This year we have a good selection of Habanero's to grow to see how they compare against each other, along with Padrons for BBQ days and our favourite Serrano's for Mexican cooking, plus a few ornamental pot types.
This Years Varieties
Aji Limo: (Capsicum chinense) A Peruvian specialty that is one of our milder habanero's. The fruit are often top-shaped, though this can vary, even on the same plant. They are about 30 x 45 mm with a glossy skin that looks as if it has been polished. When they are young, the fruit are a light yellow colour punctuated with large patches of lilac purple. As they mature, they turn to orange and finally red. The plants are not overly tall and so can be grown in either in pots or the ground, though in both cases they will need support. A stunningly attractive plant that will lighten up any greenhouse or conservatory. Approximate heat level: 34,500 SHU
Aji Red Lemon: (Cap Baccatum) A taller growing Aji, over 1 metre, and the fruit that really do look like a lemon, although they mature to bright red and lack a citrus tang. The pods are very good, with thick crunchy flesh, they are also large enough to be stuffed and roasted. The heat was pleasant, no sudden burn, just a pleasant tang which lasted for a while before easing away.
Anaheim: (Capsicum annuum) Famous development from the original New Mexico State University in early 1900's, low to medium heat with thick flesh, good for sauces and salsas. 7" (18cm) long ripen deep red. Prolific.
Fairy Lights: (Capsicum annuum) Fairy Lights is a selection made from the ornamental variety NuMex Twilight. The plants have purple-tinged leaves matched by bright purple flowers that develop into small, cone-shaped fruit measuring about 12 x 25 mm. These put on a dramatic display of colours as they turn from luminescent purple to orange then red. The fruit are not only attractive, they are also hot. The spreading, bushy plants are quite short, and will grow unsupported both in containers and in the ground.
Fatalii: (Capsicum chinense) High yielding plants, wrinkled extremely hot peppers up to7 cm long by up to 2 cm wide. Fatalii fruits ripen from lime green to lemon yellow when mature. Native to Central African Republic.
Habanero Fruit Burst: (Capsicum chinense) Lower growing to 60 cm. Pods hang below foliage like apples. Even the green pods have a very strong fruity aroma. Very hot when fully mature at deep red.
Habanero 7-Pot: (Capsicum chinense) EXTREMELY HOT! Originally from Trinidad. Tested last year at 1,067,286 Scovilles, beating that year's Dorset Naga! Handle fruit with care. Tall plants 1 m x 6 0 cm with high yields. Pale green fruit mature to bright red, wrinkled in appearance.
Habanero Trinidad: (Capsicum chinense) Very hot. A slightly milder habanero. Fruity flavoured 1-2" wrinkled fruit.
Habanero Umba: (Capsicum chinense) This is extremely hot, peppers ripen from lime green through yellow to red. Originally developed in the Caribbean, by CARDI. There are many claims as to how hot some chillis are. Simpsons had this tested two years running, the first test, which included samples from 6 plants was 1,067, 286 SHU’s, last year samples form 25 plants was 1,111,735SHU’s.
Loco: (Capsicum annuum) Hybrid. An attractive chilli with dark green leaves and purple-fringed white flowers. The short cone-shaped fruit are about 25 to 30mm long and grow above the foliage. They change from a dark lilac purple to orange to red and are medium hot. The plants have a neat, slightly cascading growth habit that makes them ideal for growing unsupported in larger pots. Approximate heat level: 24,000 SHU
Serrano Del Sol: (Capsicum annuum) Hybrid. Traditionally eaten green, the bullet-shaped fruit of Serrano chillis are one of the mainstays of Mexican cooking. Serrano del Sol is early and prolific, producing fleshy fruit that measure about 1.5 cm wide by 8-10 cm long. The fruit ripen from green to red and can be used at either stage of maturity. Unlike most chillis, the plants are characterised by hairy stems and leaves. They are tall and untidy, with many loose branches, and generally do better in the ground .The fruit are ideal additions to exotic fare such as guacamole and pico de gallo salsa. They are, however, very versatile, and are perfectly adapt to other types of cooking where some spicing up is needed. Approximate heat level: 22,000 SHU
Sparkler: (Capsicum annuum) A result of an accidental cross, these very attractive, small, compact plants produce elongated, pointed fruit that are 30 to 35 mm in length. The fruit are remarkably hot and grow upright above the foliage, changing from pastel yellow to orange to red as they mature. Though somewhat late to ripen, Sparkler has the potential to yield masses of fruit, and is ideal for growing in both small and large pots. A true edible ornamental.
