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...
Powdery Mildew on Squash & PumpkinsDo you have powdery mildew on your squash plants? Do you struggle with powdery mildew on your squash, pumpkins and cucumbers later in the season? Well, don't fret, it is very common. Powdery mildew occurs when the soil is too dry or has inconsistent moisture – however, it is also natural as the plants age towards the end of the season. Powdery mildew is normal, and happens to nearly all cucurbit plants (squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini) at some point towards the end of the season. T...
How to Identify Squash LeavesTrying to identify squash by their first leaves? Good luck! Squash seedlings emerge with two smooth, rounded, oval-shaped cotyledons (seed leaves) – and they all look identical across most varieties... so it's best to label them if you want to know what you're growing. Unless you have an exceptional memory, of course. The Cucurbitaceae also called cucurbits or the gourd family, includes cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, and are hard to tell apart until the fruits come in!The true...
Alfredo Spaghetti Squash - Vegan/ Dairy-free Recipe!Vegan Spaghetti Squash Alfredo Ingredients • 1 Spaghetti Squash For the sauce: • 3 tablespoons of olive oil • 6+ cloves Garlic, minced • 3 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour or arrowroot/chickpea flour if gluten-free • 1 can Coconut Milk + Water as needed • ⅓ cup Nutritional Yeast • ½ teaspoon Salt • ¼ teaspoon Pepper • 1 pinch ground nutmeg (optional) • ¼ cup chopped Parsley• Hot Pepper Flakes and/or Basil (optional) Instructions Preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a sharp knife, cut the squas...
Squash Wilting?Why does my squash wilt? If your zucchini, pumpkin, squash or cucumber plants are wilting, it could be a few things: 1. Wilting squash during the Heat of the Day: The most common reason that pumpkin, cucumbers, zucchini and squash leaves wilt is that the cucurbita family has a low root-to-shoot ratio, meaning that they have a shallow root system that supports a very large mass of above ground vegetation. Because of this, during the dry heat of the sunniest part of the day, squash leaves...
Simple Squash Blossom RecipeDo you have squash blossoms from your zucchini, squash or pumpkin plants? These beautiful large orange flowers are perfect for stuffing and pan-frying for a delicious summer treat. You can harvest just the male blossoms and leave the females to develop the squash for later. There are a ton of recipes out there, but here is our easiest recipe, you can also vary up the ingredients for the stuffing, there is no right or wrong way to make these! Simple Squash Blossom Recipe INGREDIENTS: • 6-12+...
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...
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...
Vegetable Container GardeningVegetable Container Gardening:The best seeds to grow Even if you don't have a lot of space, vegetable container gardening is possible so you can have your own homegrown veggies and herbs. Starting Seeds for Vegetable Container Gardens: You can start many seeds in a sunny window, or get some inexpensive led or flourescent grow lights and start seeds under the lights to get them growing strong for transplanting into their final containers or pots come spring. The cost of starting your cont...
Gardening by the Zodiac SignsWhen it comes to planting in your garden, soil, sun and seasons aren't the only factors to consider. It turns out the the zodiac signs can be just as important. For the best results, they should be considered when choosing plants for your garden. What to plant in your garden according to your zodiac sign. ARIES (March 21 to April 20) You are a fiery, energetic, and quick individual who likes spicy, invigorating plants and foods. Growing onion, garlic chives, basil, cayenne peppers, a...
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...
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...
Is it normal for vegetable plants to wilt in the sun?Yes, wilting is normal for vegetable plants on days with hot temperatures and full sun. When it gets super hot from 90-100˚ F days in the Front Range of Colorado, lots of plants in the vegetable garden start drooping and wilting, despite having been watered in the morning. Don't worry, this is normal! (Well, maybe not this crazy heat, but it's normal for plants to wilt on super hot sunny days.) Plants wilting in the sun is common, and it is caused by the plant losing more water throug...
Spicy Pumpkin Seeds RecipeIf you grow pumpkins or squash like spaghetti squash, you should definitely make these toasted spicy pumpkin seeds with them! These are addictive. You'll never want to throw away or compost pumpkin seeds (or any squash seeds) ever again after you try this recipe. This is a great one to make if you're carving pumpkins and you clean out the "guts", save the seeds in a bowl. You can soak them in water immediately to help loosen and remove the pulp, then rinse them and let them dr...
