Valentine’s Day is on its way again and what a perfect time to buy your loved one or loved friend some chilli seeds or a chilli gift set to warm their cockles.

There is a chilli out there for everyone, big ones, small ones, long ones, short ones, low heat up to very hot heat. Valentines Day is the perfect time to choose your perfect chilli pepper depending on how hot you like the spice.

When can I Sow Chilli Peppers in the UK?

Chilli peppers can be sown from January to April in the UK. However for a chilli pepper seed to germinate it will need 20 to 25 degree heat, so you will need to put the seed in potting compost in a seed tray or cell in a heated propagator or in the airing cupboard for some heat.

Chilli seeds take up to 28 days to germinate, when the seedlings have developed 4 leaves, pot them on to a small pot and continue growing in a cooler environment. When they have become small plants, pot into the final large container or raised bed and put in a sunny location.

What Chilli Pepper Varieties are there in the UK?

There are quite a large variety of chilli peppers in the UK, here are a few chosen Valentine’s related chilli peppers to spice up your life.

Satan’s Kiss – Chilli Pepper – Low Rating

A heirloom variety from Italy. The chilli peppers are small round and up to a gold ball in size. They are red in colour. This chilli plant can grow up to a metre tall so will need staking. It is a very reliable variety with a sweet flavour. Low Heat Rating: 50,000 Sc.

Seed Suppliers: Not widely available. Smaller seed companies will have this variety. Why not try and buy from Chilli’s on the Web via Amazon here.

Basket of Fire F1 – Chilli Pepper – Medium Rating

This is a British bred chilli which is a small bush, perfect for containers or hanging baskets. The chillis are small but perfect in all different shades of red, purple, orange. Medium Rating – 80,000 Sc.

It also has been awarded an RHS Garden of Merit award which means it has been trialled in back gardens and is a reliable plant.

Seed suppliers: Available widely from a lot of the major and smaller seed companies. Try buying from Premier Seeds Direct via Amazon here.

Bhut Jolokia Red – Chilli Pepper – V. Hot Rating

This is a fiery chilli pepper, it was in the Worlds Guinness book of records for officially being the worlds hottest chilli between 2007-2011. Plants grow to almost a metre high and the chilli’s go through a colour change from green, then orange to red. These need a little longer germinating, it can be up to 40 days long.

Warning it has a scoville rating of 1,001,304.

Seed suppliers: A select few sell this variety. Please click here to buy from Premier Seeds Direct via Amazon.

Valentine Day Alternative Gifts for Growers

Hot Pepper & Sweet Chilli Set

This is a complete grow kit which contains 3 different types of hot chilli peppers and 3 different types of sweet pepper. The kit contains:

• Hot chilli seed varieties: Chilli Peach Habanero, Chilli de Cayenne & Chilli Pepper Jalapeno (Approx 20 seeds of each)
• Sweet pepper seed varieties: Sweet Pepper Corno di Toro Rosso, Sweet Pepper Etiuda & Sweet Pepper California Wonder (Approx 20 seeds of each)
• 6 growing pots, peat pots and plant markers.
• Sowing and growing tips.

Buy this brilliant Valentine’s Day gift for a grower now via Amazon affiliate link here.

Chilli Shaped Planter

A great novelty window sill planter shaped like a chilli. Perfect for someone who loves growing chillis. Buy from Hayes Garden World

South Devon Chilli Farm – Extreme Chilli Gift Selection in a Hamper

Contains 4 of the South Devon Chilli Farm’s extremely hottest products including a chilli sauce, chilli paste, chilli jam and chilli chocolates. This extreme chilli gift selection is not for the faint hearted. Still in Stock at the time of writing, find out more here – South Devon Chilli Farm.

Wiltshire Chilli Farm – Chilli Lover Gift Sets

Big flavours packed into chilli jam or sauce sets with different levels of heat. Browse their chilli gift set range here.

Chilli Sauce Making Kit

This kit is a brilliant idea, it includes all the chillis you will need to make your own very hot chilli sauce. This kit includes 6 different types of hot chilli’s, a receipt book, metal sieve and cider vinegar. Buy now through Amazon affiliate link here.

I’m saving the best one until last…..

The Chilli Lover’s Cheese Gift Box

I think this is such a clever idea, mixing chilli with cheese is genius. This gift box from the Chuckling Cheese company, contains: Mexican Sweet Chilli and Flamin’ Heart extra hot truckles, Lymn Bank Hot & Spicy and Hot & Garlic barrels, and a jar of sweet but spicy reaper’s revenge chilli jam. Click here to buy this amazing gift box via Amazon link.

Enjoy a fiery Valentines Day!