How do you make Paprika? (homegrown from seeds!)Making Paprika is a lot of fun! This year ‘Making Paprika’ is a great theme for a pepper garden. Paprika powder is made from red peppers. It can be sweet, flavorful, mild or have a sweet bite of spice. All red chile peppers will produce chile powder. Here are some of the best peppers for Paprika: Most Popular Paprika Pepper Varieties: The most popular pepper choices for homemade paprika are Paprika R. Naky, Alma Paprika, and Hot Hungarian. Addition Peppers that make gre...
2026 Wholesale SeedsIf you’re looking for wholesale seeds, Sandia Seed is an excellent choice. They offer high-quality seeds with a great variety, especially known for their pepper and vegetable seed selections. Gardeners and growers often find that their seeds germinate reliably and grow true to type, making Sandia a trusted supplier for both retail seed packets and wholesale orders. Whether you’re stocking a shop, garden center, or just want quality bulk seed options, Sandia Seed is highly recommended for its...
Beginner‑Friendly Hot PeppersAt Sandia Seed we LOVE peppers, and we enjoy helping people grow their own peppers from seed! We think some of the best peppers for beginners to grow are the fastest growing peppers, including Jalapeños, Green Chiles, and Serranos. Why? Because they germinate fast, grow quickly, and produce a lot of peppers for a longer season so beginners are more likely to have success! And who doesn't like MORE peppers? Beginner's and experts alike will like all of these peppers we mention below. ...
Hot Sauce Ingredient IdeasHot Sauces are made from lots of ingredients beyond just hot peppers! Many recipes include fruit, juice (lime, lemon), different types of vinegar, ginger, mustard seeds, carrots, garlic, onions and other ingredients to add more flavor and thicken or extend sauces. It's fun to grow many of your own hot sauce ingredients in your garden for the freshest flavors. Hot sauce is a great way to preserve your harvest for year-round use. Grow your own Hot Sauce Garden and make your own hot sauce t...
Win Free Seeds: Guess how many seeds are in this jar!THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!We picked two Seed Guessing Contest winners:Rivkah with the guess of 43,765 (just 44 seeds off, the closest!) and Patty with the guess of 43,650 seeds (just 71 seeds off!) There were 43,721 seeds in the jar.Wow, these two guessed so close!! And lots of others were in the ballpark, too. Thanks to all who participated! Subscribe to our email newsletter to get 10% off your next order and hear about future contests.Happy growing! ORIGI...
When to Start Pepper Seeds in ColoradoCustomer question:I'm in Colorado Springs, and I want to start some sweet and mildly spicy peppers indoors. Should I start them indoors in February or March? Growing peppers in the Colorado is a great idea! Many varieties do grow well here, depending on where you are. The Front Range including most of Colorado Springs is usually around Zone 5b, and can have a relatively short growing season depending on the weather conditions in the spring and fall. You can start pepper seeds in Colora...
Green Hot Sauce RecipesGreen hot sauce is a favorite among hot sauce connoisseurs. Green hot sauces are not always super hot (though they can be), and instead focus on the balance of spice and bright, tangy, and fresh flavors. Green hot sauce usually includes green ingredients including green jalapenos, serranos, fish peppers, green chiles, unripe green habaneros that are often combined with lime, cilantro, garlic, garlic chives, green onions, green or yellow tomatoes and tomatillos. Simple Green Hot Sauce Recipe:...
Sandia Seed Packets - Where to find our “packed for” DateWondering if your seeds are fresh? Sandia Seed has the date marked on the back of the seed packets in the lower right hand corner. We test and ensure that our high-quality seeds have germination rates above 85%, and we only sell the freshest seeds from the prior season. Our pepper seeds grow true to type, so you won't grow a pepper all season and find out it's not what you thought you planted! We stand behind our seeds with our Seed Germination Guarantee. You can trust Sandia Seed for...
Hot Sauce GardenGrow your own Hot Sauce Garden One of the reasons many gardeners grow hot peppers is to make their own hot sauces and salsas. Once you start growing peppers, you'll discover the full range of complex flavor and different kinds of heat peppers of the world provide for your tastebuds. It's addictive, too, the more varieties of peppers you taste, the more you want to try! And the more heat you try, the more heat you crave! But you don't need to grow extra hot peppers to make hot sa...
Cold Frames and Hoop Houses for Extending the SeasonCold Frame in Colorado, shown above Cold frames and hoop houses are simple, unheated structures that act as mini-greenhouses, using the sun's solar energy to trap heat and extend your growing season for cool-season veggies crops well into fall, winter, and early spring, protecting plants from frost and harsh weather while allowing for earlier starts and later harvests.You can use cold frames and hoop houses for protecting indoor-started seedlings too, in early spring during the hardening ...
