ANCHO POBLANO     Species: Annuum     Origin: Mexico     Heat: mild     Status: Unknown
© Tommi Hietavuo

Poblano Chile when fresh or Ancho Chile when dried, these glossy, flattened chiles are a dark shiny green ripening to reddish brown and usable at either stage. They are 100 to 125 mm long and distinctively heart shaped. Poblanos are a relatively mild variety whose mellow aromatic flavor combines well with other ingredients in all types of cuisines to make rich sauces and mild chile powders. They are wonderful stuffed or roasted and added to tomato or egg dishes. Poblanos are easy to dry and hang in the kitchen in long, shiny strings, and you’ll find they will quickly become a staple. Plants grow to 750mm with handsome fruits borne like pendants from the upright branches

BULGARIAN CARROT (SHIPKAS)     Species: Annuum     Origin: Bulgaria     Heat: Medium     Status: Unknown
© John Taylor | © John Taylor

Also known as 'Shipkas' this charming heirloom was supposedly smuggled out through the iron curtain 20 years ago. This attractive white flowering 2ft plant produces good yields of 3 to 3.5 inches long by 0.625 to 0.75 inches wide glossing orange coloured peppers resembling carrots. The peppers are hot and mature from green to yellow and then to orange approximately 65-70 days after transplanting. The peppers are crunchy and are used to make pickles, salsa, jellies and marinades.

CAYENNE     Species: Annuum     Origin: French Guyana     Heat: Unknown     Status: Unknown
© Ready to Grow

Pre-Columbian in origin and named after the Cayenne River in French Guyana, it owes it spread around the world to Portugal whose traders acrried it around the world in the 15th & 16th centuries. The long thin red fruits (in most cases) are probably what most non chileheads think all Chile Peppers look like. There are now a multitude of varieties available with differing fruit lengths, thicknesses and heat levels. Most grows 4 to 6 inches long, are thin fleshed and can be eaten green or red. They attain maximum heat however if they are left to ripen on the bush. Can be used in hot sauces or powdered to make cayenne pepper. 30000-50000 Scoville Units.

CHEYENNE     Species: Annuum     Origin: USA     Heat: Hot     Status: Common
© Mark McMullan | © Mark McMullan

This variety is often found in UK garden centres and market gardens and its heavy fruiting compact nature makes it ideal for growing on the windowsill, in the greenhouse or on a sheltered patio. The plant can grow upto 18 inches in the right conditions and produces a good crop of orange medium sized fruits which are fantastic in Chile Con Carne. Very tasty and highly recommended..

JALAPENO     Species: Annuum     Origin: Mexico     Heat: Medium     Status: Unknown
© Julian Livsey | © Mark McMullan

The Jalapeño is one of the best known peppers and is widely used in the catering industry given its excellent flavour. It is named after the city of Xalapa in Mexico, interestingly where they are no longer grown although they are still extensively grown throughout other regions in Mexico. In Mexico, Jalapenos are called Cuaresmenos. The standard Jalapeno produces 3" thick walled fruits which ripen from green to red. They are usually eaten in the green stage, fresh or pickled, but when allowed to ripen, jalapeños are amazingly sweet. Used extensively in Mexico on nachos, the rest of the world on Pizza's and the US in pepper eating contests! 2500-10000 Scoville units.

NUMEX TWILIGHT     Species: Annuum     Origin: USA     Heat: Hot     Status: Unknown
© Mark McMullan | © Semillas La Palma

This Piquin type ornamental chile was developed by Dr's Paul Bosland, Jaime Iglesias, and Max Gonzalez at New Mexico State University in 1992. The various fruit colors enhance its value as commercial greenhouse pot plant and has become a firm favourite by the pot plant industry. The plant typically grows 12" tall when grown in pots, and 24-30" tall in the field. When spaced closely together, makes a uniform and colorful hedge. The pods grow upright on the plant, with each plant having hundreds of small fruits less than 20mm long. The dark leaves show off the coloured fruits as they ripen from purple to yellow to orange and lastly to red (70 days). NuMex Twilight has also has become an important source of cucumber mosaic virus resistance for plant breeders. 1000 SHU.

PIMENTO     Species: Annuum     Origin: Unknown     Heat: Sweet     Status: Unknown
© Mark McMullan | © Mark McMullan

Pimento is the Portugese term for chile peppers. They are many varieties. In general, these medium to large 2½ foot plants produce a relatively good yield of thick walled, heart shaped, elongated fruits that are up to 6" long, with a crisp, super sweet flavour. They mature from green to red and are superb for stuffing, roasting and salad toppings.