Photo by Waywuwei (CC BY-ND 2.0).

Scientific Name: Capsicum annum

Common Names: Chilli 'Serrano', Chili Pepper, Chilli Pepper, Chile Pepper

Family: Solanaceae (Tomato & Potato)

Etymology

Capsicum: To Bite (From Kapto); Greek
annum: Annual

Origin

Chillies are native to the Americas.  The Serrano Chilli is a cultivar that originates in the mountain regions of the Mexican states of Puebla and Hidalgo.

Description

Serrano Chilli bushes produce 5cm long, thin tapered fruits that change from green to red as they ripen.  The fruit are crisp and have a thin skin which doesn't require peeling.  Grows from 45cm up to 1.5m tall depending on conditions.  They are prolific and each plant can produce many pods.  The leaves and stems of this variety have short, fuzzy hairs. 

Uses

This variety has a Scoville heat scale rating of 10,000 to 23,000 SHU which makes it a medium strength pepper hotter than a jalapeno but less intense than a cayenne pepper.  The fruit can be harvested red or green and adds a sharp bite to salsas and other Mexican foods.  Serrano chilles are one of the most commonly used varieties of chilli in Mexico where it is often eaten raw.

Germination

Sow Serrano Chilli seed 6mm deep spaced about 45cm apart.  In temperate regions sow Serrano Chilli seed from September to November as long as any chance of frost has past, they can also be started several weeks early indoors if required.  In the subtropics sow from September to November.  In the tropics and subtropics Chilli seed can be sown at any time during the year.  Soil temperature should be between 20 and 33 degrees Celsius for best germination rates.  Most Chilli seeds will take between 12 and 24 days to germinate.

Cultivation

Takes 10 to 12 weeks from sowing the seed until harvest.  Prefers growing in slightly acidic soils in a location that receives full sun, but will also tolerate partial shade.  Fertilise and water well but avoid using fertilisers with too high a Nitrogen content as they will cause the plant to put on extra foliage at the expense of fruit production.