Padron Peppers

[Viva Terlingua]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

 

[mspath]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

If you write the words Padron peppers in the blue box marked search at the top left of this forum page many earlier posts will appear.

For example here is an earlier post by forum member Scruffy1 re the distinctive taste of Padron peppers.

Happy research and good luck with any future crop.

 

[VNwalking]

Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

Yes, successfully. Wet, and cool nights warm days. But beware if it is hot and dry where you are, because then they will be more hot than not. Tried to grow them at a friend's place where it's hotter, drier...and there were plenty of peppers, but hoo boy.. 🌶! Even when small and green.

They are easy to grow from seed, though the seeds take a while to germinate.

 

[Houlet]

In the UK we get them from Asda, probably other supermarkets stock them too.

 

[Bradypus]

In the UK we get them from Asda, probably other supermarkets stock them too.

In past years Lidl has also stocked them. A peregrina here on the forum sent me some seed and I now grow my own quite successfully here in west Wales in a polytunnel and outdoors against a south-facing wall. They seem to enjoy very similar growing conditions to tomatoes. As @VNwalking says the seeds do take a long time to germinate and initial growth is very slow.

 

[Martin 888]

They are more widely called shishito peppers……you may have more luck searching for them using that name.

 

[VNwalking]

They are more widely called shishito peppers……you may have more luck searching for them using that name.

Actually those are different.
Shishitos are long and skinny, versus the thumb-shaped Pimentos de Padron.
But they do taste similar.

 

[dbier]

I've looked in US garden catalogs and have not found seeds for Padron peppers...which are not shishitos, at least as far as US catalogs are concerned.
When La Tienda gets them in and I can afford it, I get mine from there.

 

[babsia]

In Oregon, northwestern part of the US, we've grown small crops for the last four years. We are in a maritime growing zone and the plants need full sun and warm temps, around 80°F.
We usually only get a 1 in 10 hot one.
One year I got seeds through mail-order but the plants were not as successful as the starts I got from Portland Nursery.

 

[DyanTX]

I bought seeds on Amazon and grow them in Maryland, USA. They are similar to shishito peppers which are more readily available both in the grocery store and as plants.

 

[NLS]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

I get them in the states from tienda.com

I live in Florida, and it’s too hard for me to grow as most of them will be hot, due to climate.

 

[Caminogoat]

The good news is that frozen Padron peppers are available all year round in Spain. I enjoyed them every day in November.

 

[NLS]

I get them in the states from tienda.com

I live in Florida, and it’s too hard for me to grow as most of them will be hot, due to climate.

 

[Harington]

In past years Lidl has also stocked them. A peregrina here on the forum sent me some seed and I now grow my own quite successfully here in west Wales in a polytunnel and outdoors against a south-facing wall. They seem to enjoy very similar growing conditions to tomatoes. As @VNwalking says the seeds do take a long time to germinate and initial growth is very slow.

The peregrina who sent the seed bought the original seed in the market in Santiago. Bradypus was therefore growing the sixth or seventh generation of original seeds from Galicia. Not difficult to grow at all. In the UK (East Anglia) I start them off indoors and then grow some out of doors, and some in the greenhouse for a continuous supply.

 

[JFG]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

I live in Iowa and have grown them for many years. I'm not sure if I bought the seeds in Spain or ordered them in the US. I start them from seeds 2 months ahead of planting them in May and I always end up with way more than I need. And as they say some are hot and some are not.

 

[Bob P]

I got some seeds home, planted them in my garden, harvested the hottest little peppers I've tried in a while. They grew HOT here at home. The flavor was there, but too hot for me. Must be the soil

 

[roddy]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

I have grown them once , ordered two young plants from ornamental peppers .they do need protection from the cold. Pick them at about thumb size, fry in a little olive oil until they blister and use a little rock salt

 

[BigT]

We live in southern Ohio, in the USA.
We easily grow both Padron and Shishito peppers in the ground and in straw bales.
Seeds were obtained from Johnny's Seeds at
johnnysseeds.com

Be careful, as some are separated as known to be hot and some mild. As the phrase goes, Padron, some are hot, some are not.

Another source for all things peppers, is the New Mexico Chili Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.

cpi.nmsu.edu

The Shishito peppers are longer, maybe 7-10 cm , 2-4 inches, and generally mild, and cook, sauteed, and blistered much like the Galician Padrons.

You can also grow these peppers in containers, as well as cloth garden bags.

IF, you can keep the deer from eating them.

Pleasant growing.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Late one night in 2013, on the del Norte somewhere in Galicia, 4 of us were starving but could only order padrones tapas (with vino tinto, of course). I put a small green pepper in my mouth but did not notice when a mean genie also poured in a spoonful of oil and touched a match to it. They say one in 30 in that region was hot. Mine was HOT, HOT, HOT. My wife prefers them to all other food in Spain but it took me many more Caminos before I dared try another one. Buen Camino but taste carefully before chewing.

 

[Pelegrin]

. Mine was HOT, HOT, HOT. My wife prefers them to all other food in Spain but it took me many more Caminos before I dared try another one. Buen Camino but taste carefully before chewing.

It was from Morocco or Almería.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Good grief! It was in Almeria this past March that I finally got my courage up. It was delicious. Buen Camino

 

[MissJuly]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

I live in the Southern part of the US and I planted a packet of Padron Peppers that I purchased in Padron. I ended up with 28 plants from one packet. They are now about 4 inches tall but it will still be a while before they begin to produce peppers.

 

[Holly West]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

They are called shishito peppers here. They taste the same and I love them too!!!