World Wildlife DayHappy World Wildlife Day! Want to support more wildlife in your garden? Grow a diverse range of flowering herbs and vegetables to attract lots of wildlife like birds, pollinators and beneficial insects to help naturally with pest control. Check out our Pollinator Garden Seed Bundle for an easy way to get started.Expand your culinary journey and wildlife-supporting garden with our Pollinator Seeds Garden Bundle, featuring six must-have pollinator flowers: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Oregano, Scarle...
October Gardening TipsHappy October! Here are some of our top tips for October Gardening: 1. Harvest your Peppers (and other veggies)! Harvest your peppers and other summer vegetables like tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and eggplants. Did you know you can freeze fresh whole peppers or cored tomatoes for later use? Sometimes that's easier when they come in waves and you're short on time. October is also a great time to pick and roast your chiles to freeze or use right away – learn how to roast chile » 2. Ma...
When should I plant my seeds?When should I plant my seeds? This is a great question! The first thing to do is to determine your last average frost date, which you may determine here: almanac.com/gardening/frostdates. Afterward, count back six to eight weeks to start your seeds. Also, consider the first frost date in the fall because the period between your last frost date in the spring and the first frost date in the fall is your growing window. So, note each seed variety's maturity date to ensure you have enough t...
Fastest Growing VegetablesDo you want to grow the Fastest Growing Vegetables? We have a great selection of fast growing vegetable seeds to grow in your garden. Whether you want to fill more vegetables into your garden, or you're starting your garden late, or just want to eat fresh veggies faster, any of these varieties are sure to please! Here are our top suggestions for the fastest growing crops that you can start from seed: Radish – Harvest in 22+ Days!The classic Cherry Bell Radish is super easy to grow and i...
Happy June Gardening!It's June 1st, but it's not too late to plant zucchini seeds! Our Summer Squash Black Beauty Zucchini produces a huge crop of tender zucchini squash during the summer - and they are super fast growing, they start to harvest in 55 days! We direct sow the seeds in mounds in the garden, zucchini plants grow fast and don't like to get root bound, so starting them indoors is unnecessary. It's June...Is it too late to plant seeds? There are plenty of other veggies that you can p...
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!
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...
Powdery Mildew on Squash & Pumpkins
Do you have powdery mildew on your squash plants? Do you struggle with powdery mildew on your squash, pumpkins and cucumbers later in the season? Well, don't fret, it is very common. Powdery mildew occurs when the soil is too dry or has inconsistent moisture – however, it is also natural as the plants age towards the end of the season. Powdery mildew is normal, and happens to nearly all cucurbit plants (squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini) at some point towards the end of the season. T...
How to Identify Squash Leaves
Trying to identify squash by their first leaves? Good luck! Squash seedlings emerge with two smooth, rounded, oval-shaped cotyledons (seed leaves) – and they all look identical across most varieties... so it's best to label them if you want to know what you're growing. Unless you have an exceptional memory, of course. The Cucurbitaceae also called cucurbits or the gourd family, includes cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, and are hard to tell apart until the fruits come in!The true...
Alfredo Spaghetti Squash - Vegan/ Dairy-free Recipe!
Vegan Spaghetti Squash Alfredo Ingredients • 1 Spaghetti Squash For the sauce: • 3 tablespoons of olive oil • 6+ cloves Garlic, minced • 3 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour or arrowroot/chickpea flour if gluten-free • 1 can Coconut Milk + Water as needed • ⅓ cup Nutritional Yeast • ½ teaspoon Salt • ¼ teaspoon Pepper • 1 pinch ground nutmeg (optional) • ¼ cup chopped Parsley• Hot Pepper Flakes and/or Basil (optional) Instructions Preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a sharp knife, cut the squas...
Squash Wilting?
Why does my squash wilt? If your zucchini, pumpkin, squash or cucumber plants are wilting, it could be a few things: 1. Wilting squash during the Heat of the Day: The most common reason that pumpkin, cucumbers, zucchini and squash leaves wilt is that the cucurbita family has a low root-to-shoot ratio, meaning that they have a shallow root system that supports a very large mass of above ground vegetation. Because of this, during the dry heat of the sunniest part of the day, squash leaves...
