Organic Control for Tomato Hornworms on PeppersTomato Hornworms are really big green caterpillars that can devastate your pepper garden. Giant brown moths lay pearl-like eggs on your pepper leaves, from which the monsters will hatch and start to eat voraciously. They can decimate all the leaves on a plant overnight. The best organic control might be picking the caterpillars off the plants, but by then it could be too late to save your plants. Also, touching and pulling them off is gross, but depending on how mad you are, you won’t mind! ...
Pepper Plant CompanionsWondering what to plant with your chile peppers to help them thrive? Flowers, chives, carrots, radishes, squash, basil, parsley, dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, cucumbers, eggplant, and onions all do well when grown in close proximity to peppers. But don't plant them too close that they will shade your pepper plants: Squash and cucumbers, for example, need ample space so we plant them at least 3-4' away from our pepper patch. You can also use trellises for your cucumbers to grow th...
Grow the Biggest PeppersWondering how to grow the biggest peppers? What is the trick to growing larger peppers? First, start off with the largest pepper varieties, such as the Legacy Big Jim chile. This giant was recognized by Guinness World Records for being the largest chile pepper in the world, and is beloved by chileheads. These New Mexican chiles have great flavor, thick flesh, and mild to medium heat with 2,000 - 4,000 Scovilles. These chile giants can grow up to 14" in length, but typically range from 8...
What Seeds to Plant in June - Companion Plants!Wondering what seeds you should plant in June? 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 Coriander) Cherry Belle Radish are super fast gro...
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...
Growing Tomatoes in PotsYes, you can grow tomatoes in pots! But, we do recommend larger pots – half whiskey barrels or pots of that size are best for most regular tomatoes. What type of tomatoes do well in pots? While you can pretty much grow any tomato in a large pot (don't forget to have trellises or obelisks for support), there are also tomato varieties that were bred to be smaller in plant size and do well in pots. You can even grow them with flowers, herbs and/or peppers to have a colorful veggie pot! W...
Pepper SeedsPepper Seeds Sandia Seed carries over 100 peppers of the world that you can grow in your garden! Our seeds have very high germination rates and grow into a variety of peppers that are sure to please any pepper lover! We also specialize in New Mexican Chile seeds such as Hatch Chile seeds, Poblano seeds, and other New Mexican favorites.Want sweet, mild, hot or super hot pepper seeds?We got you covered on pepper seeds with every heat level, from no heat at all to wicked hot. Here is a list of o...
Hot Pepper Comic"I'm not sure what the big deal is about Carolina Reapers... They don't have any heat."Hot Pepper Comic featuring the famous Carolina Reaper and a Bird Did you know birds can't feel the heat? In addition to spicing up hot sauce and salsas, some of our pepper seed customers grow our super hot peppers like the Carolina Reaper to dry and add to their seed mixes to discourage squirrels. Birds don't taste the heat but squirrels and other rodents do! Grow your own bird seed...
Composting for HUGE Green ChilesPeppers and vegetables love compost! Compost is nature's FREE fertilizer. Adding this rich organic material to your soil will help your vegetable plants grow larger and more bountiful. In fact, many organic gardeners use only compost to fertilize their vegetables. Rather than buying the bags of compost in the store – save plastic and money, plus recycle your household and landscaping waste by making your own compost. Homemade compost is also filled with a ton of living soil microorganisms...
The 6 Most Popular TomatoesThese six tomatoes are the most popular for all the right reasons. Five are hybrids that have proved themselves over several decades of growing seasons. The sixth, Cherokee Purple, is the only non-hybrid on the list. It is one of the most delicious open-pollinated heirloom tomatoes and a winning favorite at taste contests. Better Boy Hybrid – This improved version of Big Boy is more resistant to common tomato diseases, but still has Big Boy's extra-large fruit. Expect an abundant crop of ...