Trinity: (Capsicum chinense) The deeply grooved fruit of this variety are quite erratic in shape and size, but can be as large as as 30 x 65 mm. They turn from lime green to red as they ripen and, as with other habanero's, are distinguished by a likable fruity aroma that adds a distinctive flavour to salsas and chilli sauces. They are not, however, overly hot,and are more manageable in the kitchen than other habanero's. The medium-sized, spreading plants are absolutely laden with fruit, and need support to stay upright.
Saved seeds from our stocks
Bhut Jolokia: (Capsicum chinense) Bhut Jolokia seeds, Ghost Chilli or Ghost Chile. The 'Blistering Hot' Indian Chilli Pepper that originates in the area of Assam, India. Bred and tested by the Chile Pepper Institute in Mexico (this source is one of the hottest peppers in the world) the origin of the seed they used was from Bih Jolokia bred in Assam India. Fruits of red/orange Bhut Jolokia ripen from green to orange through to red when fully ripe. Up to 1,001,304 Scoville Units.
Medusa: (Capsicum annuum) An old favourite, ornamental chilli Medusa Fruits are thin and twisted in a cone shape, held prominently upright over the foliage. Fruits start out ivory and as they mature turning yellow to orange and finally red. Can produce up to 50 fruits. Good manageable size to grow in pots.
Padron: (Capsicum annuum) When small, green and immature 1 in 10 are hot. they are usually fried and are very popular in Tapas bars. When red and mature all are hot. Good pot plant reaching over a metre high.
This Years Equipment
Growth Technology Chilli Focus Chillis and peppers have specific nutritional requirements. While it is true that they can perform reasonably well with general purpose “feeds”, the best results will be achieved by using a formulation designed specifically for them. Chilli Focus is precisely formulated for the needs of chillies and peppers – it does not contain urea. It supports the production of healthier, more vigorous plants and colourful, juicier fruits.
Growth Technology Root Riot Cubes Made from composted organic materials, these cubes have a great spongy texture which retains the perfect air/water ratio for healthy, rapid root growth. Suitable for both cuttings and seeds, Root Riot® consistently outperforms alternative media. The cubes are specially inoculated with micro nutrients and biologically active ingredients to nourish young plants, and to aid root development.
Greenhouse Sensation Vitopod Precise control - the accurate electric digital thermostat can be set to any 1°C between 5°C and 30°C and the display shows the actual and the set temperatures. The lower temperatures are ideal for over-wintering cuttings and prized plants, the higher temperatures are great for getting hot chillis and exotic plant seeds off to a flying start and the middle temperatures are perfect for everything else. Large vents in lids and sides – for superior humidity control, so your plants don’t suffer from damping-off. Even Heat - our Vitopod delivers an even heat throughout the base, so there are no hot spots or cold spots and your seeds and cuttings will germinate evenly. Height adjustable – add the extra layers to give plants more space. Perfect for when the weather is taking its time to warm up enough for you to plant-out and for protecting taller mature plants from the cold. Robust - the Vitopod is built to last. The lids and sides are made from a robust acrylic and are treated to protect them against the UV deterioration which makes other propagators turn yellow and brittle.
Greenhouse Sensation Chilligrow takes 3 young plants and grows them into mature plants that will produce bumper harvests. The 7 Litre Smart Reservoir keeps the chillis perfectly fed and watered at all times without ever over-watering.
Greenhouse Sensation Octogrow takes 8 young plants in 11 litre pots and keep them perfectly fed and watered at all times thanks to the large Smart Reservoir and FeederMat controlled watering, so that you raise healthier plants with bigger harvests.