Wondering why they are called Hatch chiles? These unique green chiles are called Hatch Chile because they are grown in in the Hatch region of New Mexico. Technically, to be called a true Hatch Chile, these have to be grown in the Hatch region of New Mexico. The soil and climate in the Hatch region is known to create the perfect conditions for the best tasting chile unlike any other. If you get a chance to taste Hatch Green Chile grown in the Hatch region in New Mexico, then you're in for a treat! The buttery, smoky and spicy deliciousness of roasted Hatch chile is hard to beat. However, if you're not lucky enough to be in that area, you don't have to grow these special Hatch Chile varieties in New Mexico to enjoy the flavor – we still think they taste great no matter where you grow them! 

The  Capsicum annuum Hatch Chile varieties are all descendants of the first New Mexico chile created in 1921 by Fabian Garcia – 'New Mexico No. 9' chile, also currently  known as the Anaheim. This special chile became the foundation for the modern chile pepper industry in the American West. These special chile varieties start out green but will turn red if left to mature on the plant, which is why you see both Hatch green chile and Hatch red chile at New Mexico farmstands and markets. 

Yes and No. The New Mexico pod-type chiles have an interesting history. Fabian Garcia, pictured above, created the first NM chile in 1921 and his 'New Mexico No. 9' chile became the foundation for the modern chile pepper industry in the American West. Learn more about if Hatch chiles are heirlooms »

Yes, you can grow Hatch Chiles or any other New Mexico chile varieties anywhere that you can grow other summer vegetables like tomatoes and other peppers. So if you're not in New Mexico, you don't have to miss out on these exceptionally flavored garden treasures.  Wouldn’t it be great to have these delicious Hatch Chile plants growing in your garden? It is easy to start Chiles from seed and grow quickly into productive plants. Hatch Chile varieties thrive all over the country and the world, we've had gardeners grow a huge abundance of chile to enjoy. But be prepared because green chile is addictive, just ask any New Mexican.

Well, that depends on the jalapeno and the Hatch chile variety you're talking about! They can be similar in heat levels, but typically the average Hatch chile is milder than the average jalapeno, and they also have a different flavor profile. We have a range of Hatch Chile seeds that range from super hot, such as the Hatch Rattlesnake Green chile which is 10,000-18,000, or mild such as Mild Hatch Green Chile NM 6-4 at 1,000 Scovilles, or the Guizeppi Hatch chile which is 1,000-1,500 Scovilles. We also have several Jalapeno varieties that come in a range of heat levels as well, our Yellow Jalapeno for example has 30,000 scovilles so it's a lot hotter than a typical Early Jalapeno which has a heat level of 5,000 - 15,000 scovilles. Make sure to check out all of our Jalapeno seeds. 

Yep, you can grow Hatch chile all over the world! Just because you aren't growing in New Mexico, doesn't mean that you can't grow Hatch Chile varieties in your vegetable garden. We have customers growing our Hatch chile seeds in Canada, Japan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Idaho, New York, Maine, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, California, you name it!  Don't miss out on the exceptional flavors of these special green chiles, and grow them in your garden! Learn more about how to grow Hatch Chile in your garden »

Hatch Chile varieties, like other peppers, pack a healthy punch! They say that one Hatch chile pepper has as much vitamin C as six oranges, and they are rich in other vitamins and minerals. In fact, chile peppers have saved lives. These nutrient rich chiles have vitamin A, B6, iron, potassium, and fiber. Capsaicin is known to be an antioxidant, too, so spicy chile varieties have a lot of health benefits. With all of these properties, Hatch chiles have been shown to reduce cholesterol and even lower the risk for developing diabetes. So if you're looking to eat better, make sure to incorporate green chile and other peppers in your diet as they are not only delicious, they're healthy too.

Both! Did you know that all green Hatch chile varieties will turn red when fully mature?  When Hatch Chiles turn red, they develop an even more complex & sweeter flavor that is exceptional. While many Hatch Chiles are harvested green and roasted, fresh red Hatch chile is not as widely available as it's much more perishable when fully mature. Typically, if Hatch chile is allowed to fully mature to red, to best preserve the pods, they are dried and used for making red chile powders and flakes. Ristras made with mature Hatch red chiles are the classic way of drying out the peppers in New Mexico's dry climate. Ristras are not just decoration, the chiles in them are used to make red chile and season many dishes.

If you grow your own red Hatch chile in your garden, you can taste the exceptionally delicious flavor of a fresh ripe red Hatch Chile from the garden. You can still roast them and peel just as you would a less mature green chile. Growing your own Hatch chile from seed allows you the rare chance to taste a fresh ripe red pod which are so hard to find. We love to make red chile sauce with fresh Hatch chile pods that have matured to red.

They are super tasty with a buttery smokiness that is just hard to beat. When these Hatch Chile varieties are grown in the Hatch region, they are known to have the best flavor in the world to many locals. They are best when roasted so that their skins are blistered and charred, then deseeded and peeled to use in a variety of recipes. People put Hatch Chiles on pizza, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, in dips and of course they are used to make green chile stew.

Read more about what makes Hatch chiles special »

Happy growing!