 

[Viva Terlingua]

Thanks all, I will start with la tienda.com. Of course all of these suggestions, while helpful, are no substitute for enjoying them in person on the Camino.

 

[hughb]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

I grow them here in Portugal. Each plant produces both hot and also sweet ones. Until you eat it you don't know which it is.

I only found out last year that the plants can live for a number of years simply by pruning them lightly in the Autumn. This year I have some from last year that I am just about to start harvesting and the new plants are only just starting to flower. Also the second year plants look to be going to have a much larger crop. Time will tell.

 

[dbier]

Thanks, all, especially those who mentioned Johnny's seeds. Somehow, my husband's catalogs didn't list them, but online did.

Probably too late for this year, but looking forward to next. I like getting the grown peppers from La Tienda, but I'd like to spend less money

 

[falcon269]

From my raised bed garden on my back porch in Maryland. In season I think La Tienda in Virginia has them mail order for about $40 a pound.

 

[VNwalking]

I've looked in US garden catalogs and have not found seeds for Padron peppers.

I got the seeds from Renee's Seeds ...

 

[witsendwv]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

I have six Padron pepper plants growing now here in West Virginia. I have planted the seeds in pots every year since our first camino in 2015. Somehow seeds found their way into my backpack in Arzua! It is a bit late to start them as they are slow growing. I save seeds every year to begin again indoors the following year. I just picked my first six peppers and hoping for a few more this weekend to enjoy with our new batch of homemade Spanish vermut. If you (or anyone else) is in the US, I would be happy to send some!

 

[Rmarkob]

My local supermarket in the USA sells shishito peppers. As others have said, they are larger than Padron peppers (and paler), but have a similar taste. They advertise that one in 10 will be hot, and I can confirm. However, during two different caminos I have never experienced a hot Pimiento Padron.

 

[Wicked]

I have six Padron pepper plants growing now here in West Virginia. I have planted the seeds in pots every year since our first camino in 2015. Somehow seeds found their way into my backpack in Arzua! It is a bit late to start them as they are slow growing. I save seeds every year to begin again indoors the following year. I just picked my first six peppers and hoping for a few more this weekend to enjoy with our new batch of homemade Spanish vermut. If you (or anyone else) is in the US, I would be happy to send some!

I would love to have some!

 

[witsendwv]

My local supermarket in the USA sells shishito peppers. As others have said, they are larger than Padron peppers (and paler), but have a similar taste. They advertise that one in 10 will be hot, and I can confirm. However, during two different caminos I have never experienced a hot Pimiento Padron.

I think you were lucky. I always seem to get the hot pepper when my husband and I are in Spain during Padron season. Out of season peppers are likely shishito or "Padrons" grown elsewhere. (and therefore not truly Padron peppers, as mine are not since they are grown here in the US).

 

[witsendwv]

I would love to have some!

Send me a PM with your name and address and I will send some next week after the holiday.

 

[Val&Tom]

I loved the padron peppers when I was on the Camino. However, I live in a small town and have never seen them in the grocery store. Has anybody on the forum ever tried to grow them? If so, any pointers? What type of climate do you live in/

I love Padron Peppers too. So this year I’ve grown some from seed. They’re not the easiest plants to start as they need a reasonable amount of heat to get them started, and they took an age to germinate.
But now, they’re growing and they’re about 15cm tall, and like gangly teenagers, they’re leggy and need to have the tops punched out. Keep them warm, we’ll fed with a high potash liquid feed, we grow ours in a polytunnel and they should reward you later in the year with enough fruits to give you a few meals to remember your Camino.

 

[witsendwv]

I love Padron Peppers too. So this year I’ve grown some from seed. They’re not the easiest plants to start as they need a reasonable amount of heat to get them started, and they took an age to germinate.
But now, they’re growing and they’re about 15cm tall, and like gangly teenagers, they’re leggy and need to have the tops punched out. Keep them warm, we’ll fed with a high potash liquid feed, we grow ours in a polytunnel and they should reward you later in the year with enough fruits to give you a few meals to remember your Camino.

My seeds germinate fairly quickly, and now are now starting to produce peppers. I start them shortly after the New Year holiday and transplant several times as they grow. They finally land in pots or planters with no special fertilizer and provide us with peppers all summer into the fall. We grow only enough for the two of us so no need for a polytunnel here, even with the short summer. We are looking forward to enjoying our first harvest this holiday weekend with some homemade vermut.

 

[Wicked]

Send me a PM with your name and address and I will send some next week after the holiday.

I am not sure how to do the PM.

 

[Bradypus]

I am not sure how to do the PM.

Find a post by the person you want to contact. Click on their username and then "Start conversation" from the pop-up menu

Or alternatively click on the envelope icon in the blue bar at the top of the forum pages, click on "Start a new conversation " and enter the username in the form which appears.

 

[witsendwv]

My seeds germinate fairly quickly, and now are now starting to produce peppers. I start them shortly after the New Year holiday and transplant several times as they grow. They finally land in pots or planters with no special fertilizer and provide us with peppers all summer into the fall. We grow only enough for the two of us so no need for a polytunnel here, even with the short summer. We are looking forward to enjoying our first harvest this holiday weekend with some homemade vermut.

Find a post by the person you want to contact. Click on their username and then "Start conversation" from the pop-up menu

Or alternatively click on the envelope icon in the blue bar at the top of the forum pages, click on "Start a new conversation " and enter the username in the form which appears.

I send Wicked a message. I have never notices the envelope icon. Thanks.