How to Grow Serrano Chillies from Seed
The salsa chilli: crisp, grassy and bright rather than searing, and one of the easier chillies to grow outdoors in a good British summer.
Serrano is the salsa chilli. It is crisp, grassy and bright rather than searing, with enough heat to make itself known without taking over the plate.
At 10,000 to 23,000 Scoville units it runs two to five times hotter than a jalapeño. It is reliable and quick from seed, which makes it one of the easier chillies to grow outdoors in a good British summer, and it is best eaten green and fresh.
Species
Capsicum annuum
Heat
10,000 to 23,000 SHU
Sow
February to March
Harvest
July to September
Best Grown
Pots or outdoors in a good summer
Difficulty
Full growing method
Serrano is grown like every other Capsicum annuum. Our species guide covers sowing, potting on, feeding, outdoor growing and problems step by step.
Read the Capsicum annuum guide →About this Variety
The flavour
Crisp, grassy and bright rather than searing.
Pick green
Best eaten green and fresh, straight into salsa.
Outdoors
One of the easier chillies to crop outdoors in a good British summer.
The plant
Reliable, quick from seed and container friendly.
Handling
Wear gloves when cutting or deseeding, and keep your hands away from your eyes and face.
Sowing & Harvest Calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow under cover | ||||||||||||
| 🪴 Plant out | ||||||||||||
| 🌶️ Harvest |
Variety Specifications
Fresh salsa from the garden
Sow in spring, grow it in a pot or sunny border, and pick crisp green serranos from July.
Shop Serrano Seeds →