echinosum wrote:
Jeff Taylor;771423 Wrote:
I was only going to try a couple of varieties but I think it could be 4
now :-)
If you are going to try 4, how about including one from a different
species?

Most of the ones people have so far mentioned have been Capsicum annuum
varieties, which are the most commonly grown types. C annuum also
includes non-hot bell peppers. But there are 4 other species which have
a wide range of varieties in common cultivation:
C. baccatum are the "aji" type chillies which are the most common type
cultivated in South America.
C. pubescens are the "rocoto" chillies of South America, which have
black seeds and attractive purple flowers, and generally rounded pods.
They are harder to germinate, but then easier to over-winter (indoors
in a pot), as they are more cold resistant.
C. frutescens are tabasco chillies, as used in tabasco sauce
C. chinense are the habaneros or scotch bonnets, and are generally
exceedingly hot. They need a longer growing season, so start early on
these and don't expect your crop till late.

Additionally, chilli-heads often like to grow wild-type species, such
as tepin and ulupica. These are very small but very hot. Like
pubescens, they tend to be slow to germinate.

Don't forget chillies can be very ornamental. My wife was tolerant
rather than encouraging of my chilli growing, until she saw what
ornamental plants they were come summer, and started arranging them
around the patio. So how about trying some that are especially
ornamental? Some of the ornamental ones aren't very good eating, but
some are just as good to eat as other ones. Favourite ornamental
chillis include Bolivian Rainbow, Pretty in Purple, Numex Twilight.

It is worth careful consideration of the size and habit of the plants
you propose growing. Quite a lot remain compact and suitable for
growing in a 6" to 8" pot, but more often they are large and spreading
or straggling and either need a rather larger pot, possibly with
vertical support, or a suitably large spot in the garden for the
summer.

www.thechileman.org is a source of lots of good information, including
a huge database of varieties. chileseeds.co.uk is a good source of a
wide variety of seeds which tells you exactly what you are getting.





Wow! lots of great info there echinosum.

I didn't realise that there were various species.

Will have a look/think this weekend before ordering.

Thanks a lot for this,

Jeff
NE England