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  1. Do some peppers take longer to germinate? How long does it take to germinate pepper seeds?Do some peppers take longer to germinate? Yes, some peppers take longer than others to germinate – super hot peppers such as the Chinense varieties usually take the longest, and, when stubborn, can sometimes take up to 4-6 weeks to germinate. Many faster growing peppers like Annuum varieties can germinate in 7-10 days. It's very important to BE PATIENT with pepper seeds, as they will surprise you and sometimes sprout long after you've gi...
  2. When to Plant Pepper Seeds When to Plant Pepper Seeds Many of our customers ask us "Is now a good time to start pepper seeds?" – and we always say it depends on where you are and what your seed starting setup is like. We typically recommend that pepper seeds be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last average frost date. Depending on where you live, the time to plant peppers and other warm-weather vegetables like tomatoes is usually late May or early June, but can be earlier for warmer regions. We don'...
  3. Early Tomatoes: Varieties Looking for early tomato varieties? Sandia Seed has several ultra early tomato plants that are sure to please any tomato-lover. Our fastest growing tomatoes are also some of the best tasting tomatoes, too, so make sure to grow a few of these early tomato varieties in your garden to enjoy a longer tomato harvest season. These tomatoes are also great to grow if you're starting seeds later than you wanted, tomato seeds sprout fast and grow into robust plants quickly, so these short season ...
  4. How to Grow Bell Peppers Wondering How to Grow Bell Peppers?Here are our top tips for Growing Bell Peppers: Bell peppers are relatively easy to grow, but here are a few tips so you can have the best success! First, plant pepper seeds at least 8-10 weeks before your area's last frost date. Plant seeds in pre-moistened well-draining seedling starter mix and bury the seeds about 1/4" deep. Use a seedling heat mat to speed up germination – this will help keep the seeds warm, ideally 80-90˚ F is optimal for fast...
  5. 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...
  6. Guess how many seeds are in the jar for a chance to WIN! Seed Jar Contest Results: There were 6,755 seeds in the jar! Congrats to E.C. who was the closest with a guess of 6,721 – he won a $25 Gift Card + a Seed Catalog! Thanks to all your posted guesses on Facebook and Instagram! ORIGINAL CONTEST: Guess how many seeds are in the jar above for a chance to WIN a $25 Gift Card + a Seed Catalog!Those who entered submited Guessesby commenting on our posts on Facebook or Instagramfor a chance to win the prize. We announced the winner on February 1st, ...
  7. 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...
  8. Best Peppers for Hot Sauce We've picked out our favorite peppers for hot sauce that you can grow in your garden to make hot sauce! Find our favorite hot sauce recipes and make them your own with any of these hot peppers. You can use any hot pepper or combination of peppers to make hot sauce, so don't feel limited, experiment! The sky's the limit. You'll find that some you love some peppers even more than others, but it's fun to try them all. Hot sauce captures the essence of the flavor of hot pepper...
  9. How to Preserve Peppers: 7+ Ways! When you have a glut of peppers, you want to save your harvest to enjoy in the future months to come. Here are our favorite 7+ ways to preserve peppers now: Roast Chile Peppers: Roast or grill until charred, chill, peel & de-seed, use some now and freeze some for later! Great for making green chile stew, for topping pizza, dips, in burritos, eggs, served over mashed potatoes, you name it! Try some of our green chile recipes » Cowboy Candy, shown above, before brine was poured in. Pi...
  10. Freezing Jalapeno Poppers Keep it simple and warm up your winters by freezing jalapeño poppers when you have an abundance of jalapeños from the garden. How to freeze jalapeno poppers: 1. To make freeze poppers, first prepare the jalapeños* by slicing in half, and using a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Then, fill them with cream cheese (you can add other ingredients like shredded cheddar, chopped olives, minced garlic, bacon bits, etc if desired). 2. Put them on a baking sheet and "flash freeze" them in a sing...
  11. November is National Pepper Month! Happy National Pepper Month! All month long we can celebrate peppers! While we love peppers all year long, November is a great time to give these delicious fruits the attention they deserve. Right now, loads of hot sauces, salsas, roasted chile and hot pepper flakes are being enjoyed by people around the world. Sandia Seed loves National Pepper Month because we love peppers! In fact, in 2008, we were the first seed packet company to focus exclusively on pepper seeds from around the world. At ...
  12. Should I harvest peppers before frost? Should I harvest peppers before frost? Absolutely! Don't let the pepper pods freeze outside on the plants, as they will turn to mush. Harvesting peppers before frost: Do you have to harvest your peppers before a frost, but they're not ripe? Here are our suggestions: Pick your Peppers:You can pick the peppers, and if they are close enough to ripe, they may turn color on your counter. Many peppers like jalapeños are often picked green, so enjoy them green – you'll find that super...
  13. Shishito Recipes There are lots of delicious Shishito Recipes! Shishitos are great sweet peppers to grow in the garden as they are fast growing so they are one of the first peppers to harvest, and then they just keep producing all season long. They are one of the easiest peppers to grow, and are great for beginner gardeners. Shishitos grow happily in pots, too. You can pick them often to eat fresh or make a variety of dishes with them. Here are a few of our favorite Shishito Recipe ideas: Sautéed Shishitos ...
  14. Safe Seed Pledge Sandia Seed Company is proud to sign the Safe Seed Pledge! We believe in selling only non-GMO seeds. THE SEED INTEGRITY PLEDGE: Seeds are essential for the provision of healthy food, our well-being, and that of our environment and planet. We must protect the diversity and genetic integrity of our seeds to provide the foundation for a stable, safe food supply for us and for generations to come. The mechanical alteration of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods within or bet...
  15. Best way to Preserve Dill - Top Techniques We recently received this question from a customer about storing homegrown Dill: It's going to frost so I harvested some volunteer dill from my garden. What is the best way to preserve it for pickles next summer? Can I use the stems also? Should I separate the leaves from the stems? Best Way to Store Dill: We like freezing fresh dill in glass storage dishes to retain the fresh flavor of dill, but you can also dehydrate/dry it easily as well. Yes, you can use the stems if not woody! We...
  16. Jalapenos Turning Black? Don't worry if your jalapenos are turning black! Jalapeños turn black often during their to natural ripening process. Most Jalapeño varieties mature from green to red, and during this time they often turn partially black or deep purple – this is totally normal. You may be worried that there is something wrong with your Jalapeño peppers, but often they will turn partially dark or black as they starting to turn red. Green to black to red is how they ripen!Jalapeños peppers can be harvested ...