New Dartmoor Chilli Farm Condiments!

Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s brand is proving very popular with a lot of our customers, not only because of the integrity of the farm itself but also for the innovativeness of its chilli produce.

We couldn’t wait to get our hands on Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Chilli Rapeseed Oil. Rapeseed oil is making a huge comeback these days, not only because of its virtuous influence on the digestive system and as an aid to weight loss but also because of its extraordinary flavour.

This cold pressed extra virgin Rapeseed oil is from Fussells of Somerset (as seen on Dragon’s Den) with a mixture of Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s 2010 crop of chillies which have been dried using natural methods thus fully preserving their potency and aroma. We absolutely love this tasty oil drizzled over a nice salad or when preparing a quick stir-fry and also often use it in pasta or to roast vegetables.

The fantastic Red Fruit Chilli Vinegar from Dartmoor Chilli Farm is made with their own fresh chillies, raspberries, redcurrants and strawberries. It is exceptional used in dressings, as a marinade or basting sauce for meats, or simply used on its own in salads or poached fruits. We have tried it warm over new potatoes and also love it as a simple fruit coulis to liven up bland desserts.

Along with these two new chilli products, Dartmoor Chilli Farm has a wonderful Salad Dressing and of course many chilli chutneys, marmalades, chocolates, hot sauces and chilli jams available!

New Dartmoor Chilli Farm Marmalades!

Dartmoor Chilli Farm is keen to stand out from the crowd and offering a wide range of chilli products using only the best ingredients. Most of their stock is also suitable for vegans, which makes them very appealing to a lot of our customers. We already hold many of their marmalades but we couldn’t resist getting another two sorts as soon as they became available:

Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s Vodka and Lime Chilli Marmalade is intriguing from the start. We believe that our breakfast and afternoon tea will never be the same after tasting this. The taste of vodka is just there in the background while the refreshing and tangy (but not bitter) lime invades your whole mouth! We can’t get enough of it, especially when spread on toast or fresh scone and accompanied by a good cup of tea or strong coffee.

Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s Gin and Lemon Chilli Marmalade is something different altogether. Depending on when or what you have it with, it either tastes like a really well crafted accompaniment to your food or your favourite cocktail! The slight bitterness from the gin is compensated by the tanginess of the lemon while the mild warmth from the chillies complements the whole blend with only one purpose: bliss!

So if you haven’t tried any marmalade from Dartmoor Chilli Farm yet, please have a look at all that the Devil’s Garden has got to offer as they are all wonderfully tasty!

Greenhouse Sensations SolarGrow

We mentioned earlier that the Devil’s Garden now provides a wide range of chilli seeds, either popular or rare ones but when it comes to planting, people have various ways of producing good crops.

We had been using the traditional method for years when we came across Greenhouse Sensations who provide quality hydroponics that are suitable for the avid grower as much as the amateur living in the city with only a window box as a space for planting.

The SolarGrow is by far the most efficient way of growing chillies and other vegetables, especially tomatoes. Our first year brought us a crop of more than 250 cherry tomatoes from just one plant! The chillies this year have done very well and we have been able to fit 4 types of chilli plants in one SolarGrow. But what I hear you say is SolarGrow exactly?

Well it is a large self-watering planter which uses a soil-less growing method (which means you and your floor are actually kept clean!) and can be used indoors or outdoors. A solar powered pump delivers the perfect mix of water and nutrients helping the plants to grow strongly and quickly.

The SolarGrow comes complete with everything you need i.e a planter, solar panel, clay pebbles, capillary cubes and one season’s supply of specially formulated plant nutrients.

For only a small investmanet you could own a great tool to help you grow whatever takes your fancy and always get great results for the years to come!

Greenhouse Sensations WindowGrow

Now think for a moment about all the tools and unnecessary impulse buys you have ever gotten from a garden centre on the spur of the moment… We are the first culprits and have countless items that are gathering dust in the shed. Our discovery of Greenhouse Sensations WindowGrow radically changed our buying habits though.

WindowGrow is a revolutionary window box and propagator in one which means that even if you live on the top floor of a skyscraper you can still manage to have a great crop of chillies, vegetables, garden herbs or simply flowers.

