? Growing spaghetti squash seeds are some of the easiest and rewarding squashes to grow! They are easy to start from seed, you can direct sow them in mounds in your garden, no need to start them indoors. In fact, we find that direct sown squash often do better than their indoor-started counterparts, this is in part because they have sensitive root systems that don't like to be disturbed (aka transplanted). Make sure to provide good soil for them, they lik...
What is the hottest pepper you can grow?
Well, technically in 2025 the hottest pepper you can grow is the Carolina Reaper. There is a new OFFICIAL hottest pepper that in 2023 beat out the Reaper in the Guinness World Records called Pepper X. However, the creator Ed Currie, is not selling seeds so you can't grow them in your own garden. Don't worry though, the Carolina Reaper and other super hot peppers like the Bhut Jolokia, Naga Morich and Trinidad Scorpion are so hot your tastebuds and heat addiction will be satiated. Eve...
What Seeds to Plant in June - Companion Plants!
Wondering what seeds you should plant in June? It's not too late to start your garden! June is a great time to plant companion plants with your peppers, tomatoes and other veggies. There is a great range of seeds to choose from that you can plant in June including cilantro, squash, cucumbers, nasturtium, lettuce, basil, and many more. Read about them below... Cilantro - great for salsas, and the flowers attract lots of beneficial insects and produce more seeds (also known as Corian...
Hatch Chile Seeds: From Planting to Harvest
Introduction to growing Hatch Chile Seeds Growing your own delicious Hatch chile peppers from seeds is a rewarding experience, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner. These flavorful peppers, originating from New Mexico's Hatch Valley, are beloved for their versatility in dishes like stews, salsas, and chile rellenos. With the right care, you can cultivate a thriving crop of Hatch chiles in your garden, ranging from mild to fiery hot. You don't have to be in Hatch, NM to...
What kind of pepper is used for chile rellenos?
Question: Could you recommend an interesting & delicious pepper to grow that I can eventually use to make chile rellenos? Answer: There is not just one perfect chile pepper for Chile Rellenos! While poblano peppers are historically the most commonly used peppers for rellenos, there are many varieties that are perfect for them. Our recommendation is to use any in-season variety of Hatch Chile, Poblano, or Anaheim Chile – you can enjoy any of them as chile rellenos! You can choose super h...
Seeds to Plant in May - Direct Sowing
A summer squash above was direct seeded in mounds in May at a community garden in Denver. Squash is best direct sown as it doesn't like to have it's roots disturbed, so we generally plant it directly in the garden in May and June. Is May too late to direct sow seeds? Answer: Nope! May is a great time to direct sow many seeds in most growing regions in most of the Northern Hemisphere! May marks the transition from spring to summer in many regions, and the days are super long in M...
First Peppers Photo Contest
Share your pics of your first peppers for a chance to WIN A $20 GIFT CARD! THREE WAYS TO ENTER: 1. Post on Instagram and tag your image with #SandiaSeedFirstPeppers 2. Comment with your photo on this Facebook post »3. Not on social media? We get it! Email us your photos: support@sandiaseed.com P.S. You can post pictures of your pepper plants and blossoms, too, if you don't have any peppers yet! It's still pretty early for many growing regions or for super hots! Contest ends on June...
Edible Nasturtium for your Vegetable Garden
Nasturtium flowers are beautiful and add artistic flair to your vegetable garden! Plus, the leaves and flowers are edible – they are tasty and a bit spicy, their peppery flavor tastes great when added to salads or as a garnish on any dish. Easy to grow from seeds, direct sow them! They have beautiful edible flowers, leaves and seed pods. Nasturtiums are also a great companion plant for peppers and tomatoes as they attract beneficial insects and deter some pests in the garden. They are ...
Mild Peppers to Grow
There are so many tasty mild peppers to grow for people who don't want a lot of spice or any spice in their food. You can grow completely sweet peppers with 0 Scovilles (no heat), or you can grow mild pepper seeds with just a dash of spice. Check our our List of Peppers by Heat for all the mild peppers we carry at the top of the list - we carry seeds for over 101 peppers of the world, and there are so many unusual, exotic and delicious mild pepper varieties to grow for your kitchen. Check...
