just to add to the discussion, chilli seems to be very popular in Portugal.
Now i am a bit of a newbie to chilli, i use it occasionally in cooking but just buy it from supermarkets. i find the lack of consistency very annoying and would love to grow my own (preferably in a pot). Does anyine one have any advice on species and how to go about it in melb?
Chilli grows fine in pots and in Melbourne. So long as your soil is roughly 20-30deg (ie: plant now).
Some of the specialised nurseries sell seedlings of various varieties, but there's usually no botanical name, so you dont know what you are getting! Like you said, no consistency. But, you will get orange habs (habanero), birds eyes and most of the common ones.
I generally go from seed, but it's just so hit-and-miss. At least as a reptile owner you'll probably have a heat mat around to use to regulate temps. I bought some seeds from a chick on Ebay at one stage and had limited success, got some locally and they just fired.
I try to look for chillis I havent eaten before, and colour/shape is important too. Obviously growing the hottest chilli is appealing (it is to me!), but I love the difference in flavours.
If you are growing in pots, I'm guessing you're in a unit/townhouse? Chillis would have to be, handsdown, the most beautiful ornamental plants you could grow. Red, yellow, purple, black, white...
This isnt a bad link
http://www.ringoffire.net/default.jsp Mostly American and a bit over the top, but it's got a lot of info. If you're interested in people with seeds, let me know and I'll forward on some details.
Nothing like getting dinner on and holding this tiny fruit in your hands, a scotch bonnet or an hab, something you grew...
knowing whats coming
My mouth waters just thinking about it....