Hatch Chile Seed 4 pack - Contains 1 pack of each of the following varieties. NuMex 6-4 (Mild) Great flavor and mild heat are the hallmarks of this improved New Mexico green chile. It was bred by NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute in 1998 using heirloom seeds that had been in cold storage since 1957. The breeding process took 3 years and resulted in a mild chile with outstanding flavor. The plants are compact and vigorous with heavy foliage to prevent sunscald. Pods grow from 5 to 8 inches long and can be harvested while green or when fully ripened to red.  Big Jim (Medium-Hot) Bred by New Mexico State University in 1975, this is one of the best New Mexico chiles available and a favorite of New Mexican home gardeners. These chile pods grow large and moderately flat, making them a great choice for making Chile Rellenos (whole chiles stuffed with cheese or meat and fried). Pods can grow as large as 9 inches and have a thick flesh. Sandia (Hot) One of the most widely grown varieties of New Mexico chile, the Sandia is a hot pepper that is well liked in the southwest particularly for making red chile powder, red chile flakes and ristras. Bred at New Mexico State University in 1956 by cross breeding a NuMex No.9 with an Anaheim Chile, Pod size ranges from 5 to 9 inches, with a spicy chile flavor.  Lumbre (XXX-Hot) The Lumbre was developed by Jimmy Lytle, son of Big Jim Lytle for whom the Big Jim variety is named. It is one of the hottest, if not THE hottest of the New Mexico Chile varieties. The pods are smaller in size than most New Mexico chile ranging in size from 4 to 6 inches but are very prolific. While it lacks in size it excels in heat and flavor.