Expand your garden with small crops that will be the basic ingredients for your favorite foods.
We know that one of the most common and outstanding elements for the preparation of typical dishes of Mexican cuisine are chili peppers. The great variety of this food allows for traditional recipes that cannot be missing from the tables of Mexican families. And what would a meal be without the traditional spicy sauce.
If you want to start venturing into the world of gardening and urban gardens , a good way to know what steps to follow and basic care are, we recommend following the guide to growing serrano chili at home, a variety that will give you a lot of flavor to your stews. The best thing about this suggestion is that you can grow them in a pot easily.
Curious facts about Serrano Chili
The serrano chili is a variety of chili peppers that belongs to the species Capsicum annuum , it measures between 3 and 5 centimeters, the vast majority is consumed immature and is used to make stews and prepare sauces. It is a food that is available all year round. It contains vitamin A, B, E and vitamin C, even more than what oranges have. It is an antioxidant, and is also a source of iron and potassium.
According to the website of the Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s Office, the serrano chile is the second most produced variety in Mexico and the states with the highest production are Sinaloa, Zacatecas and Chihuahua.
How to grow Serrano Peppers in a pot?
Planting and growing this variety of chili peppers can be done at any time of the year, however, it is recommended during the month of September. So you still have time to start preparing everything so that the harvests are effective.
Select the seeds
You can get them from the fruit, leave them dry in the sun for one or two days.
Hotbed
You can choose to have a small container so that germination is better and faster. Use a Styrofoam cup, milk carton, or container that allows you to make holes in the bottom for good drainage.
Substratum
Remember that for you to have good results you must have a good quality substrate.
Germination
Once it is ready in the container, fill it three-quarters with substrate. Place the seeds and insert them no more than half a centimeter deep. Cover with a little soil and add a little water, just enough until it is moist.
Care
Make sure the seedbed does not receive direct sunlight, keep the seedbed for at least a week or until it germinates and grows about 10 centimeters.
Transplant
Once the seed has germinated and has around 10 centimeters of growth, you can transplant it into a pot. You can use the same substrate. Make sure the pot is the right one, that it has good drainage.
General care
Although the care of these plants is basic, you must be careful not to water it too much, it must have optimal humidity, but you must not drown it. Irrigation is drip, that is, it must be frequent, but with a low dose.
Harvest
Normally, after transplanting, flowering can occur after two months, while the first harvest will occur after the third month.
