Chili Pequin

• Fruit size: up to 3 inches
• Matures: 80 days

Derived from the Spanish word for tiny, this little pointed pepper is small on size, but big on heat. One of the hottest peppers available, it is used for extra-pungent dishes. A wild ancestor of domesticated chiles, this needs a long warm season for good production. It is perennial in mild climates. The compact plants are a great choice for containers. In the colder areas, some gardeners grow them in pots to hold them indoors through winter. Fruits grow erect from the top of the stems and are quite ornamental. Set transplants about 18 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart.