Such a great question – which pepper should you plant? My answer is BOTH! Since my favorite thing to do with peppers is to blister them, both peppers are great for this. The padron plant when fully established is slightly larger than shishito plant, so if planting room is a consideration and you can only choose one, go for the shishitos. If you have a preference for more spicey peppers, go for the padrons. I find that the shishitos are a little less spicey. Shishito peppers are smaller in width and slightly longer than padrons, so you may favor one over the other esthetically. Padrons have a fuller shape after being blistered, while the shishitos kind of wither away, being smaller – but they’re still great.
Both pepper plants thrive in full sun and heat and are super simple to grow. There are so many choices of peppers to grow, but I can’t imagine not having one of these varieties growing in my garden. Check out my recipe for blistering padrons.
