Growing chillies: the best varieties to grow at home

For more on chillies, read Val Bourne's guide to growing chillies at home.

'Numex Twilight' (Medium Hot)

This neat compact variety produces an abundance of small upright peppers with a medium-hot flavour. The colourful chillies ripen through a rainbow of colours as they mature from purple to yellow to orange to red. Can be grown outdoors on the patio, or in the greenhouse for even heavier yields. (2ft/ 60cm)

'Summer Heat' F1 (Hot)

An early ripening Jalapeno pepper with long, slightly tapered finger-long fruits. Traditionally picked green, but can be left to ripen to red. The unusual 'scarred' skin of Jalapeno 'Summer Heat' is a desired trait of Mexican Jalapenos which are commonly used on pizzas for their pungent, hot flavour. 30in x 20in (75cm x 50cm)

‘Demon Red’ (Very Hot)

This very dwarf variety was specially bred for growing on a windowsill or in patio containers, where it makes an attractive plant for edible or ornamental use with its upright red peppers. This compact RHS AGM variety produces prolific yields, grown indoors or outside. (14in/ 35cm)

'Tropical Heat' (Atomic)

A mix of Caribbean 'Habenero' red and orange, plus yellow and red 'Scotch Bonnets' - so not for the faint hearted. The rounded fruits ripen from green to red and have a fiery pungency at maturity. Ideal for growing in the greenhouse or on a sunny patio outside. Height: 20in/50cm

'Inferno' (Moderately Hot)

This 'Hungarian Hot Wax' hybrid, produces early bumper crops over a long season on compact plants. The chillies are large, smooth skinned, and a pale lime-green in colour, turning red as they ripen. This moderately hot variety is ideal for roasting and frying and it’s large enough to be stuffed. It’s hotter cooked though. (20 in/ 50cm)

All available from Thompson & Morgan.

For more growing tips read our fruit and vegetable growing guides

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