Pepper Seeds for SaleIf you're looking for pepper seeds for sale, you have come to the right place! Sandia Seed offers many varieties of New Mexican Green Chile pepper seeds as well as lots of other hot pepper seeds for sale, plus a selection of sweet pepper seeds and heirloom tomato seeds too! Patsy Coles, our founder, started Sandia Seed in order to offer a better variety of pepper seeds to home gardeners. Her passion has always been gardening, and she graduated from Arizona State University with a...
Tomato Tip to Thwart Birds!TOMATO TIP “I put decoys out well before my tomatoes begin to ripen. Big, red Christmas ornaments hanging here and there among my tomato plants. Birds will see those pretty red balls and think they are about to get a tasty meal. But all the peck, peck, pecking gets them nowhere. They might try several of them over a period of days until they figure out that there is nothing worth eating in THIS garden!” – CINDY AT PINEYWOODS HERB FARM We found this great tip on thwarting birds from eating y...
Growing Tomatoes from SeedIt takes about six to eight weeks to grow tomatoes from a seed to a seedling plant that is ready to transplant outside. Start seeds indoors for best results. In 5 to 12 days your tomato seeds should germinate. Germination is best in warm temperatures (70° to 80° Fahrenheit). A heat mat for seed starting will dramatically hasten tomato seed germination. Sow seeds in cells filled with seedling mix and lightly sprinkle a bit on top to cover. Gently moisten the cells with water and place on a see...
Gifts for GardenersGifts for your favorite gardener! We have tried everything listed, and I have wrote my personal opinion for each one. The pictures are at the bottom. I hope this list gives you an idea for your special gardener. ~ Patsy Coles - Owner Sandia Seed Company Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. Looking for the perfect gardening gift? This food garden seed col...
GMO-Free Pepper SeedsAt Sandia Seed, all of our hot pepper seeds are GMO-Free.All of our seeds are non-GMO. In fact, there are not any 'genetically modified organism' chile seeds developed yet. Many of our seeds are organically-grown heirlooms and have been grown for generations. Heirloom seeds can be collected and grown again the following year. The NuMex varieties of green chile we offer have been hand selected at NMSU for desireable traits. This research takes several years and field grown trials to pr...
Good Crop Rotation is ImportantA good crop rotation plan is critical for a productive vegetable garden. One of the rules of organic gardening is to rotate plant families from one season to the next, so related crops are not planted in the same spot more often than every three years. The purpose of crop rotation is to help maintain the balance of nutrients, organic matter, and micro-organisms necessary for healthy soil. When the same vegetable, like hot peppers, are planted year after year in the same plot, they become dise...
Growing Peppers in ColoradoThere are many different growing zones in Colorado, and you can grow peppers in any areas that you can grow tomatoes and other veggies! For Colorado gardeners, starting peppers indoors is a must with short season gardening, we recommend starting your pepper seeds at least 6-8 weeks before mid-to-late May when you will transplant them into the garden. Use a seedling heat mat to keep the pepper seeds warm during germination, they like to germinate around 80˚F! Choose short season peppers for...
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...
Start Your Own Garden from SeedSpring fever stirs garden dreams. As you ponder the projects you will tackle this year in your yard, consider trading garden center transplants for homegrown seedlings. There are endless good reasons to start your own seeds. Here are just a few: Seeds guarantee the best selection – Garden centers sell a specific product line. If the plant you want is not on the roster, you cannot get it. Sow your own seeds, and you will pick from a broad selection of herbs, vegetables, and flowers. You can sa...
What seed company is not owned by Monsanto?Sandia Seed company is NOT owned by Monsanto (now owned by Bayer.) We are a small woman-owned seed company based in Castle Rock, Colorado. We only sell non-gmo, untreated seeds. We have signed and support the Seed Integrity Pledge. As signers, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. We wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthier people and communities. ...
So, as a life long BOC fan and an avid gardener who loves the quality of seeds I’ve always received from Sandia Seeds. I just had to have this shirt. It rocks! I ordered a couple more for some fellow BOC fans as well. Great quality and the graphic is outstanding!
I'm going to grow these every year, they are HOT!! They make great poppers and salsa. Very productive, easy to grow, quick germination and fast growing plants. Thank you for the stellar seeds.
