- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 60 days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae
Type: Under 5000 Scoville Units, Chile Pepper (Learn more)
Native: Americas
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive perennial grown as an annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 18"–36" tall, 12"–24" wide
Variety Info: 1"–3" long ripening from green to red at maturity. Blocky shape when small, becoming more elongated and spicier as they mature. 'Padron' is a mild pepper ranging from 500–2,500 Scoville heat units, making some of them almost as hot as some jalapenos. Most 'Padron' peppers are mild when small and develop their heat as they mature, but about 5%–10% can be hot when harvested small. they can vary in size and shape from long and smooth to curved and grooved.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive, Good for Containers
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: For Mild Climates only: 2 to 4 weeks after average last frost, when soil temperature is at least 70°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°–90°F. Transplant seedlings outside 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, and when daytime temperatures are at least 70°F, and nighttime temperatures are at least 55°F. Mild Climates: May be sown in late summer for fall/winter crop.
Days to Emerge: 10–25 days
Seed Depth: ¼"
Seed Spacing: Start indoors
Row Spacing: 24"–36"
Thinning: Start indoors, plant seedlings 18" – 24" apart outside
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Pick when 1"–1" long for appetizers. Can be harvested at any stage for other culinary uses, although they get spicier as they get larger. When harvesting, take care to avoid touching the interior of any broken peppers, as the capsaicin is an extreme irritant, especially to the eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after harvesting or wear gloves to harvest peppers.
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Pepper: Sow and Grow Guide- Elizabeth K.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars12/27/245 Stars
I received my seed quickly but as I ordered them in October, I haven’t planted them yet… so I have no idea if they’ll germinate or grow in my climate/soil etc. However, at this point I am so annoyed at being requested over and over to leave a review AND required to leave a comment, that I’m just not sure it’s all worth it. I would have loved to be able to indicate stars and call it good but then there was another question and another and finally the fateful… you have to complete the comment box. It just bothers me! So there’s your comment!
- Gabriel W.Verified BuyerRated 4 out of 5 stars7/25/244 Stars
The heirloom padron pepper seeds I purchased had a 100% germination rate! They are now growing happily under full sun in 4 inch pots, and are almost ready to be transplanted.
My order arrived promptly. I will certainly be ordering from Botanical Interests in the future!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests7/30/24Hey Gabriel,
Thank you so much for sharing the success you're having with your Padron Chile Peppers. Your feedback is invaluable to us! Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Michele M.Verified BuyerRated 2 out of 5 stars7/20/242 Stars
As for the Padron peppers I got a 25% germination rate. I don’t consider that very good when you don’t get very many in a package.
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate - Parker W.Rated 3 out of 5 stars7/3/243 Stars
Had complete germination, they took a couple days longer than my other varieties and then were slow to grow indoors, but as soon as I put them into the ground they immediately took off and are growing up and out while setting tons of fruit. My complaint though is that out of the 10 or so peppers I've gotten at this early point in the season from 4 plants, 4 of the peppers have been extremely spicy, near habanero levels, another 4 slightly above a jalapeño, and the other 2 were very mild. I've had probably at least a hundred of these peppers in Spain, where they are from and it's said that something like 1 in 10 peppers is spicy, but I never had a single one that had any spice at all, much less any that were extremely spicy and was expecting the same from these peppers from BI. The taste and shape are identical to the ones I've had in Spain, best I can remember, and are absolutely delicious but can be so spicy that they won't be enjoyable for anyone that doesn't love very hot food. I never have complaints with any BI seeds, but for my padrones, I'll be looking somewhere else to get them next year
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests7/3/24Hey Parker,
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts in a review.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- PaulRated 5 out of 5 stars3/25/245 Stars
Germinating