Purple UFO

Description

Few chilies carry this many colours at once. Purple UFO sets small, squat, lobed pods of around 3–5 cm with a broad, ribbed shoulder, which is where the flying-saucer name comes from. They start out deep purple and finish red, passing through cream, yellow, orange and pink on the way, often with several shades on a single pod. Even the flesh inside keeps a purple tint.

The flowers are purple too, so a plant in full crop is an ornamental in its own right, but the pods are worth eating. The flavour is fruity and slightly sweet, but the heat is hotter than the looks suggest, at least on par with a cayenne. They make colourful pickles and add both colour and bite to salsas and salads.

Left to itself the plant can grow tall, but it is easy to keep compact by pinching the tips and keeping it in a 5–10 litre pot. Grown that way it suits a sunny windowsill, balcony or greenhouse shelf, and it keeps cropping over a long season.

Some chilies are worth tasting before you grow them. → Explore the Vault

Each pack contains approximately 8–10 or more seeds per variety.
Seeds are packaged in a certified EU seed packaging facility in accordance with applicable regulations.

Categories: Chili Seeds , C. annuum , Medium , Hot , Bonsai , Easy to grow , Ornamental