Visiting the Teaching Garden

To reach the Chile Pepper Institute Teaching Garden, take the University Ave. exit from either Interstate (I-10 or I-25). Follow University Ave. west towards the town of Mesilla.

The Garden is approximately one block after you cross the railroad tracks on the left.

Limited parking is available at the Fabian Garcia Landscape Demonstration Garden (white gated archway) or proceed to the main entrance of the Fabian Garcia Research Center and the Chile Pepper Institute at 113 W. University where there is plenty of parking.

Stop by the gift shop for information about the garden or to inquire about a guided tour. 

The teaching garden is only open July - October, during chile growing season.

Visitors Welcome

The Chile Pepper Institute Teaching Garden has been an integral part of the Institute’s teaching program for over 30 years. Students, families, and tourists visit and tour our garden each year. The garden has over 150 different varieties of chile peppers, including all the main species of Capsicum (C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, and C. frutescens), from the heatless bell peppers to the hottest chiles in the world!

In addition, the garden reveals many of the different diseases, disorders, pests, and problems encountered by chile growers. The garden presents an outstanding display of pod shapes, sizes, and colors. We hope you enjoy each year’s selection.

Garden Research

Working hand-in-hand with the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Chile Breeding and Genetics Program, the Institute educates the world about varieties developed and released at NMSU. Every year, the garden showcases all the varieties developed at NMSU, including “NuMex Big Jim,“ “NuMex Joe E. Parker,“ and “NuMex Piñata.“ The selection grown in the garden varies from year to year, but always showcases endless varieties. The garden is transplanted in early May, and visitors may start enjoying the garden in early July. It is open through the fall months, into November. The best time to see the garden is late July through late September.

• Bacterial Leaf Spot (Plant Pathogen)
• Beet Curly Top Virus (Plant Pathogen)
• Blossom-end Rot (Plant Pathogen)
• Powdery Mildew (Plant Pathogen)
• Sunburn-sunscald (Plant Pathogen)

Tours

Visitors are welcome to visit the garden on their own, Sunrise to Sunset, July - November. Self-guided maps are free and are available in a mailbox at the front of the garden.

For a guided tour, please contact us by email cpi@nmsu.edu, by calling 575-646-3028, or stop by the institute at 113 W. University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005.

Guided tours highlight facts about the history, production, uses, and nutritional value of chile peppers. Guided tours usually last about one hour. 

Tours are best scheduled in the mornings during the summer months due to the high daytime temperatures.  Please bring water, sun protection, and wear comfortable shoes as the garden is part of a working farm with uneven terrain.

Please Note: If it has just rained, or the field appears to have just been flood irrigated, it will be very slippery and muddy. Please stay on the perimeter of the field. 

Please do not pick any of the chile so others can enjoy and learn from the garden.

Cost

 Tours are now free to all members of the public thanks to the generosity of our donor, Ms. Amy Goldman-Fowler. 

For groups larger than twenty, please call or email ahead of time to ensure availability of staff at cpi@nmsu.edu or 575-646-3028.

Donations for the guided tours are welcome to continue the Chile Pepper Institute's mission to "Educate the world about chile peppers".

Questions? Please contact the Chile Pepper Institute at (575) 646-3028 or email us at cpi@nmsu.edu.