Grow peppers for fresh cooking, salsa, sauces or drying. Browse chili pepper seeds from jalapeño and pepperoncini to habanero, ghost pepper and Carolina Reaper. Compare the variety, selected packet quantity and growing guidance to choose peppers that fit your taste and growing season.
Choose your pepper seeds by heat and use
- Milder choices: Look through the pepperoncini and other mild selections in this collection when flavor matters more than intense heat.
- Everyday hot peppers: Compare jalapeño, serrano and habanero listings for your cooking preferences. Heat varies by variety and growing conditions.
- Superhot peppers: Explore ghost pepper selections and Carolina Reaper seeds for a more demanding heat level. Check the growing season and maturity guidance for your selection.
- Starting with plants: If you prefer seedlings, see live Carolina Reaper pepper plants and our live plants collection.
Starting chili pepper seeds
Peppers need warmth and a sufficiently long growing season. A useful starting point is to sow indoors about eight weeks before outdoor planting, then adjust for the variety and your climate. Use a clean seed-starting mix, provide suitable warmth for germination and give emerged seedlings plenty of light.
Keep the medium moist without leaving it waterlogged. Gradually harden off seedlings before transplanting, and wait for reliably warm conditions. Follow the packet and product guidance for sowing depth, spacing and variety-specific timing. The University of Minnesota pepper-growing guide provides more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Are these pepper seeds or live plants?
Check the individual title and selected option. Seed listings state a seed quantity, while live-plant listings describe seedlings or plants. Choose the form that fits your schedule and growing setup.
How long do chili pepper seeds take to germinate?
Timing varies with variety, temperature and seed condition. Use the guidance for the selected product and allow for variation instead of expecting every pepper variety to sprout on the same day.
Does a higher heat level mean a better pepper for me?
No. Choose the heat level and flavor you enjoy cooking with. Superhot peppers suit different uses and preferences from milder peppers.
Planning the rest of your kitchen garden? Browse our vegetable seeds collection.