VegetablePepper
Santiago Pepper
Santiago is an F1 hybrid jalapeno that delivers serious yields in just 60, 69 days from transplant. This dark green pepper sits in the medium heat zone at 7,500, 10,000 Scoville Heat Units, making it hot enough to satisfy but approachable enough for most palates. The plants grow compact and upright, reaching just 12, 16 inches tall, so they fit neatly into garden beds, raised boxes, or even containers. Hardy across zones 4, 13 and bred for reliability, Santiago thrives in full sun and rewards consistent care with an abundance of peppers ready for fresh salsa, pickling, or any dish that needs a jalapeño's snap.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
16 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
16in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Santiago's most striking trait is its abundance: this hybrid consistently produces heavy yields of uniform, harvestable peppers in under 70 days. The dark green color signals that classic jalapeño look, while the 7,500, 10,000 Scoville range keeps the heat level approachable enough for fresh eating or cooking without overwhelming mild palates. With plants staying compact at 12, 16 inches and thriving in full sun across a wide range of hardiness zones, Santiago adapts well to different growing setups, whether you're working with garden beds, raised boxes, or greenhouses.
Common Uses
Santiago peppers excel at the tasks jalapeños have always been prized for: fresh salsa, pickling, and cooking. The medium heat level and reliable flavor make them equally at home charred over a grill, stuffed and baked, or sliced into cornbread. Cooks love them because they deliver consistent heat and clean pepper flavor without the unpredictability of landraces; gardeners love them because they produce so abundantly you'll have plenty for fresh use and preservation.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 8, 10 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil (70, 80°F) and keep consistently moist. Seedlings will emerge in 7, 14 days. Maintain warm conditions and good light once sprouted; transplant to larger containers when they develop true leaves.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant outdoors after the last frost date once soil has warmed and plants are 4, 6 inches tall with 2, 3 sets of true leaves. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7, 10 days. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Water gently after transplanting to settle soil around roots.
Harvesting
Santiago peppers are ready to pick 60, 69 days after transplant when they reach full size and develop a deep dark green color. Most gardeners harvest at this stage for fresh use or pickling, though peppers left on the plant will eventually turn red as they ripen. Pick by gently twisting or using a knife to cut the pepper from the stem; avoid pulling, which can damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued flowering and fruit production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)