Ají Cerezo Pepper Seeds – Cherry Chili | Smoky & Fruity Heat (Capsicum annuum)

Ají Cerezo — Spanish for “cherry pepper” — is a distinctive chili believed to be a cross between the Pequin and Vegas Serrano peppers. It produces round to cherry-shaped pods that open green and ripen to a deep red, with a complex flavor profile: smoky, fruity, and medium hot. A versatile kitchen pepper equally at home fresh, pickled, or dried.

Variety Details

• Species: Capsicum annuum
• Pod Shape: Round/cherry-shaped
• Color Progression: Green → Red at maturity
• Flavor: Smoky with fruity undertones
• Heat Level: Medium
• Best Use: Fresh, pickled, dried, sauces

Starting Seeds

• Start indoors 7–10 weeks before last frost
• Sow ¼ inch deep; maintain soil temperature of 80–85°F — heat mat recommended
• Germination time: 1–4 weeks
• Soak seeds in room-temperature water for up to 24 hours before sowing
• Use organic seed-starting mix; avoid jiffy peat pots or standard potting soil
• Fertilize when blooms appear; allow fruit to fully ripen on the plant for best nutrition and flavor

Growing Tips

• Full sun; fertile, well-drained soil
• Water 1 inch per week; use soaker hoses during hot, dry spells
• Mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature
• Feed with slow-release fertilizer at transplant; avoid excess nitrogen
• Grows well in 5-gallon containers
• Harden off over 7–14 days; bring indoors if nights drop below 55°F

Harvest

Harvest at any stage — green for milder, crisper flavor; red for peak smoky sweetness and heat. Pick regularly with garden scissors to encourage continued fruiting.