The Windowgrow is proving so popular because it overcomes all the pesky problems associated with traditional windowsill growing. The clever SmartMats keep your plants watered for up to two weeks and prevents over watering and under watering, whilst the drip-proof design means it can be used indoors or outdoors.

We absolutely love it and always go back to it despite the other alternatives that are available to us at The Devil’s Garden. We have had very good feedback from customers who have never tried growing plants before and have obtained really good results and even experienced gardeners have told us that their plants are healthier and harvests are heavier.

So for a small outlay you can be sure of getting a useful tool that will last you years and also have your own edible garden growing right there on your window sill!

Rare Chilli Seeds - Part 3

Also known as Ciliega Piccante or Baccio de Satana, this Southern Italian pepper's name translates roughly to 'little cherry', but is more commonly known here as Satan's Kiss. This is a gorgeous and sturdy plant to grow, producing 2cm round fruits turning from dark green to silky red. The chilli pepper itself is rather hot when eaten raw but looses quite a lot of its pungency when cooked. These are traditionally stuffed with anchovies and mozzarella then grilled but we prefer eating them raw stuffed with feta or Parma ham.

The Santa Fe Grande chilli pepper originates from the south of the United States and is notorious for its delicious fresh-tasting sweet flesh and fairly mild pungency. The Santa Fe Grande chilli plant is quite sturdy and grows to 25 inches tall, with fruits about 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, going from a pale yellow colour to bright orange and a fiery red when mature. There are many ways to use the Santa Fe Grande in cooking but we love having it chopped up and sprinkled on pizza, pickled during winter or smothered in cream cheese before grilling.

The Georgia Flame chilli pepper originates from the Republic of Georgia, hence its name, and is widely used by cooks thanks to its crunchy flesh and mild spicy taste. The plant generally grows up to 24 inches tall and generates heavy yields of long peppers that have few seeds and maximum flavour. The Georgia Flame chilli peppers mature from a deep green to an iridescent red in approximately 90 days. We have used it countless times in salsas or grilled stuffed with tomato rice, feta or cream cheese.

The Serrano Tampiqueno is commonly used in Mexican cuisine as it has a truly unique flavour and a good medium heat that works well with all kinds of recipes. The plants are rather large and produce 2 inch thin walled slender fruits that start green and go through a whole range of colours before settling on a glossy tantalising red. This chilli pepper is a great variety to dry or pickle and use up in winter and is excellent in quick recipes rather than slow cooked stews.

So there you go! Remember, if you are not sure what to choose in regards to chilli seeds we are always here to help and provide advice. Have a good 2011 crop!

Rare Chilli Seeds - Part 2

Making a choice between all the types of chillies out there is sometime tough, at The Devil's Garden we have endeavored to give you a wide range of chilli seeds for you to experiment with amongst which are the following:

The heart-shaped pod of the Ancho Grande is about three to six inches long and about two to three inches wide with a mild to medium heat although there are some unpredictable ones that pack up a punch. When young the fruit is of a vibrant dark green colour which matures into a glowing red. One of our favourite ways of having them is to puree the chillies in a food processor and add the paste to mayonnaise or tomato sauce for a delicious and delicately spicy pick me up!

The Numex Big Jim is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the producer of the largest Chile pods ever grown, with specimens in excess of a foot long (12 inches) not unknown. Although the plants are vigorous and grow relatively easily, their size is actually quite small in comparison to the gigantic pods they produce. You can be sure of getting a good crop every time with the NuMex Big Jim as up to 30 pods may grow on a single plant, which ripen from green to deep red approximately 100 days after transplanting seedlings.

True to its name, The Bulgarian Carrot chilli plant with attractive white flowers produces baby carrot like hot pods up to 10cm in length and is ideally suited to grow in pots thanks to the bright orange fruits appearing in heavy clusters close to the stem. Also known as 'Shipkas' this charming heirloom was supposedly smuggled out through the iron curtain 20 years ago. The Bulgarian Carrot holds its ground heat wise and goes from green to yellow and then to a gorgeous glossy orange when at full maturity, approximately 80 days after transplanting.

