Chilli peppers, Capsicum annum longum group, are grown for their fiery heat. This is caused by the alkaloid capsaicin, which is measured in Scoville Units. Most chilli peppers, even though they seem to have a hot bite, have only about 6000 units, compared to 'Habanero' which has an astonishing 200,000 units. Chillies are grown in the same way as sweet peppers but the fruit can be picked at any stage, when the colour is green or red.
Capsicum annum 'Apache' is a dwarf chilli pepper, ideal for growing in pots on windowsills. It bears masses of medium-sized, hot chillies in a variety of colours from yellow to red. Chillies measure up to 75,000 on the Scoville Scale. For the hottest chillies, grow 'Apache' in full sun and water sparingly.