I planted several cultivars from wholesale seed. These were prolific. See all that RED (and green)?!? Looking forward to harvesting in a few days. Thank You Sandia Seed!
I pretty much use Sandia seeds exclusively! A few years ago I just happened to order your Jalapeño M. To me it's the perfect Jalapeño! Really nice size! Perfect heat for what we like! Wonderful flavor with a meatyness that's perfect for many different uses! I make my own Sriracha so I wait for them to turn red. They're one of my base peppers for my sauce! I praise them to all my personal friends and to members of groups that I belong to!
Serrano Hidalgo Seeds fromSandia Seed produce even in the HOT drought of central Illinois this year! I love adding a little Mexican kick to my salsa but also tossing these on the grill! They have great flavor and produce all summer long!
I had looked high & low, and searched the web with many word combinations ‘looking’ specifically for my favorite chili, the Dynamite xx Hot… so I could grow my own. The peppers were sold in Colorado at select places during roasting season, but you couldn’t buy seeds for them… anywhere!
Finally, as luck and persistence would have it, I discovered Sandia Seed Company.
Thank you Sandia! I planted them and had a great crop this year. I plan on growing them every year as well as trying some of their other seeds,
There's just something fun about growing a jalapeno that is light enough in color that some people think it's a banana pepper. LOL! I picked these just for color variety, and I'm very pleased that my plants have been loaded with them all season! We donated about 50 lbs of mixed peppers this year from our garden and I still had enough to freeze some and can more jars of recipes than we'll probably be able to use before next season. All my peppers were from Sandia Seed Company. I've never had such great pepper production before using these seeds!!
This spinach germinated well, and produced way more spinach than I'd initially expected. It grew really well, was slow to bolt in the summer, and has a really nice mild flavor for salads or steamed.
This was my first time growing these and I will definitely be growing them from now on. Great germination and very sturdy plants that have withstood some really high winds. Huge long peppers that are excellent green or red, very easy to peel skin.
Growing these in Florida, (Recent transplant of NM).
Lovely peppers. Took a couple weeks is all and wow! I have several budding; 2 large enough to nickname. They're still in their infancy, but I can tell they are going to be great! Love the seeds!
Organic Control for Tomato Hornworms on Peppers
Tomato Hornworms are really big green caterpillars that can devastate your pepper garden. Giant brown moths lay pearl-like eggs on your pepper leaves, from which the monsters will hatch and start to eat voraciously. They can decimate all the leaves on a plant overnight. The best organic control might be picking the caterpillars off the plants, but by then it could be too late to save your plants. Also, touching and pulling them off is gross, but depending on how mad you are, you won’t mind! ...
Pepper Plant Companions
Wondering what to plant with your chile peppers to help them thrive? Flowers, chives, carrots, radishes, squash, basil, parsley, dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, cucumbers, eggplant, and onions all do well when grown in close proximity to peppers. But don't plant them too close that they will shade your pepper plants: Squash and cucumbers, for example, need ample space so we plant them at least 3-4' away from our pepper patch. You can also use trellises for your cucumbers to grow th...
Grow the Biggest Peppers
Wondering how to grow the biggest peppers? What is the trick to growing larger peppers? First, start off with the largest pepper varieties, such as the Legacy Big Jim chile. This giant was recognized by Guinness World Records for being the largest chile pepper in the world, and is beloved by chileheads. These New Mexican chiles have great flavor, thick flesh, and mild to medium heat with 2,000 - 4,000 Scovilles. These chile giants can grow up to 14" in length, but typically range from 8...
What Seeds to Plant in June - Companion Plants!
Wondering what seeds you should plant in June? 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 Coriander) Cherry Belle Radish are super fast gro...
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...
Growing Tomatoes in Pots
Yes, you can grow tomatoes in pots! But, we do recommend larger pots – half whiskey barrels or pots of that size are best for most regular tomatoes. What type of tomatoes do well in pots? While you can pretty much grow any tomato in a large pot (don't forget to have trellises or obelisks for support), there are also tomato varieties that were bred to be smaller in plant size and do well in pots. You can even grow them with flowers, herbs and/or peppers to have a colorful veggie pot! W...