Originating from South America, the Bishop’s Crown’s plant grows 3 to 4 feet tall and usually produces 30 to 50 pods of an interesting shape with 3 or 4 flat wings, hence its name of “Bishop’s Crown”. This plant needs to be started early as it is longer than the average chilli plant to mature but the reward is definitely worth it. The Bishop’s Crown when fully mature (7 cm) is of a gorgeous red, with a sweet and mild flesh, the heat being stored in the actual seeds and membranes of the fruit.

A beautiful plant to grow, the Black Hungarian is a variety that is much loved, not only because of its ornamental qualities but also because its shiny black fruits are very flavoursome (red when mature) and just above a sweet pepper in terms of heat. The plant itself is quite sturdy with beautiful purple veins and attractive dark flowers. It usually grows up to 40’’ tall, quickly producing good crops of chillies that are ideal to use in every day cooking.

The Fatalii chilli pepper might not be as famous as its hananero cousin but it is phenomenal in its own right. Its heat is extreme and its pungent citrusy flavour marries itself particularly well to many types of cuisine. The plant originally comes from Central Africa and grows up to 30’’ tall, generally producing a good crop of fruits that turn from green to golden yellow when mature.

Rare Chilli Seeds – Part 1

Most people have heard of chilli peppers such as Habaneros, Jalapenos or Cayenne. But how about growing rarer but equally fantastic chilli peppers? At the Devil’s Garden we have a great selection of chilli seeds for you to choose from:

The spicy and sweet Hungarian Yellow Wax is famous for its amazing yields. The smooth and waxy yellow chilli peppers are 5 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide with a sweet flesh which tapers to a blunt tip. Delightful to the eye, these prolific chillies are great for stuffing and pickling but we just love them as they are in a nice salad or with chicken.

The fresno plant with attractive white flowers produces heavy crops of 2-3 inches long conical fruits which can be used green or when ripening to red. Fresno Chilli Peppers are similar to jalapenos but a tad less meaty and with a thinner skin and a medium heat that makes them ideal for various types of salsas. Drying or reducing to powder is not recommended though.

The Anaheim chilli pepper plant grows up to 10 inches long and 2 inches wide. Anaheim peppers are very popular in Mexican cuisine and are at their best harvested during summer when still green although they are also lovely when fully ripe and red. It’s a great chilli to have for making a fresh salsa but is also commonly used roasted in the oven stuffed with cheese or fried.

The NuMex Joe E Parker chilli pepper is similar to its Anaheim cousin, with thicker walls, more flesh and generally longer bodied. The Joe E Parker turns from green to red quickly and is so prolific that Mexicans use it to make decorative wreaths. In terms of flavour, the NuMex Joe E Parker chilli pepper is deeply satisfying, with a thick, crisp and fresh texture and is great used in salads or sprinkled on your meal just after serving.

The Red Cherry chilli pepper as you can imagine is called as such due to their striking resemblance to the actual fruit. But don’t go thinking that they are above suspicion! Although quite sweet these chilli peppers really pack a punch! They are not great dried because of their thick flesh but are absolutely fantastic pickled or chopped up and served with sandwiches and salads. The plant itself produces numerous pods over a season with a harvest roughly 80 days after potting on.

Scotch Bonnet Chilli Seeds

Scotch bonnet, also known as Boabs Bonnet, Scotty Bons or Bonney peppers, is a variety of chili pepper that belongs to the same species as the habanero. A cultivar of the habanero, it is one of the hottest peppers in the world. Found mainly in the Caribbean islands and also in Guyana and the Maldives Islands, it is named for its resemblance to a Tam o'shanter hat. The Devil’s Garden has got seeds of two species for you to grow:

The Scotch Bonnet Orange is known for its mushroom shaped thin-walled pod, pungent heat and peculiar flavour. Each chilli of this particular species measures 2.5 to 4 cm long by 2.50 to 3 cm wide and matures from a lovely pale green to bright orange. Originating from Jamaica, these chilli peppers are late to mature (September) but are so worth the wait! We absolutely love making olive oil or dressings with scotch bonnets and we think they are at their best when eaten raw rather than cooked but it’s up to you decide once you’ve harvested them!

