Serrano Purple Chili Seeds

Information: Serrano purple chillies are a special strain of the Mexican serrano chili. Alongside jalapeño peppers, serrano chillies are a classic of Mexican cuisine and, combined with tomatoes they form the basis for the famous Mexican salsa Pico de Gallo. The name serrano indicates that it originates in Mexico’s high plains. The plants remain relatively small and develop a bushy crown on a strong little trunk.

To begin with, the peppers are pale green in colour, before ripening from red to dark purple and then black. Once in their fully ripened state, they develop a pleasant sweetness together with a medium-strength spicy heat. This makes them fantastic for eating raw to spice up salads and salsas, but they can also be cooked, pickled or frozen.

Care: Germination temperature is between 22°C  and 28°C (germination period: 8-20 days); it is therefore recommended to use a greenhouse and a heating mat. The plants need fresh, well-fertilised permeable soil and should not be left in standing water. They should be placed in a sunny, sheltered place with at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, if not more. The earliest time to place the plants outside is 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost. If grown in plant pots, you can also take care of them through the winter. It might be necessary to cut them back slightly and place them in a light place where it is at least 15°C.

You can find plenty of useful tips for successfully growing chili plants in our Chili Growing Guide and in the Chili Journal.