The Chile Pepper Institute (CPI) Teaching and Demonstration Garden has been an integral part of the CPI's teaching resources for over fourteen years.
School children, local groups, university groups, and individuals come every year to visit and tour our garden. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the Garden not only has over 150 different varieties of chile from all of the main species of Capsicum: C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, and C. frutescens, but it also shows many of the different diseases, disorders, pests, and problems encountered by chile growers. The genus Capsicum includes all peppers, from the mildest bell to the hottest habanero.
The Garden is intended to show a few of the different pod shapes, sizes, and colors; there are many different types of chile peppers, and we hope you enjoy the selection we offer.
Visiting the GardenTo reach the Chile Pepper Institute Teaching and Demonstration Garden, take the University Ave. exit from either Interstate (I-10 or I-25). Follow University Ave. west towards the town of Mesilla until you reach a set of railroad tracks. Cross the tracks and continue on University Ave.
The NMSU Botanical Garden entrance is approximately 150 yards off University Ave and is located at 109 W. Univeristy Ave. The CPI Garden is located on the east side of the NMSU Botanical Garden. Visitors are welcome to park at the garden. Walk east through the Botanical Garden until you come to a chain link fence with a gate. Go through the gate and the CPI Teaching Garden is just on the other side. Look for a mailbox that contains maps of the garden.
Working hand-in-hand with the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Chile Breeding and Genetics Program, the Institute seeks to educate about all of the different varieties that have been developed and released at NMSU. Every year, the garden showcases all of the varieties developed at NMSU, including "NuMex Big Jim," "NuMex Joe E. Parker," and "NuMex Pinata." The selection of other varieties 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 June. It is open through the fall months, into November. The best time of the year to see the garden is late July through late September.
The Garden is located at the Fabian Garcia Horticulture Farm, 109 West University Ave. Individuals and visitors are welcome to visit the garden anytime during regular hours (8:00 am - 5:00pm). Self-guided tours are free and garden map booklets are available in a mailbox at the front of the garden. For a guided tour, please call ahead and make reservations with Danise Coon.
Guided tours highlight facts about the history, production, uses, and nutritional value of chile peppers. Guided tours are provided for free to school classes, FFA groups, 4-H groups, or other educational groups. Guided tours usually last about 1 hour and are scheduled in the morning hours during the summer months, no guided tours can be scheduled after 11:00 am from June - October. If you would like to set up a guided tour contact Danise Coon at 575-646-3028. Guided tours are $15.00 per person.
