Santa Fe Grande is a wax-type chilli variety grown for its pale yellow fruit, changing colour as it ripens.

The plant produces small white flowers followed by short, conical peppers with rounded ends. Fruit begins pale yellow before changing through orange and eventually ripening to red.

Santa Fe Grande peppers have a slightly sweet flavour with mild to medium heat. They can be harvested at any stage and are suitable for pickling, salsas, sauces, grilling and cooking.

In the UK, Santa Fe Grande grows well in a greenhouse, polytunnel or warm and sheltered patio position.

Plant Details

Botanical name: Capsicum annuum
Common names: Santa Fe Grande, Yellow Wax Pepper
Plant family: Solanaceae
Habit: Compact, bushy annual or short-lived tender perennial
Potential height: Approximately 50–75 cm under suitable conditions
Foliage: Green, pointed leaves
Flowers: Small white flowers
Fruit: Short conical peppers ripening from pale yellow through orange to red
Heat level: Mild to medium and naturally variable
Position: Full sun
Suitable for: Greenhouses, polytunnels, patios and containers
Hardiness: Tender and not frost hardy

Growing Advice

Grow your Santa Fe Grande in fertile, well-draining compost in a warm and sunny position. Move the plant into a larger container if required to support continued growth and fruit production.

Keep the compost evenly moist while the plant is flowering and carrying peppers. Avoid waterlogging and repeated periods of severe dryness.

Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser during early growth. Change to a high-potassium tomato feed once flowers or young fruit appear.

Harvesting peppers regularly can encourage the plant to continue flowering. Fruit may be picked pale yellow or left to develop orange and red colouring.

Plants grown outside should only be placed outdoors once the risk of frost has passed.

Santa Fe Grande is normally grown as an annual in the UK but may sometimes be overwintered in a bright, frost-free position.

Fruiting in the UK

Santa Fe Grande can fruit successfully in the UK when provided with warmth and strong light. Greenhouse and polytunnel cultivation usually gives the earliest and most reliable harvest.

The colour, flavour and heat will change as the peppers mature. Final heat may also vary between individual fruit.

What You Will Receive

You will receive one healthy Santa Fe Grande plant growing in a 2-litre pot. Plants are typically dispatched at approximately 20–30 cm tall.

Plants may be supplied before flowering or fruiting. Size and development will vary depending on the time of year.

Important Information

The heat of the peppers is naturally variable.

Wear gloves when preparing fruit that tastes hot. Avoid touching your eyes or face and wash your hands after handling.