Jimmy Nardello peppers are an Italian open-pollinated heirloom sweet pepper variety introduced to the United States in 1887. The peppers are a sweet frying type with Scoville Heat Units of 0. Jimmy Peppers are thin-walled, have a curved shape with a tapering end and mature with a fire-engine red color. Other common Jimmy Nardello pepper names are Nardello Sweet, Jimmy Peppers, Jimmy Nardello Sweet Peppers and Jimmy Nardello’s Sweet Italian Frying.
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Jimmy Nardello Pepper Seeds
Jimmy Nardello peppers are famously easy to grow from seed, producing plenty of tasty sweet peppers. This was also confirmed in a University of California Master Gardeners sweet pepper field trial in which the peppers produced an outstanding performance compared to two other varieties in the trial.
Seeds for growing Jimmy peppers are easily accessible in the U.S. compared to other heirloom peppers such as the equally popular Sweety Drops out of Peru.
Nonetheless, the following is our compilation of Nardello Sweet seed sources in North America.
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| Jimmy Nardello Pepper Seeds Try Amazon These particular seeds are by a U.S. based family owned Sustainable Seed Company. They are available through Amazon in 250 gram packets containing 30 seeds. The seeds are Non-GMO, open-pollinated and carry a manufacturer’s promise of superior germination rates. Peppers from these seeds are ready for harvest in 75 days. |
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| Matan Organic Sweet Peppers Seeds Try West Coast Seeds These seeds produce an interesting Jimmy Nardello Pepper variation. They are produced by West Coast Seeds in Canada (ships internationally). The seeds are open-pollinated and bred from the original Jimmy Nardello lineage. They are also suitable for growing in containers. The seeds propagate thin skinned, flavor rich, sweet and crispy peppers just like original Jimmy peppers. They are certified organic and deliver fruit ready for picking in 80 to 90 days. Take note that this seed supplier may not ship to all locations. |
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| Nardello Sweet Seeds Try Baker Creek These easy to grow, early maturity seeds are supplied by Baker Creek out of the United States. Baker Creek is one of the most reputable suppliers of seeds in general in the U.S. The seeds will produce prolific plants with fruit ripening to a deep-red color. |
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| Jimmy Nardallo Sweet Seeds Try Burpee Founded in 1876 and as old as many heirloom fruits and veggies themselves, Burpee is one more place to source Jimmy Nardallo peppers in the United States. Burpee sells Nardallo Sweet seeds in packets with 30 seeds each. The seeds go on to produce typical 20 to 24 inches (51 to 61cm) plants with thin 10 inch long sweet peppers. Peppers grown from these seeds are ready for harvest within 80 to 90 days from the day of transplant of the seedlings. Take note that Burpee may not ship to some locations. |
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| Jimmy Nardello’s Sweet Pepper Seeds Try Seed Savers Exchange U.S based Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is the ultimate place to find heirloom seeds including Jimmy Nardallo peppers. Prior to his death in 1983, Jimmy Nardallo gave away some of his seeds to Seed Savers Exchange. SSE is thus the home and custodian of the original seeds as handed down by the legend himself. SSE seeds are 50 in a packet. Bigger packets have as many as 500 seeds. |
What are Jimmy Nardello Peppers?
Nardello peppers are Italian sweet, zero heat, flavorful peppers which turn deep-red when ripe. The peppers can be consumed cooked or raw (see recipes section). Furthermore, the peppers are typically elongated, have broad shoulders which taper down to a pointed tip at the end of the fruit.
The scientific name for Jimmy Nardello peppers is Capsicum annuum. The peppers are of the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Other common nightshade family members are tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant.
Nardello Sweet heirloom peppers are at least 134 years old having arrived in the United States in 1887 as a handful of seeds hidden in the hem of Italian immigrants. The immigrants who carried the seeds across the Atlantic Ocean were Angeline and Giuseppe Nardello, parents to Jimmy Nardello and 10 others of their children.
What’s in a name – Jimmy Nardello Peppers
Image: Janene Walkky
This is a rare photograph of Jimmy Nardello taken in 1982 in his garden. This was at his Connecticut home, a year before his death. This photograph appeared in a blog post by Janene Walkky, a botanical-artist, in connection with her celebrated Capsicum annuum ‘Jimmy Nardello’ watercolor painting.
