80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Organic Jimmy Nardello Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 0 to 100 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Jimmy Nardello fruits are red, long, tapering, thin-walled, and slightly curved, 1 inch at the shoulder and 6-9 inches long. Jimmy Nardello peppers are sweet, crisp, and light when eaten raw. Native to Italy and brought to America in 1887 by the Nardello family (and named after their son Jimmy), the Jimmy Nardello pepper is known for its rich flavor and sweetness. Long and skinny, this "hot" pepper (actually sweet) is a good addition to salsas and can also be fried, roasted, grilled, or even dried and ground into powder. ~3,360 seeds/oz. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Latin Name: Capsicum annuum Hardiness Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Technically a tender perennial, but commonly grown as an annual. Perennial in zones 10 and 11. Days to Maturity: 80-90 (from transplant) Days to Germination: 7-10 Seeding Depth: 0.25 inch Direct Sow: No Start Indoors: Yes. Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Harden off and transplant when seedlings are 6-8 inches tall. Bury the stem slightly deeper than the root ball. Avoid planting hot and sweet peppers right next to each other, as they can cross-pollinate, potentially affecting the flavors of your harvested peppers. Pepper Pollination: Peppers have perfect flowers (male and female parts) and will self-pollinate. However, wind and pollinator activity may increase success rates of fertilization and fruit production. Pepper Type: Sweet - These peppers (think Bell Peppers) are almost all at 0 on the Scoville Scale, meaning that they have no heat at all. A handful of sweet peppers do register very low on the Scoville scale but are still classed as sweet peppers. For example, Pepperoncinis are sweet peppers but usually rank around 100 to 500 on the Scoville Scale. Plant Spacing: 12-18 inches Row Spacing: 24-36 inches Plant Height: 18-24 inches Plant Width: 18-24 inches Growth Habit: Upright Deer Resistant: No Scoville Heat Units: 0 to 100 Heat Level: Mild - 100 to 2,500 on the Scoville Scale. Example: Poblano Ancho or Pepperoncini Growth Speed: Mid - Ready for harvest around 76 to 90 days from transplant. Soil Preference: Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.5 pH), and moisture retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting, similar to tomatoes. Peppers also need sufficient amounts of phosphorus and calcium. We recommend using a balanced fertilizer for the best results. Temperature Preference: Warmer (70-85 F). During high heat, foliar and flower development slow or pause until temperatures return to the preferred range. Germination Temperature: 80-90 F Light Preference: Full Sun Pests and Diseases:Peppers are commonly susceptible to cutworms, aphids, flea beetles, bacterial spot, Phytophthora, sunscald, and blossom end rot. To avoid or reduce problems with pests and diseases, stick to a regular watering schedule (drip irrigation is preferred), plant into well-draining soils, and utilize practices such as crop rotation. When taking pest control measures, consider utilizing integrated pest management principles by using mechanical removal, biological control, and other cultural practices before turning to chemical agents. Organic Jimmy Nardello Pepper Color: Red Organic Jimmy Nardello Pepper Flavor: Rich, sweet Garden Size: Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed Pepper Use: Roasting, frying, drying, and salsa Climate Tolerance: Growing Jimmy Nardello Peppers in the Vegetable Garden To grow your peppers, prepare your seed starting trays and plant the seeds. Start the process about 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Prepare your trays with either a well-draining soil or a seed starting mix like Minute Soil Coco Clair. The seeds should be planted about 0.25 inches deep. Make sure the soil stays moist, but don’t overwater your seeds. You can stick your pinky into the soil to see if it is dry below the surface. If it is, then give your plants a little water, but make sure you don’t overwater them. Plant the seeds in this soil in a seed starting tray and keep it in a very warm area, somewhere around 80-90 F. You can use a grow light to keep this area warmer. The seedlings should emerge within 7-10 days. After they are a few inches tall, you can plant them in the garden or in planters! Make sure to cover the roots completely as you are planting the seedlings. Space them about 12-18 inches apart and space rows 2-3 feet apart. Try to choose an area of your garden that has not been used for other nightshades recently. Make sure you aren’t planting hot and sweet pepper varieties close to each other to avoid cross-pollination. Keep a close eye on your peppers throughout the growing process to make sure they are healthy and growing correctly! You should be watering them consistently. The soil should be moist beneath the surface, but make sure not to overwater them. You can stick your finger in the soil to see how the moisture levels are beneath the surface. You can add mulch around the base of your plants to help keep the soil moist and suppress weeds. To help your plants grow, you can try giving them fertilizer full of phosphorus and calcium. Be sure to follow the instructions on your fertilizer and not over-fertilize them. You can also try companion planting - plant some marigolds and basil alongside your peppers to attract pollinators and keep the pests at bay. Make sure to support the plants with stakes or trellises, which will help them grow upright and will support the plant as they grow fruit. Keep a close eye on your peppers to make sure that they aren’t suffering from any pests or diseases, and address any issues immediately. Harvesting Jimmy Nardello Peppers These peppers are full size when they’ve grown long and slender, and grow to about 6-9 inches long. They will be a bright red, and they should have a somewhat glossy sheen. They’ll be ripe somewhere between 80 and 90 days after transplanting. When the peppers have grown to their full size and color, you can harvest them with garden shears or a knife by cutting off the peppers, leaving a small stem on the pepper. Be sure to be gentle with the plant so you don’t damage the plant and it can keep producing fruit. Because this is a sweet variety, try not to harvest them too early, because they won’t have their full sweet flavor. Also try to avoid leaving them on the plant for too long, because overripe peppers might be a little bit bitter. Store them in a cool and dry place. About Jimmy Nardello Pepper Garden Seeds The Jimmy Nardello pepper originated in the small Southern Italian coastal town of Ruoti. Over 100 years ago, Giuseppe Nardiello and wife Angela grew this sweet frying pepper. Giuseppe and Angela decided to move to America, and in 1887, they set sail from Naples, landing in Naugatuck, Connecticut. They took their prized seeds with them to plant in their new home garden. The couple had 11 children, the 4th being named Jimmy, for which this pepper was named! These peppers are traditionally used in Italian cuisine. They have very low heat levels, between 0-100 Scoville Heat Units. They’re often fried, but can also be grilled or roasted, and can even be eaten raw in salsas and salads. These plants can be grown in large pots, greenhouses, or garden beds, but should not be grown in hanging baskets. Tips From Our Gardeners "Jimmy Nardello peppers are sweet, crisp and light when eaten raw. Jimmy Nardello has long been considered one of the best frying peppers because their fruity raw flavor becomes creamy and soft when fried. When Jimmy Nardello turns from deep green to fire-engine red, fry them just like Giuseppe did, in olive oil with fresh garlic and serve with your favorite entree. Don't forget a glass of Sonoma County wine!" - Chelsea Hafer, True Leaf Market Writer Other Resources Scoville Heat Scale Jimmy Nardello Pepper Seeds Per Package: 250 mg packet - Approximately 35 Seeds 0.25 oz - Approximately 840 Seeds 1 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 3,360 Seeds 4 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 13,440 Seeds 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 53,760 Seeds Non-GMO Jimmy Nardello Pepper seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
