Cold Hardy Chili Pepper Seeds

Seeds can be very tricky to germinate, and sprout erratically over several weeks. Start indoors in winter (I start in Jan or Feb) in sterile growing medium in pots or flats. I use 4 inch pots. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep, and keep the soil slightly damp. Cover pot with plastic wrap to help retain moisture if needed- remove when first seeds sprout. Room temperature is apparently best for germinating this species, use a heat mat if your house is cold like mine. Seeds can take 2 weeks to many months to germinate, but don't give up on them! Keep them warm and moist and your patience will pay off. Don't throw out the pots as some people have had them sprout a year later!

PRE-TREATMENT: seeds have a hard coat and seem to go into dormancy quickly. Pretreating the seeds is probably a good idea, and can make the seeds sprout faster. Soaking in hydrogen peroxide before planting may help break down the seed coat. My friend Matt of Bloomsday Native Plants had almost 100% germination by soaking seeds in gibberellic acid (GA3) and chamomile tea. Gibberellic acid can be purchased online.

TRANSPLANTING: Once seedlings have their first true leaves, transplant into larger pots, or plant out in their final location after danger of frost. They are slow growing in the first year, but pick up speed in year 2 and beyond. Space 1-2 feet apart to start: plants can always be dug up and spread out if they get too crowded as they get older.

GROWING CONDITIONS: Full sun is best, but part shade is ok too. Well-draining, fertile garden soil is ideal. Plants are quite drought and heat tolerant. No trellising is needed. Can be grown in large pots.

We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight, United States for $20, and Internationally for $20*. Live plants, bulbs, and bulbils can only be shipped within Canada. Shipping fees listed here are in Canadian dollars, and may change without notice.

Shipping in Canada 

We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-3 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally orders take longer, especially to Ontario and East.

Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery.

Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.

Shipping to the US

We now require all US shoppers to obtain a Small Lot Seed Permit before we can mail your seeds. It's free to apply and you will likely be granted the permit instantly. We appreciate if you can email us your permit as soon as you can after your purchase.

How to apply for your Small Seed Lot Import Permit:

1. Go to https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/s/
2. Select PPQ-587 in the dropdown menu and click "Get Started".
3. Login and follow the instructions to obtain a permit.
4. Under the Commodity Type drop down, make sure you select the "Small Lots of Seed". See screenshot below.
5. It's best to list "Eligible Taxa" instead of listing all the species you'd like to import so you don't need to worry about missing any species you ordered.
6. Once you receive your permit, promptly email us 2 documents: a copy of your permit and a copy of the yellow/green shipping labels. Tell us if which USDA station you want us to send the seeds to. If not mentioned we will choose one. Our email is grow@cicadaseeds.ca
7. We are not able to send any pepper or tomato seeds, or any live plant materials to the US due to restrictions.

What happens next?

After receiving your documentation, we will mail your seeds to an inspection facility in the US.  We will ship via tracked parcel, and you will receive the tracking number when your order has shipped. Orders will be mailed first to a plant inspection facility in the US, then they forward the package on to your address after inspection. Tracking is only available to the inspection facility, not to your address.

The mail and inspection process can take several weeks, depending on how long the inspection takes. Unfortunately we are not able to replace packages that are confiscated or destroyed by customs, or for any duties or tariffs placed on your order. 

Shipping Internationally

International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.

International shipping countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page

Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option. 

Return Policy

If you have any issues with your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will do our best to make it right.

Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.