Chilli ID

[sparrow100]

This might be a wild goose chase without being able to taste it, but I was wondering if you could help. This chilli came from a 2012 £land selection marked habanero, but to me it doesn't look like one. What does it look like to you?

The chillies get some corking after turning red, and they are HOT, similar to the lemon drops I grow and hotter than the jalapenos, with a lovely fruity taste. Usually the chillies are a bit bigger, but I completely neglected it this year, no feed, very little watering.

It's now nearly 4 years old - and has been isolated on the balcony this year for seed just in case I can't get it through another winter.

[vixylix]

they look like jalapenos to me! I however, am no expert, and was under the impression its tricky to get jalapenos to turn red (if they are you may be on to a winner!)

I'm sure a chilli expert will know for definite - but I have a book at home, I'll have a look through the pictures and see if anything looks similer and report back!

[skeggijon]

Habanero come in so many shapes and sizes. It's difficult to tell, but if its really hot it could be Finger Clip, but also looks similar to Tiger Teeth or maybe Zavory.

[Elfeda]

why don't you try taking cuttings like you did for tomato's!

[sparrow100]

Habanero come in so many shapes and sizes. It's difficult to tell, but if its really hot it could be Finger Clip, but also looks similar to Tiger Teeth or maybe Zavory.

Cheers skeggijon, good to know that habs can look like this, most of the pictures I've seen show wrinkly fruit.

Elfeda, I've got 18 chillies on that plant and I know the seeds will come true. Cuts down on the space needed. I've only got one sunny windowsill.

[skeggijon]

Most of the habanero varieties are wrinkly, but there are a few smooth ones too

[Elfeda]

you overwintering it now, so I mean to say take cuttings come spring and grow more plants during the season ..

[Scarlet]

Have you cut the plant back? It looks very small. Most habanero plants grow very large after its 1st year. Usually two foot or more. I kept one for 3 years and it was over 5ft tall( I had to get rid of it so my Christmas tree could fit in )

[sparrow100]

I cut it back quite a bit in spring this year and put it into a larger pot, then completely neglected it. It's been on a north-facing balcony since April, so I don't think it's done that badly. It's nearly 2ft tall now, though most of its energy has gone into growing sideways.

[Chris11]

It does look like a Jalapeno type.
Can you say any more about it's taste and heat?

[sparrow100]

Yes it does - and given that they were in a £land selection I suspect they could easily be mis-labelled. Though the chillies are really hot. One will do a big pot of bean chilli for 6-8 people and make it quite pokey. I'd have to use a few jalapenos for the same result.

Given what Scarlet says about size, if it survives winter it's going into the greenhouse in a big bucket with some food to see if I can grow it BIG.

[Elfeda]

More soil and nutrients should give you bigger chilli. you can even try propagating a cutting and let it grow in direct soil to see the difference. I guess it can perform better in the sunny spot at the allotment , if no much space in the green house ?

aldi,poundland,tesco they all sell their chilli plants with a standard name based on its heat level may be. because I bought caayane from aldi. they are very short and not that comapct in thinkness and shape wise also.