It is often said what’s in a name. Well, there is something in this name. Contrary to what some may assume or believe, Jimmy Nardello did not discover nor develop the wildly popular Jimmy Nardello Sweet pepper cultivar. His mother, Angeline Nardello is credited for having stitched the Nardello Sweet pepper seeds in the hem of her garment as the family crossed the Atlantic to reach the United States. The seeds were among a few prized possessions the family carried with them to the United States from southern Italy.
Jimmy Nardello continued with his mother’s interest in gardening by growing peppers himself alongside other vegetables to feed the family. Shortly before his death, he donated the seeds to Seed Savers Exchange , a U. S. based non-profit dedicated to the preservation of heirloom seed cultivars. In turn, the organization named the peppers Jimmy Nardello Peppers in his honor. This is how we have Jimmy Nardello’s Sweet Italian Frying, as the peppers are also commonly known. Today, Seed Savers Exchange sells the seeds to the general public.
Jimmy Nardello Peppers Scoville Score
Jimmy Nardello Peppers have a Scoville heat level of 0 units. According to this Scoville Scale infographic, at zero Scoville units, Jimmy peppers have neutral heat. This is to say they are not chili at all. This places the peppers in the same category as the equally popular bell peppers which also produce zero heat.
Scoville Scale is a subjective scale (because human palette differs from person to person) that measures the heat generated by peppers when they are consumed. The units represent how much soluble solution is required to completely dissipate the heat when tasted. Capsaicin is responsible for the heat in hot peppers as measured by the scale.
Jimmy Nardello Sweet Pepper Characteristics
The following table summarizes the characteristics of Jimmy Nardello Peppers.
| Item | Description |
| Botanical Name | Capsicum annuum, Solanaceae or nightshade family |
| Type | Open-pollinated, heirloom |
| Size | Fruits are 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm) long, the plant can reach 23 inches (58 cm) tall |
| Shape | Conical, elongated, curly or straight, tapered |
| Color | Shifts from green to fire-engine red when ripe |
| Scoville Heat Units | Zero, neutral, not hot |
| Flavor | Sweet, fruity. Sweet, savory, and slightly smoky when dried |
| Texture | Waxy, shinny, thin-skin |
| Seeds | Numerous, cream-colored |
| Days to Harvest | 80 to 90 days |
| Recognition and Accolades | Ark of Taste and tens of thousands of positive reviews online and offline |
Why are Jimmy Nardello Peppers Popular?
Nardello Sweet peppers are popular because of their sweetness, great flavor and accessibility. This has contributed to rave reviews from renowned chefs which has also fueled the trend and interest in the peppers. The peppers dry easily and offer rich flavor useful in a variety of applications (see recipes section).
Zero heat on the Scoville Scale makes the Jimmy Nardello Peppers accessible to as many people including those who appreciate peppers but prefer them with no heat. Furthermore, the fact that Nardello Sweet peppers are Italian adds to the intrigue over and above the well documented story of how the peppers arrived in the United States. According to one culinary writer, Italian food is popular due to its “quality, simplicity, health benefits, affordability, variety and taste”. Jimmy peppers seem to tick all the boxes.
Jimmy Nardello Pepper Recipes
There is much that can be done with Nardello Sweet peppers. A look into Jimmy Nardello Sweet peppers is not complete without discussing culinary applications of the vegetable. The peppers can be added to stir-fries and a wide variety of salads. They can also be pickled or dried.
Jimmy peppers are a viable sweet alternative to the regular bell peppers that we are all used to. Overall, Nardello peppers bring flavor, color and nutrition to dishes with little effort. The peppers are so easy to use they can even be eaten raw off the plant.
The following are some succulent recipe ideas utilizing Jimmy Nardello Peppers.
