VegetablePepper
Santa Fe Grande Pepper
Hot Pepper
Santa Fe Grande brings a mild heat and rainbow of colors to your garden, transforming from bright yellow through orange to deep red as peppers mature on compact 18-24 inch plants. With a gentle 500-750 Scoville heat rating, these tapered peppers offer just enough kick to wake up your taste buds without overwhelming them. Hardy across zones 4-13 and ready to harvest in 70-89 days, this prolific variety can produce 20-50 peppers per plant when given proper care.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/pepper-hot-santa-fe-grande-seeds)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Spacing
12-18 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The Santa Fe Grande stands out for its spectacular color progression and exceptional productivity in small spaces. These compact plants create a living kaleidoscope as peppers transition through yellow, orange, and red stages, while delivering impressive yields of 3.5-inch tapered fruits. The manageable heat level makes them perfect for gardeners who want spice without fire, and their excellent disease resistance package includes tolerance to Blossom End Rot, Bacterial Leaf Spot, and Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Container-friendly and deer-resistant, they thrive in tight quarters while producing enough peppers to keep your kitchen well-stocked.
Common Uses
Santa Fe Grande peppers excel in fresh applications and preservation alike, bringing their mild heat to salsas, hot sauces, and pickle jars. Their substantial 3.5-inch size makes them ideal for stuffing and baking, while their tender flesh works beautifully when grilled, fried, or sautéed. These peppers shine alongside deli sandwiches when pickled, adding a colorful, spicy crunch that enhances rather than dominates the meal.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-spring
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start Santa Fe Grande pepper seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date, giving them time to develop strong root systems before transplanting.
Transplant Outdoors
Wait at least 2 weeks after your last frost date to transplant seedlings outdoors, ensuring nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 60°F to avoid affecting fruit set.
Harvesting
Harvest Santa Fe Grande peppers when they reach your preferred color stage, from bright yellow through orange to deep red, with each stage offering slightly different flavor intensity. The peppers are ready when they reach 3.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide with firm, glossy skin.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Deer ResistantEdible
Soil pH Range
6 – 6.8
Scientific Classification
Capsicum L.
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum