Description
Bring the bold, authentic flavors of New Mexico to your garden with NuMex Heritage Big Jim Hatch Chiles. This improved heirloom variety produces larger, thicker-walled pods than the original Big Jim, with a consistent heat of 9,000 SHU—hotter than the average Hatch chile. Perfect for fire roasting, salsas, or classic Hatch Valley recipes, these 6–12″ peppers deliver rich, vibrant flavor in every bite. Frost-sensitive but highly rewarding, the plants grow 18–24″ tall and thrive in full sun, producing a plentiful harvest of green peppers that turn red when fully mature.
Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before transplanting, then move seedlings outdoors 2–4 weeks after your last frost when temperatures are warm. Plant spacing of 18–24″ ensures healthy growth, and careful handling during harvest protects against capsaicin irritation. With improved flavor, thicker flesh, and reliable yields, NuMex Heritage Big Jim Hatch Chiles are a must-grow for gardeners seeking authentic, high-heat peppers from the Southwest.
This packet contains 20 seeds.
Variety Info:
Days to Maturity: 70-75 Days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae
Type: Under 9000 Scoville Units, Chile Pepper (Learn more)
Native: Americas
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive perennial grown as an annual
Exposure: Full Sun
Plant Dimensions: 18″–24″ tall
Variety Info: 6″-8″ long (but can often reach 12″ long), 1 ½”-2″ wide, thick-walled green peppers, turning to red when mature. Developed at New Mexico State University, this hatch chile is hotter than the average hatch at 9,000 SHU.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info:
When to Sow Outside: For mild climates only: 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, 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: Can also sow in late summer for fall/winter crop.
Days to Emerge: 10 – 25 Days
Seed Depth: 1/4″
Seed Spacing: Start indoors
Row Spacing: 24″ – 36″
Thinning: Start indoors, plant seedlings 18″–24″ apart outside
Growing Info:
Harvesting: 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.
