If you’ve ever bitten into a pepper expecting a little kick and ended up reaching for a glass of milk, you’ve experienced the power of the Scoville Heat Scale firsthand. 🌶️ Whether you’re planting a mild salsa garden or chasing serious heat, understanding this scale can help you choose the right peppers for your taste buds—and your recipes. Earl May Garden Center has the perfect pepper seeds and plants for your garden!

The Scoville Heat Scale measures the spiciness of peppers in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), a rating based on the concentration of capsaicin, the compound that creates that signature heat. Sweet bell peppers sit at zero SHU, while jalapeños bring a moderate kick, and super-hot varieties can climb into the hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of SHU. (Be sure to check out the chart below for a full breakdown!)

When selecting peppers for your garden, think about how you plan to use them. Mild varieties are perfect for fresh eating, stuffing, or family-friendly dishes. Medium-heat peppers add depth to salsas and sauces without overwhelming flavor. For the bold gardener, hot and super-hot varieties deliver intense heat that goes a long way in marinades, hot sauces, and spicy cuisine.

No matter where you fall on the heat spectrum, peppers are easy to grow in garden beds or containers as long as they get plenty of sun, warm soil, and consistent watering. Stop in to explore our pepper selection and find the perfect level of heat for your garden this season!