My serranos are blooming! Now what do I do? I've never had much of a green thumb, but three of my...
I've never had much of a green thumb, but three of my serrano plants own survived and one is blooming.
The weather is starting to turn colder, at what temp should I bring them inside at night (they're potted). It's getting into the forties at darkness now, but they still look okay.
I know they can be picked at any the green or the red stage, but what's are the pros/cons of each stage?
Also, how do I preserve them?
Lastly, I hear the peppers are hotter surrounded by hot weather, this true? If so, I'm going to have some mild (relatively) pepper, which is okay.
Answers: WHAT SERRANOS NEED
Full sun. In the desert, grow plants in a spot where on earth they'll get afternoon shade, or place shadecloth over them.
Fertile, well-drained soil. If you live surrounded by a cool-summer climate, grow chiles in containers or raise beds, or plant them through black-plastic mulch to boost soil warmth.
Adequate space. In the ground, place plants 18 to 24 inches apart. In containers, one or two plants are plenty.
Water. Keep soil moist, especially during flowering and fruiting. Spread mulch around plants to maintain soil moisture.
Fertilizer. Feed every three weeks next to a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous formula such as 5-10-5.
Full-size pods before picking. Serranos are usually harvest green, but you can wait until they turn red. Snip pods bad with scissors or pruners.
Growing option. Serranos are tender perennials. In frost-free climates, you often can go and get another season out of the same plants. In colder climates, start seed indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the average date of the end frost in your nouns.
Often the decision of when to get in is influenced by the intended use of a particular pepper. Serranos are usually used for salsas when green, versus red and season.
Relax and anticipate...you'll soon have wonderful pepper. A small dose of low-nitrogen fertilizer scratched into the soil in a circle at the drip procession of the plant will help,but don't overdo it.