| Jimmy Nardello Peppers with Burrata Recipe – This is an appetizing recipe involving fried Nardello Sweet peppers. The recipe requires 1/2 pound or 250 grams of the peppers which are first washed and then patted dry before they are fried in a large pan with olive oil. Other ingredients that go into this recipe include minced garlic, Maldon sea salt and black pepper. |
Chorizo Veggie Jimmy Nardello Chilaquiles – If you are new to this and are open to trying new things, this is a scrumptious looking Mexican breakfast dish which uses 3 large Nardello Sweet peppers. Chorizo is a Mexican chopped or ground pork sausage which is seasoned. Other ingredients going into this recipe include olive oil, tortillas, queso fresco (fresh cheese), cilantro and lime wedges. The recipe takes 40 minutes to make. |
| Jimmy Nardello Roasted Pepper Salad Recipe – This simple to make recipe will require 1/2 lb or 250 grams Jimmy Nardello peppers. Other ingredients will include olive oil, fresh basil, black pepper and white balsamic vinegar. The stems and the seeds of the peppers are removed before the peppers are broiled in a broiler until they are softened. |
| Marinated Jimmy Nardello Sweet Peppers – Finally, this simple yet delicious looking recipe requires 6 Nardello Sweet peppers. The recipe has two parts, the marinade and the roasted peppers themselves. Other ingredients required for the execution of the recipe include oregano leaves, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar and freshly ground black pepper. The peppers will be marinated for a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 24 hours. |
How to Fry Jimmy Nardello Peppers
Frying Nardello peppers has been likened to cooking or frying Padrón peppers. Simple and straightforward. The process is quick at high temperature where the peppers are fried until they are soft. They are then seasoned with salt and are instantly ready to enjoy. There will be no need to remove seeds and stems from the peppers. They are simply washed and then fried as is.
Here are the easy steps to frying Jimmy Nardello peppers.
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Frying Directions
- Take a pan and put it on the stove top.
- Put a little bit of oil in the pan just to cover the base, avoid making it too greasy and heat it up.
- Allow the oil to heat up in the pan for a few minutes
- Add the first pepper, if you hear a sizzle the oil is ready, add the rest of the peppers, avoiding overcrowding the pan. Fry the peppers in batches if necessary.
- Swirl the pan around at intervals. The peppers will start developing some charred surfaces which are what we are looking for.
- Once each pepper is lightly charred all around they are ready, turn off the heat.
- Season the peppers with salt and serve.
Growing Nardello Peppers
The story of Jimmy Nardello peppers is never complete without talking about how to grow them at home. Home gardeners live to grow these terrific peppers. The peppers are among some of the easiest peppers to grow. With a few basic requirements in place, just about any home gardener can successfully have these sweet peppers going.
Basic Growing Requirements
The fundamental things to remember are that Nardello Sweet peppers need full sun, grow best in warm environments or climates and require substantial heat to set fruit. Furthermore, the soil in which the peppers are planted must be rich, quick to drain and regularly watered or irrigated. If the soil is deemed not to be rich, it can be amended using compost and fertilizer.
Jimmy Nardello peppers are grown through seed propagation which is ideally started indoors some 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last day of frost. The seedlings are then transplanted outdoors into the garden once night temperatures are low enough not to damage the leaves. Growing Jimmy peppers in cool weather can easily become a lottery. They are meant to be happy in hot conditions.
As the pepper plants grow, depending on how your plants are growing i.e. tall they may do well with a little support. A cage or some form of trellis may be used to support the pepper plant.
According to Donna Woodward, a Master Gardener at University of California, how your peppers perform may depend on your garden conditions such as soils, sun exposure and elevation. These are important considerations for every home grower of Jimmy Nardello peppers.
Jimmy Nardello peppers, just like most other peppers, turn from green to deep red when ripened. The peppers are harvested when fully ripened unlike Cascabella peppers, for example, which turn red when ripe but are mainly harvested and eaten when creamy-yellow. Cascabella peppers shift from green to creamy-yellow before turning red.
Plant Pests and Diseases
Jimmy Nardello peppers, just like all peppers, are vulnerable to sunburn and blossom-end rot, a menacing disease which also causes set-backs in tomatoes such as inflicting huge dark spots on the tomato. Plant spacing becomes important in preventing or minimizing sunburn. Plants optimally planted closer together tend to protect each other from sunburn by their leaves. Sufficient calcium in the soil is used to prevent risk of blossom-end rot which is essentially a plant nutritional disorder.
If the peppers are deficient in phosphorus, they may exhibit symptoms of leaf puckering. Phosphorus can be applied into the hole in which the pepper is transplanted into at planting time.
Conclusion
Jimmy Nardello peppers are an amazing Italian heirloom pepper variety introduced to the United States in 1887. The pepper is neutral without any heat and is popular for its sweet flavor which makes it applicable in a variety of culinary preparations. Nardello pepper seeds are widely accessible and easy to grow once minimum conditions are met. Many home gardeners routinely grow the variety.
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