Alright, let’s talk about gettin’ them serrano peppers to sprout, ya know? It ain’t rocket science, but there’s a few things you gotta know if you wanna get a good crop.
First off, you gotta wait for that frost to be gone, long gone. Don’t be plantin’ nothin’ when it’s still cold at night. Them little seeds, they like it warm, real warm. We’re talkin’ like 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, at least. That’s what I heard, anyway.
Now, them peppers, they ain’t too picky, but if you want ’em to really grow good, you gotta get the dirt warm too. They say somethin’ about 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit is just right for them seeds to pop. I ain’t got no fancy thermometer, but I just stick my finger in the dirt. If it feels kinda warm, like a sunny day, then it’s probably good to go.
- Plant in the spring, after the frost is gone.
- Night temperatures should be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Soil temperature should be between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for best germination.
You wanna start them seeds inside, ‘specially if you live up north where it takes forever for summer to come. Get yourself some of them little peat pots, they work real good. Plant the seeds ’bout a quarter inch deep, not too deep now. Keep ’em warm, like I said, 80 to 85 degrees is what they say. And give ’em some light, too. Sunlight is best, but if you ain’t got enough, a grow light will do. Keep the light on for 12 to 16 hours a day, that’s what the fella at the store told me.
If you do it right, them seeds should sprout in a week or two, maybe a little longer if it ain’t warm enough. If you keep the dirt warm, like real warm, 80 or 90 degrees, they say them seeds can pop in just 7 or 8 days. But if it’s too cold, they might take longer, or they might not even come up at all. So keep ’em warm, that’s the main thing.
Once them little plants get goin’, you gotta make sure they get plenty of sun, like 6 or 8 hours a day. And keep ’em watered, but not too much. You don’t wanna drown ’em. Just keep the dirt moist, ya know, like a damp sponge.
Now, even if it ain’t perfect, them peppers will still grow. They can handle it if it gets a little cooler, like down to 60 degrees, or a little hotter, up to 90 degrees. But if it gets too hot or too cold, the flowers might fall off, and then you won’t get no peppers. And that’s no good.
After you start them inside, you gotta wait a while before you plant them outside. Maybe 12 weeks, somethin’ like that. When you plant ’em outside, give ’em some room. Plant them about a foot or a foot and a half apart, and the rows should be a little farther apart, maybe a foot and a half to two feet. And plant them about a half inch deep. It will take a couple weeks, maybe three, for them to come up when you plant them outside.
Serrano peppers, they’re kinda hot, but not too hot. They say they’re hotter than a jalapeno, but not as hot as some of them other peppers. I don’t know all that fancy stuff, but I know they taste good in salsa and stuff.
So, that’s about all I know about growin’ serrano peppers. Just remember to keep ’em warm, give ’em some sun, and don’t plant ’em too early. And if you do all that, you should have a nice crop of peppers come summertime. Good luck, and happy gardening!
Tags: [Serrano Peppers, Pepper Germination, Planting Peppers, Gardening Tips, Warm Weather Crops, Seed Starting, Soil Temperature]
