How to grow chillies

An essential guide to growing these colourful fruits in your garden or in pots on windowsills

Experts' favourite chilli varieties

Jason Nickels, of South Devon Chilli Farm, recommends Capsicum ‘Bolivian Rainbow’. “It starts a yellowish colour, then turns purple, orange and red, so looks amazing with fruits at different stages on the same plant. It is a manageable size for a house plant and is a hot cooking chilli.”

Jekka McVicar, of Jekka’s Herb Farm, recommends Capsicum ‘Cyklon’. “This is one of the hotter varieties. It is excellent for drying, so great for using through the winter. Another variety I like is C. ‘Chenzo’; this produces masses of fruit which start green when small, change to black then, when they are fully ripe, turn bright red. The flavour is mid-range on the fieriness scale, which makes it versatile in the kitchen.”

Sarah Wain, of West Dean Gardens, recommends Capsicum ‘Numex Twilight’. “It is a variety I like because of its strong upright growing habit and prolific, different-coloured fruits. I also like C. ‘Hungarian Wax’, a “banana” chilli that ripens from lime green through yellow, orange then red. It is easy to grow; the fruits are 5-8cm long and can be stuffed and roasted.”

Chosen by House to home

Housetohome's guide to growing chillies in your home garden