Serrano Hot Pepper

(75 days) Open-pollinated. With Hidalgo unavailable, we’ve added this standard easy-to-grow Serrano to tide us over till our fave returns. Somewhat hotter than a jalapeño, and with a delayed punch, its “bright, fruity hot flavor lingers in the front of the mouth and makes your taste buds tingle all over,” said one serrano aficionado. Extremely prolific 3–4½' plants yield light green thin-walled 2½–3 x½" fruits that ripen to scarlet. 2,000-17,000 Scovilles—heat varies with size (smaller can be hotter), color (green unripe fruit is often less pungent) and exposure to sun.