Details

Edible Qualities

Serrano Hot Pepper is an annual vegetable plant that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces green narrow peppers (which are technically 'berries') which can be harvested at any point. The fruit will often fade to scarlet over time. The peppers have a hot taste and a firm texture.

The peppers are most often used in the following ways:

  • Fresh Eating
  • Eating When Cooked/Prepared
  • Cooking
  • Pickling
  • Sauces

Care

Planting & Growing

Serrano Hot Pepper will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When planted in rows, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. This vegetable plant is an annual, which means that it will grow for one season in your garden and then die after producing a crop.

This plant is typically grown in a designated vegetable garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and it is considered by many to be an heirloom variety.

Serrano Hot Pepper is a good choice for the vegetable garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

Attracts Pollinators, Butterflies
Deer Resistant Yes
Family Name Hot Pepper
Flower Color White
Bloom Time Late Spring to Late Summer
Foliage Color Green
Genus Name Capsicum
Edible Yes
Growth Rate Medium
Hardiness Zone (annual)
Harvest Season Early Summer to Early Fall
Landscape Uses Garden, Container
Light Needs Full Sun
Mature Height 24 inches
Mature Width 12 inches
Prune Time Should Not Need Pruning
Water Needs Average to Moist