Medium Hot Pepper Seeds – Jalapeño, Serrano & Red Hot Cherry Peppers, Heirloom Chili Seeds

Medium Hot Pepper Seeds for Planting – Jalapeño, Serrano Tampiqueño & Red Hot Cherry Peppers – Heirloom Chili Seeds (Capsicum annuum) include three flavorful pepper varieties with different shapes, heat levels, and culinary uses. Jalapeño Pepper produces thick-walled, medium-sized green peppers that mature to red, with a familiar medium heat and fresh, slightly grassy flavor. Serrano Tampiqueño Pepper produces slender, pointed peppers that are generally hotter than Jalapeños, with a bright, sharp chile flavor ideal for salsa and sauces. Red Hot Cherry Pepper produces small, round, cherry-shaped peppers that ripen to bright red and combine noticeable heat with a slightly sweet, juicy flavor.

The main difference between these three varieties is heat and fruit shape. Jalapeño offers balanced medium heat with thick flesh, making it excellent for stuffing, grilling, pickling, and salsa. Serrano Tampiqueño is slimmer and typically hotter, making it especially good for fresh salsa, hot sauces, and Mexican dishes. Red Hot Cherry produces round, thick-walled fruits with a sweet-hot flavor that works well for pickling, stuffing, roasting, and appetizers.

Planting Season

Best planted in: Spring & Early Summer (Warm-Season Crop)

Start seeds indoors approximately 8–10 weeks before the last expected spring frost. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures consistently remain above approximately 55°F (13°C).

Peppers grow best in warm temperatures between approximately 70–85°F (21–29°C).

How to Grow Medium Hot Pepper Seeds

Start seeds indoors in trays or small pots filled with moist seed-starting mix.

Sow seeds approximately ¼ inch deep.

Maintain soil temperatures between 75–85°F (24–29°C) for reliable germination.

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.

Seeds typically germinate within approximately 7–21 days.

Provide strong light after germination and harden seedlings outdoors for approximately 7–10 days before transplanting.

Choose a location receiving at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily and provide fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost.

Space plants approximately 18–24 inches apart, with rows about 24–36 inches apart.

Plants generally grow upright but may benefit from stakes or small cages when heavily loaded with fruit.

Container growing is possible in medium to large pots with excellent drainage.

How to Care for Medium Hot Pepper Plants

Water deeply and consistently during flowering and fruit development, allowing the upper soil surface to dry slightly between waterings.

Apply mulch around established plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain warm soil conditions.

Feed with a balanced vegetable fertilizer during active growth. Avoid excessive nitrogen after flowering begins.

Monitor for common pests such as aphids, flea beetles, spider mites, and pepper hornworms. Good spacing and soil-level watering help reduce disease problems.

Jalapeño Peppers generally mature approximately 70–80 days after transplanting. Harvest green for a fresh, medium-hot flavor or allow them to mature red for greater sweetness and deeper flavor.

Serrano Tampiqueño Peppers generally mature approximately 75–85 days after transplanting. Harvest while green for a crisp, bright heat or allow fruits to turn red for a fuller, slightly sweeter flavor.

Red Hot Cherry Peppers generally mature approximately 75–85 days after transplanting. Harvest when fruits become round, firm, and bright red for their characteristic sweet-hot flavor.

Cut peppers from the plants with clean scissors or pruning shears. Wear gloves when handling hot peppers, especially when cutting or processing them, and avoid touching your eyes or face.

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