Is it cheaper to grow your own herbs?Yes, it's cheaper to grow many of your own herbs! Growing your own herbs almost always pays off in the long run. Sure, there is an initial investment in seeds or starts, soil, and containers, but the savings quickly add up, especially for frequently used varieties like basil, cilantro, and mint. A single packet of seeds can produce months of fresh herbs for the cost of just a few store-bought bunches, minimizing waste and ensuring a steady, organic supply right at home. And, many herbs ar...
Tomato Sauce & other Tomato Recipes: Sauces, Salads, Salsas & MoreIf you're looking for tomato recipes, we have you covered! Next to chiles, tomatoes are our favorite vegetable garden pick! Like peppers, tomatoes come in a huge variety of different flavors, sizes and colors. And heirloom tomatoes offer some of the most exceptional flavor on the planet! Here are some of our favorite recipes that will use your delicious tomato harvest: Tomato Sauces Make these two sauces below to use for making dishes like lasagna, pasta, and pizza. Homemade sauce has ex...
Why Join a Community Garden?Why Join a Community Garden?There are so many great reasons! Joining a community garden is a way to grow fresh food, meet neighbors, and improve your mental and physical well‑being, especially if you lack your own yard or growing space. Many people also join because gardens make neighborhoods greener, safer, and more connected. There is nothing better than sharing seeds, seedlings, harvests and growing tips and experiences with others! Here are some of the benefits: Benefits of Joining a Comm...
How to Water your Winter Sowing JugsHow to Water your Winter Sowing Jugs:Three Ways Winter Sowing is an easy way to start seeds outside with recycled vinegar/water/milk jugs or other containers. It creates a mini-greenhouse so that you can start more seeds without the need for space or lights indoors. Learn more about Winter Sowing »In some growing regions, you may have enough moisture and humidity to keep your jugs moist with no additional watering. But, here in the West, we have dry, warm & sunny days all winter long, s...
Caprese Salad RecipeA Caprese salad is one of the best things summer has to offer! It's a simple and delicious way to make use of all those tomatoes and basil that are abundant in the garden in mid-to-late summer. Just add fresh mozzarella, and a balsamic vinegar & maple syrup glaze and you're in for a treat! This is a great recipe to bring to summer parties and picnics, as it is so colorful & fresh and travels well. Make a lot, as it won't last long! Ingredients: Heirloom Tomatoes, sliced ...
Seed Discounts: 15% Off All Seeds with CodeTHIS SALE HAS ENDED. For more deals on our seeds, Subscribe for a 10% off discount code, and view our selected 50% off discount seeds here. .... Grow Something New Sale: 15% OFF SEEDS STOREWIDE for the next 5 days with discount code: 2026GROW Plus, as always, get FREE USA SHIPPING with any orders over $30.*15% off non-discounted seeds. Apply Discount & Start Shopping »DISCOUNT CODE EXPIRED JAN 19, 2026 Also be sure to check out our 50% OFF SELECT SEEDS which rotate out frequently, s...
Best Watering CanWho would have thought we'd fall in love with a watering can? Well, we did. A couple years ago, we went to a Garden Bloggers Fling and we won a Dramm gift in the raffle... we received one of their Dramm Watering Cans in blue, some of their Fertilizer, and some awesome purple Dramm pruners (which also became our favorite pruners!)Now that we've tried the Dramm watering can out for a few years, we wanted to post our review – it's our favorite garden accessory! This Dramm watering ca...
Why are my Pequin pepper plants not producing?Not having luck with Pequins? We had a customer write that they were having no luck with Pequin seeds, that, after two months, their Pequin plants they grew from seed didn't produce any peppers while his other pepper varieties did well. He said that the Pequin plants he bought from the garden nursery did better. Well, don't despair if you have a Pequin plant that hasn't produced after 2 months after starting them from seed – they need a long growing season to produce. Pequins, a...
Why grow Squash?Why grow squash? Every gardener should plant squash because they are nutritious, easy to grow, and produce a high yield. Squash are a great source of vitamins A and C, and fiber. They are also very resilient and can produce a large amount of food, even in the heat of summer when other crops struggle. Zucchini is especially fast growing, so it's great for short seasons. The plants will provide you with an endless supply of versatile zucchini that can be used to make spicy fritters, bread...
Best Vinegar for Hot SauceMaking your own hot sauce recipes from homegrown hot peppers? Some people like to make fermented hot sauce recipes (and SOMETIMES they add vinegar at the end after it's fermented), some like to cook hot peppers down in a sauce pan and add vinegar for a quick hot sauce, and some people like to pickle whole hot peppers in vinegar for a spicy vinegar treat. You can even add lime or lemon juice to hot sauces for a tropical burst of flavor and acidity. There is no wrong way to make hot sauce, ...