Simple Squash Blossom Recipe
Do you have squash blossoms from your zucchini, squash or pumpkin plants? These beautiful large orange flowers are perfect for stuffing and pan-frying for a delicious summer treat. You can harvest just the male blossoms and leave the females to develop the squash for later. There are a ton of recipes out there, but here is our easiest recipe, you can also vary up the ingredients for the stuffing, there is no right or wrong way to make these! Simple Squash Blossom Recipe INGREDIENTS: • 6-12+...
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...
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...
Vegetable Container Gardening
Vegetable Container Gardening:The best seeds to grow Even if you don't have a lot of space, vegetable container gardening is possible so you can have your own homegrown veggies and herbs. Starting Seeds for Vegetable Container Gardens: You can start many seeds in a sunny window, or get some inexpensive led or flourescent grow lights and start seeds under the lights to get them growing strong for transplanting into their final containers or pots come spring. The cost of starting your cont...
Gardening by the Zodiac Signs
When it comes to planting in your garden, soil, sun and seasons aren't the only factors to consider. It turns out the the zodiac signs can be just as important. For the best results, they should be considered when choosing plants for your garden. What to plant in your garden according to your zodiac sign. ARIES (March 21 to April 20) You are a fiery, energetic, and quick individual who likes spicy, invigorating plants and foods. Growing onion, garlic chives, basil, cayenne peppers, a...
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...
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...
Is it normal for vegetable plants to wilt in the sun?
Yes, wilting is normal for vegetable plants on days with hot temperatures and full sun. When it gets super hot from 90-100˚ F days in the Front Range of Colorado, lots of plants in the vegetable garden start drooping and wilting, despite having been watered in the morning. Don't worry, this is normal! (Well, maybe not this crazy heat, but it's normal for plants to wilt on super hot sunny days.) Plants wilting in the sun is common, and it is caused by the plant losing more water throug...
Spicy Pumpkin Seeds Recipe
If you grow pumpkins or squash like spaghetti squash, you should definitely make these toasted spicy pumpkin seeds with them! These are addictive. You'll never want to throw away or compost pumpkin seeds (or any squash seeds) ever again after you try this recipe. This is a great one to make if you're carving pumpkins and you clean out the "guts", save the seeds in a bowl. You can soak them in water immediately to help loosen and remove the pulp, then rinse them and let them dr...
World Wildlife Day
Happy World Wildlife Day! Want to support more wildlife in your garden? Grow a diverse range of flowering herbs and vegetables to attract lots of wildlife like birds, pollinators and beneficial insects to help naturally with pest control. Check out our Pollinator Garden Seed Bundle for an easy way to get started.Expand your culinary journey and wildlife-supporting garden with our Pollinator Seeds Garden Bundle, featuring six must-have pollinator flowers: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Oregano, Scarle...
October Gardening Tips
Happy October! Here are some of our top tips for October Gardening: 1. Harvest your Peppers (and other veggies)! Harvest your peppers and other summer vegetables like tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and eggplants. Did you know you can freeze fresh whole peppers or cored tomatoes for later use? Sometimes that's easier when they come in waves and you're short on time. October is also a great time to pick and roast your chiles to freeze or use right away – learn how to roast chile » 2. Ma...
When should I plant my seeds?
When should I plant my seeds? This is a great question! The first thing to do is to determine your last average frost date, which you may determine here: almanac.com/gardening/frostdates. Afterward, count back six to eight weeks to start your seeds. Also, consider the first frost date in the fall because the period between your last frost date in the spring and the first frost date in the fall is your growing window. So, note each seed variety's maturity date to ensure you have enough t...
Fastest Growing Vegetables
Do you want to grow the Fastest Growing Vegetables? We have a great selection of fast growing vegetable seeds to grow in your garden. Whether you want to fill more vegetables into your garden, or you're starting your garden late, or just want to eat fresh veggies faster, any of these varieties are sure to please! Here are our top suggestions for the fastest growing crops that you can start from seed: Radish – Harvest in 22+ Days!The classic Cherry Bell Radish is super easy to grow and i...
Happy June Gardening!
It's June 1st, but it's not too late to plant zucchini seeds! Our Summer Squash Black Beauty Zucchini produces a huge crop of tender zucchini squash during the summer - and they are super fast growing, they start to harvest in 55 days! We direct sow the seeds in mounds in the garden, zucchini plants grow fast and don't like to get root bound, so starting them indoors is unnecessary. It's June...Is it too late to plant seeds? There are plenty of other veggies that you can p...
