Jimmy Nardello Sweet Italian Peppers
- jr81568
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 14
A Brief History

Giuseppe and Angella Nardello grew Jimmy Nardello peppers in their garden in in Italy in the town of Ruti. In 1887 the came to the US and settled in Naugatuck CT. They brought the pepper seeds with them and planted them in the backyard garden. These peppers are long thin peppers that eventually turn red; The peppers are sweet not bitter or very hot.
The Nardello family had eleven kids Their son Jimmy continued the tradition of growing the peppers. He was their fourth child and loved the peppers and gardening. He grew the peppers in terrace gardens and other vegetables providing his family and friends with produce. In 1980 Jimmy donated some seeds to Seed Savers and they named Nardello pepper after him.
The heirloom seeds passed down from the family rely on natural pollination by wind, insects, or birds. The plants will produce seeds to grow more peppers. The peppers grows six to nine inches and can be fried, pickled, or eaten raw in salads.
You can grow the peppers from seed but some place raise plants that you can order and plant in your garden or in pots. The are grown primarily in warmer states.
In 2005 the Slow Food Movement added the Nardello pepper to the Ark of Taste. This is a group of foods that has become endangered. The Ark of Taste helps to insure the pepper will be grown and recognized. It preserves the connection of the pepper to the Nardello family and their Italian heritage.
They peppers are easy to grow and chefs and home cook like to use them in recipes They grow well in warm climates and different type of soil.

Cooking Nardello Peppers and Ingredient Pairing
One of the most popular ways to eat the peppers is frying. The thin skin makes them easy to fry. Nardello peppers can be roasted on the grill or in the oven, and make an excellent side dish for meat or chicken. The peppers can be chopped and added raw to salads and sandwiches. The peppers can be pickled, stuffed, and dried.
They are often paired with sweet or white onions, olive oil, basil, oregano, thyme, cumin, lemon juice, and even pine nuts. These ingredients complement the peppers depending on how they are cooked.
Where to Buy Jimmy Nardello Pepper Seeds
If you are an experienced gardener you can purchase the seeds from many companies online. Below is a list of a few companies that sell the seeds. To find them put the keyword in your favorite search engine and search by name.
True Leaf Market- in Salt Lake City, Utah
Territorial Seed Company - Cottage Grove, Oregon
Monticello Shop- Charlottesville ,VA
Hudson Valley Seed Company- Accord, NY
Kitchen Garden Seeds- Bantam ,CT
Where to Order Jimmy Nardello Pepper Plants Online
Most peppers plants are grown in warm climates of the United States. These plants can be ordered online. Search for the name online of these companies to find more information about location and how to order.
Tyler Farms
Georgia Pepper Company
The Farm on Central, Carlise, Ohio
Armstrong Garden, Center CA
Pepper Joes
Where to Buy Jimmy Nardello Peppers
Whole Food Markets sells Jimmy Nardello Peppers. You may be able to order them online through Instacart at a store near you.

References:
What Are Jimmy Nardello Peppers? by Editorial Staff, The Cook's Cook, 2025
Jimmy Nardello Chili Peppers, Heat, Flavor and Ingredient Pairings, by Matt Bray, PepperScale, 2025
History of Jimmy Nardello Italian Peppers, by Darcy Larum, Garden Know How, March 22, 2022
Jimmy Nardello Peppers A Delicious Heirloom, by Pepper Geek, Pepper Geek, Updated 7-6-2024
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