How do you make Paprika? (homegrown from seeds!)
Making Paprika is a lot of fun! This year ‘Making Paprika’ is a great theme for a pepper garden. Paprika powder is made from red peppers. It can be sweet, flavorful, mild or have a sweet bite of spice. All red chile peppers will produce chile powder. Here are some of the best peppers for Paprika: Most Popular Paprika Pepper Varieties: The most popular pepper choices for homemade paprika are Paprika R. Naky, Alma Paprika, and Hot Hungarian. Addition Peppers that make gre...
2026 Wholesale Seeds
If you’re looking for wholesale seeds, Sandia Seed is an excellent choice. They offer high-quality seeds with a great variety, especially known for their pepper and vegetable seed selections. Gardeners and growers often find that their seeds germinate reliably and grow true to type, making Sandia a trusted supplier for both retail seed packets and wholesale orders. Whether you’re stocking a shop, garden center, or just want quality bulk seed options, Sandia Seed is highly recommended for its...
Beginner‑Friendly Hot Peppers
At Sandia Seed we LOVE peppers, and we enjoy helping people grow their own peppers from seed! We think some of the best peppers for beginners to grow are the fastest growing peppers, including Jalapeños, Green Chiles, and Serranos. Why? Because they germinate fast, grow quickly, and produce a lot of peppers for a longer season so beginners are more likely to have success! And who doesn't like MORE peppers? Beginner's and experts alike will like all of these peppers we mention below. ...
Hot Sauce Ingredient Ideas
Hot Sauces are made from lots of ingredients beyond just hot peppers! Many recipes include fruit, juice (lime, lemon), different types of vinegar, ginger, mustard seeds, carrots, garlic, onions and other ingredients to add more flavor and thicken or extend sauces. It's fun to grow many of your own hot sauce ingredients in your garden for the freshest flavors. Hot sauce is a great way to preserve your harvest for year-round use. Grow your own Hot Sauce Garden and make your own hot sauce t...
Win Free Seeds: Guess how many seeds are in this jar!
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!We picked two Seed Guessing Contest winners:Rivkah with the guess of 43,765 (just 44 seeds off, the closest!) and Patty with the guess of 43,650 seeds (just 71 seeds off!) There were 43,721 seeds in the jar.Wow, these two guessed so close!! And lots of others were in the ballpark, too. Thanks to all who participated! Subscribe to our email newsletter to get 10% off your next order and hear about future contests.Happy growing! ORIGI...
When to Start Pepper Seeds in Colorado
Customer question:I'm in Colorado Springs, and I want to start some sweet and mildly spicy peppers indoors. Should I start them indoors in February or March? Growing peppers in the Colorado is a great idea! Many varieties do grow well here, depending on where you are. The Front Range including most of Colorado Springs is usually around Zone 5b, and can have a relatively short growing season depending on the weather conditions in the spring and fall. You can start pepper seeds in Colora...
Green Hot Sauce Recipes
Green hot sauce is a favorite among hot sauce connoisseurs. Green hot sauces are not always super hot (though they can be), and instead focus on the balance of spice and bright, tangy, and fresh flavors. Green hot sauce usually includes green ingredients including green jalapenos, serranos, fish peppers, green chiles, unripe green habaneros that are often combined with lime, cilantro, garlic, garlic chives, green onions, green or yellow tomatoes and tomatillos. Simple Green Hot Sauce Recipe:...
Sandia Seed Packets - Where to find our “packed for” Date
Wondering if your seeds are fresh? Sandia Seed has the date marked on the back of the seed packets in the lower right hand corner. We test and ensure that our high-quality seeds have germination rates above 85%, and we only sell the freshest seeds from the prior season. Our pepper seeds grow true to type, so you won't grow a pepper all season and find out it's not what you thought you planted! We stand behind our seeds with our Seed Germination Guarantee. You can trust Sandia Seed for...
Hot Sauce Garden
Grow your own Hot Sauce Garden One of the reasons many gardeners grow hot peppers is to make their own hot sauces and salsas. Once you start growing peppers, you'll discover the full range of complex flavor and different kinds of heat peppers of the world provide for your tastebuds. It's addictive, too, the more varieties of peppers you taste, the more you want to try! And the more heat you try, the more heat you crave! But you don't need to grow extra hot peppers to make hot sa...
Cold Frames and Hoop Houses for Extending the Season
Cold Frame in Colorado, shown above Cold frames and hoop houses are simple, unheated structures that act as mini-greenhouses, using the sun's solar energy to trap heat and extend your growing season for cool-season veggies crops well into fall, winter, and early spring, protecting plants from frost and harsh weather while allowing for earlier starts and later harvests.You can use cold frames and hoop houses for protecting indoor-started seedlings too, in early spring during the hardening ...
