NuMex Twilight hot pepper BIO - Capsicum annuum

A colorful chili bush that is ornamental and packs a punch. NuMex Twilight is a late-ripening hot pepper variety with a compact, bushy habit and a height of about 60 cm. It produces a great many small fruits, 1–2 cm long, which change color as they ripen from purple to yellow, then orange, and finally red. The fruits are very hot – the producer rates them 9/10 – and retain their quality for a long time after drying.

At a glance

• Growth habit: bushy, compact, about 60 cm tall
• Fruits: small (1–2 cm), purple → yellow → orange → red
• Heat: very high, 9/10 on the producer's scale
• Sowing under cover: February – March
• Planting out: after May 15–20, in pots or under cover
• Harvest: July–October
• Position: full sun, warm, well-drained soil
• Difficulty: challenging – needs warmth and a long growing season
• Seeds per packet: 25

What makes this variety special

The variety's greatest asset is its ornamental appeal. As the fruits ripen gradually, several colors are visible on a single bush at the same time – from purple to red. The plant looks great in a pot on a patio or balcony and serves a dual purpose: ornamental and edible.

The small fruits have thin walls and dry easily, retaining their heat for a long time once dried. This is a late variety, with a growing cycle of about 140–180 days, so it's worth starting seedlings as early as possible within the recommended period and giving the plants the warmest spot available.

Growing step by step

Sowing (February – March, under cover): Sow the seeds 2–3 mm deep in a light, moist seed-starting mix. Keep the container at a steady 23–28 °C – hot peppers germinate more slowly than sweet peppers, usually within 8–15 days, so a heat mat is useful. Keep the mix slightly moist, and once the seedlings emerge, give them as much light as possible, ideally with supplemental lighting, to prevent them from becoming leggy.

Pricking out: When the seedlings have developed 3–4 true leaves, transplant them individually into pots 8–10 cm in diameter, keeping them warm. Harden off the seedlings for the last 7–10 days before planting out by placing them outside for a few hours each day.

Planting out (after May 15–20): Plant the seedlings in a greenhouse, polytunnel, or the warmest, wind-sheltered spot in the garden, spacing them about 50 × 50 cm apart. The soil should be fertile, well-drained, and enriched with compost. For container growing, choose a pot with a capacity of at least 5–10 l.

Care: Water regularly and moderately, preferably in the morning and without wetting the leaves – both letting the soil dry out and keeping it constantly wet will reduce fruiting. Feed the plants with an organic fertilizer high in potassium while the fruits are setting. Thanks to its compact habit, the plant usually needs no support. At the end of the season, you can move the pot to a bright, warm room so the last fruits can ripen.

Uses

NuMex Twilight is primarily an ornamental pepper for pots on a balcony or patio. The fruits are entirely edible, though: use them sparingly in hot sauces, marinades, and Asian dishes. They are also well suited to drying whole and for flavoring oil or vinegar.

Gardener's tip

About the producer

The seeds are from Semailles – a small-scale Belgian producer of organic seeds based in the province of Namur in Wallonia. Semailles offers only open-pollinated varieties (no F1 hybrids), including many traditional and collector's varieties. Some seeds are propagated in its own fields, while others are produced in collaboration with organic growers in Belgium and France. All batches are certified organic (inspection code BE-BIO-01).

Specifications