20% OFF SEEDS TO PLANT IN MAY & JUNE
May and June are great months to sow seeds! That's right, May and June is great time to sow many seeds in most growing regions in most of the Northern Hemisphere.To help you get started, we're offering 20% OFF SEEDS TO PLANT IN MAY & JUNEUse discount code: PLANTNOWExpires May 23, 2025 SHOP SEEDS ON SALE » Learn more about what seeds are best to direct sow in May & June »
Grow Hatch Chile Seeds
Grow Hatch Chile seeds in your garden this year and experience one of the best flavors in the world! Growing Hatch chile plants is easy – if you can grow other peppers or tomatoes, you have the right growing conditions for Hatch chile! Hatch Chile varieties range in heat, so you can pick out mild, medium-hot to extra hot chiles for your tastes. See all of our Hatch Chile seed varieties » If you don't live close enough to New Mexico to get chile from the farmers, then grow them! You can ...
When to Top Pepper Plants
Are you thinking about topping your chilli plants? Wondering when to top your pepper plants? Our answer: Keep it simple, we say don't worry about topping your plants at all! If you grow peppers from seed – you may wonder if (and when) you should top your pepper plants. In our experience, topping pepper plants does not necessarily result in more peppers than their un-topped counterparts. If you are growing your peppers outdoors, we don't think topping is necessary. We find that toppi...
Hardening Off Pepper Plants
Hardening Off Pepper Plants is important but simple – you just want to gradually expose your indoor-started pepper seedlings to the outside sun and breezes so they are not shocked by full sun on their first day outside. Don't let them get a sunburn! Hardening off pepper seedlings is simple – it just means gradually exposing seedlings to sunlight, wind, and temperature changes over a few days or a week, toughening them up and allowing them to develop thicker leaves and stems. This process...
How to Prune Tomato Plants
If you grow tomato seeds, here are our top tips for how to prune tomato plants so they are more productive and healthy all season: First, you can start with pruning your young tomato plants – pruning off some of the first blossoms can help the tomato plant will help it put more energy into growing bigger. Pruning off the first blossoms on your seedlings and plants is especially good to do before transplanting, so they can spend energy getting their roots settled in before going into seed pr...
Habanero Pepper Heat Scale
Habanero Pepper Heat Scale Our Habanero seeds grow Habaneros that range from 0 to 450,000 Scovilles. That's right, we have two no-heat Habaneros that pack all the great fruity flavor of Habaneros but without heat so they're considered sweet peppers. Our classic Orange Habanero Seeds produce pods that have around 250,000 Scovilles. Get our hottest Habanero with our newer Yellow Caribbean Habanero seeds which produce pods with 450,000 Scovilles. Our second runner up is our Red Caribbean...
Best Peppers for Salsa
If you love salsa like us, growing hot peppers from seed is a great way to step up your salsa game! Best Peppers in Salsa: With tons of different peppers to choose from in different heat levels, flavors and colors, don't limit yourself to just Jalapenos and Serranos – which are the most popular choices – be sure to try all sorts of hot peppers in your salsa to taste the rainbow of flavors! Roasted Anaheim chile, green chile and poblano peppers offer a milder, smoky flavor. Or for a wi...
Books about Peppers
If you love peppers, and love growing peppers, here are some great books about peppers! One of our favorite books about peppers was a book called Hot Peppers: The Story of Cajuns and Capsicum by Richard Schwid that goes into the history of peppers and goes into depth about Tabasco peppers. An interesting read! The whole time while reading I was craving hot sauce. Chasing Chiles: Hot Spots Along the Pepper Trail by Gary Paul Nabhan, Kraig Kraft, and Kurt Michael Friese is also good to read. ...
Why are pepper plants turning yellow even with fertilizer?
Wondering why some of your pepper plants are turning yellow even with fertilizer?Yellow leaves on your pepper plants may not be because you aren't fertilizing enough, they could have plenty of fertilizer but other issues can cause yellow leaves. While it is true that not enough nitrogen in the soil is a reason pepper plant leaves turn yellow, that is definitely not always the case! There may be plenty of nitrogen and other nutrients, but too much of another thing - water. One of the most ...
