My chilli plants have borne fruit - big long and thick green chillis.

The problem is that the taste of the chillis bears no relationship at all to
the description I remember reading on the seed packet. The seed packet
promised a deliciously hot chilli that would add fire to all manner of
dishes. What I have in my mouth is part of a chilli shaped very tame green
paper - not a hint - and I mean even a subtle trace - of heat.

Following germination in early April on a windowsill the seedlings were
transplanted to pots in a greenhouse. The relatively mild summer didn't
cause any problems in terms of too much heat and the only snag was an aphid
and ant attack (which didn't affect the taste sampled plants).

Can growing conditions dramatically alter the heat of successfully grown
chillis? My suspicion is that the seed firm incorrectly packaged a mild
variety of chilli shaped green pepper as a hot chilli.

Would I have more joy if I allowed the chillis to turn red (instead of
reaping them when green)?

Gareth.