Is it cheaper to grow your own herbs?
Yes, it's cheaper to grow many of your own herbs! Growing your own herbs almost always pays off in the long run. Sure, there is an initial investment in seeds or starts, soil, and containers, but the savings quickly add up, especially for frequently used varieties like basil, cilantro, and mint. A single packet of seeds can produce months of fresh herbs for the cost of just a few store-bought bunches, minimizing waste and ensuring a steady, organic supply right at home. And, many herbs ar...
Tomato Sauce & other Tomato Recipes: Sauces, Salads, Salsas & More
If you're looking for tomato recipes, we have you covered! Next to chiles, tomatoes are our favorite vegetable garden pick! Like peppers, tomatoes come in a huge variety of different flavors, sizes and colors. And heirloom tomatoes offer some of the most exceptional flavor on the planet! Here are some of our favorite recipes that will use your delicious tomato harvest: Tomato Sauces Make these two sauces below to use for making dishes like lasagna, pasta, and pizza. Homemade sauce has ex...
Why Join a Community Garden?
Why Join a Community Garden?There are so many great reasons! Joining a community garden is a way to grow fresh food, meet neighbors, and improve your mental and physical well‑being, especially if you lack your own yard or growing space. Many people also join because gardens make neighborhoods greener, safer, and more connected. There is nothing better than sharing seeds, seedlings, harvests and growing tips and experiences with others! Here are some of the benefits: Benefits of Joining a Comm...
How to Water your Winter Sowing Jugs
How to Water your Winter Sowing Jugs:Three Ways Winter Sowing is an easy way to start seeds outside with recycled vinegar/water/milk jugs or other containers. It creates a mini-greenhouse so that you can start more seeds without the need for space or lights indoors. Learn more about Winter Sowing »In some growing regions, you may have enough moisture and humidity to keep your jugs moist with no additional watering. But, here in the West, we have dry, warm & sunny days all winter long, s...
Caprese Salad Recipe
A Caprese salad is one of the best things summer has to offer! It's a simple and delicious way to make use of all those tomatoes and basil that are abundant in the garden in mid-to-late summer. Just add fresh mozzarella, and a balsamic vinegar & maple syrup glaze and you're in for a treat! This is a great recipe to bring to summer parties and picnics, as it is so colorful & fresh and travels well. Make a lot, as it won't last long! Ingredients: Heirloom Tomatoes, sliced ...
Seed Discounts: 15% Off All Seeds with Code
THIS SALE HAS ENDED. For more deals on our seeds, Subscribe for a 10% off discount code, and view our selected 50% off discount seeds here. .... Grow Something New Sale: 15% OFF SEEDS STOREWIDE for the next 5 days with discount code: 2026GROW Plus, as always, get FREE USA SHIPPING with any orders over $30.*15% off non-discounted seeds. Apply Discount & Start Shopping »DISCOUNT CODE EXPIRED JAN 19, 2026 Also be sure to check out our 50% OFF SELECT SEEDS which rotate out frequently, s...
Best Watering Can
Who would have thought we'd fall in love with a watering can? Well, we did. A couple years ago, we went to a Garden Bloggers Fling and we won a Dramm gift in the raffle... we received one of their Dramm Watering Cans in blue, some of their Fertilizer, and some awesome purple Dramm pruners (which also became our favorite pruners!)Now that we've tried the Dramm watering can out for a few years, we wanted to post our review – it's our favorite garden accessory! This Dramm watering ca...
Why are my Pequin pepper plants not producing?
Not having luck with Pequins? We had a customer write that they were having no luck with Pequin seeds, that, after two months, their Pequin plants they grew from seed didn't produce any peppers while his other pepper varieties did well. He said that the Pequin plants he bought from the garden nursery did better. Well, don't despair if you have a Pequin plant that hasn't produced after 2 months after starting them from seed – they need a long growing season to produce. Pequins, a...
Why grow Squash?
Why grow squash? Every gardener should plant squash because they are nutritious, easy to grow, and produce a high yield. Squash are a great source of vitamins A and C, and fiber. They are also very resilient and can produce a large amount of food, even in the heat of summer when other crops struggle. Zucchini is especially fast growing, so it's great for short seasons. The plants will provide you with an endless supply of versatile zucchini that can be used to make spicy fritters, bread...
Best Vinegar for Hot Sauce
Making your own hot sauce recipes from homegrown hot peppers? Some people like to make fermented hot sauce recipes (and SOMETIMES they add vinegar at the end after it's fermented), some like to cook hot peppers down in a sauce pan and add vinegar for a quick hot sauce, and some people like to pickle whole hot peppers in vinegar for a spicy vinegar treat. You can even add lime or lemon juice to hot sauces for a tropical burst of flavor and acidity. There is no wrong way to make hot sauce, ...