Pepper Seeds
Pepper Seeds Sandia Seed carries over 100 peppers of the world that you can grow in your garden! Our seeds have very high germination rates and grow into a variety of peppers that are sure to please any pepper lover! We also specialize in New Mexican Chile seeds such as Hatch Chile seeds, Poblano seeds, and other New Mexican favorites.Want sweet, mild, hot or super hot pepper seeds?We got you covered on pepper seeds with every heat level, from no heat at all to wicked hot. Here is a list of o...
Hot Pepper Comic
"I'm not sure what the big deal is about Carolina Reapers... They don't have any heat."Hot Pepper Comic featuring the famous Carolina Reaper and a Bird Did you know birds can't feel the heat? In addition to spicing up hot sauce and salsas, some of our pepper seed customers grow our super hot peppers like the Carolina Reaper to dry and add to their seed mixes to discourage squirrels. Birds don't taste the heat but squirrels and other rodents do! Grow your own bird seed...
Composting for HUGE Green Chiles
Peppers and vegetables love compost! Compost is nature's FREE fertilizer. Adding this rich organic material to your soil will help your vegetable plants grow larger and more bountiful. In fact, many organic gardeners use only compost to fertilize their vegetables. Rather than buying the bags of compost in the store – save plastic and money, plus recycle your household and landscaping waste by making your own compost. Homemade compost is also filled with a ton of living soil microorganisms...
Growing Tomatoes from Seed
It takes about six to eight weeks to grow tomatoes from a seed to a seedling plant that is ready to transplant outside. Start seeds indoors for best results. In 5 to 12 days your tomato seeds should germinate. Germination is best in warm temperatures (70° to 80° Fahrenheit). A heat mat for seed starting will dramatically hasten tomato seed germination. Sow seeds in cells filled with seedling mix and lightly sprinkle a bit on top to cover. Gently moisten the cells with water and place on a see...
Gifts for Gardeners
Gifts for your favorite gardener! We have tried everything listed, and I have wrote my personal opinion for each one. The pictures are at the bottom. I hope this list gives you an idea for your special gardener. ~ Patsy Coles - Owner Sandia Seed Company Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. Looking for the perfect gardening gift? This food garden seed col...
GMO-Free Pepper Seeds
At Sandia Seed, all of our hot pepper seeds are GMO-Free.All of our seeds are non-GMO. In fact, there are not any 'genetically modified organism' chile seeds developed yet. Many of our seeds are organically-grown heirlooms and have been grown for generations. Heirloom seeds can be collected and grown again the following year. The NuMex varieties of green chile we offer have been hand selected at NMSU for desireable traits. This research takes several years and field grown trials to pr...
Growing Peppers in Colorado
There are many different growing zones in Colorado, and you can grow peppers in any areas that you can grow tomatoes and other veggies! For Colorado gardeners, starting peppers indoors is a must with short season gardening, we recommend starting your pepper seeds at least 6-8 weeks before mid-to-late May when you will transplant them into the garden. Use a seedling heat mat to keep the pepper seeds warm during germination, they like to germinate around 80˚F! Choose short season peppers for...
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...
Start Your Own Garden from Seed
Spring fever stirs garden dreams. As you ponder the projects you will tackle this year in your yard, consider trading garden center transplants for homegrown seedlings. There are endless good reasons to start your own seeds. Here are just a few: Seeds guarantee the best selection – Garden centers sell a specific product line. If the plant you want is not on the roster, you cannot get it. Sow your own seeds, and you will pick from a broad selection of herbs, vegetables, and flowers. You can sa...
What seed company is not owned by Monsanto?
Sandia Seed company is NOT owned by Monsanto (now owned by Bayer.) We are a small woman-owned seed company based in Castle Rock, Colorado. We only sell non-gmo, untreated seeds. We have signed and support the Seed Integrity Pledge. As signers, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. We wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthier people and communities. ...