The fiery red Scotch Bonnet is most loved in the chilli world, not only for its heat reaching 300,000 SHU but also because of its incredible flavour and versatility. This variety of Scotch Bonnets is spherical and matures from pale green to bright red. It is a really fantastic chilli pepper to use in salsas and sauces, especially tomato based ones.

If you want to get an idea of the incredible flavour of this chilli pepper then why not try Chilli Pepper Pete’s Just Scotch Bonnets? Chilli Queen’s Brown Sauce with Scotch Bonnets is also out of this world while Dave’s Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce is a real winner! Cambridge Chilli Farm has also managed to create a heavenly Sweet Chilli Hot Sauce which will make you want to explore the delights of exotic cuisine!

Habanero Chilli Seeds

The habanero chili pepper is originally from Cuba (hence the name Habanero, which means 'from Havana') and was later introduced by the Cubans to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. While Mexico is the largest consumer of this spicy ingredient, its flavor and aroma have become increasingly popular all over the world.

The habanero's heat, its fruity, citrus-like flavor, and its floral aroma have made it a popular ingredient in hot sauces and spicy foods. In some cases, particularly in Mexico, habaneros are placed in tequila or mezcal bottles for a period ranging from several days, to several weeks, to make a spiced version of the drink. The Devil’s Garden has got the seeds of four gorgeous varieties for you to grow:

The Habanero White is said to originate from Peru hence its full title of “Peruvian White Lightning” Habanero pepper. This lovely and rare variety produces lantern shaped peppers with creamy white skin and, despite their rather minute size, are over 300,000 on the Scoville scale! In terms of flavour these white habaneros are known for their incredible aroma and work very well in fruity sauces or on their own, either raw or cooked.

The Red Habanero Chili, also called the Caribbean Red is famous for its potency with pods reaching 445,000 SHU. The particular fruity flavour of this habanero means it is widely utilised to make many different kinds of hot sauces, salsas and marinades although it is of also wonderful used in cooking. The plant yielding habanero red chilli peppers is very productive and grows up to 36’’ tall. Over watering will produce bitter tasting peppers so only water the plant when dry.

Although slower to germinate than other varieties, the lantern-shaped Habanero Orange chilli pepper is well worth the wait and a very prolific plant if kept in warm conditions. Not as hot as the Chocolate Habanero, the orange version is still pretty hot and can reach up to 350,000 SHU. We really love using it in Indian and Jamaican cuisine either chopped up in a quick dish or slowly cooked all day long.

The Habanero Chocolate is probably one of the most known chilli pepper of the habanero family, not only because of its incredible fruity and smoky flavour but also because its SHU rating usually averages 500,000! Also known as the “Congo Black”, the pods from this heavy yielding plant are about 2’’ wide and ripen from emerald green to an enticing chocolate brown. This chilli pepper is mainly used to make Jamaican Jerk Sauce but it is also great used in pretty much any dish that takes your fancy, especially if you like it hot hot hot!

Jalapeno Chilli Seeds

The jalapeno is a medium sized chili pepper named after Xalapa, Veracruz, where it was traditionally cultivated. The growing period is usually between 70 and 80 days with plants standing two and a half to three feet tall. A plant will generally produce 25 to 35 pods and can be picked multiple times, making it a favourite amongst growers.

The peppers can be eaten green or red and are good in many types of cooking, pickled or simply sliced on top of pizza. At the Devil’s Garden we have three kinds of Jalapeno Chilli Seeds for you to choose from:

The Jalapeno Purple is a beautiful ornamental plant producing bulled-shaped jalapenos that are usually larger than the average green version, with a medium heat and are excellent used in salads or fresh salsas. The plant itself is very productive, especially if benefiting from direct sunlight, with bright multi-coloured leaves that go from dark purple to deep green with a veined effect. The peppers will eventually turn red at full maturity but the flavour is better when purple still.

Jalapeno Early Chilli Peppers are very popular due to their excellent flavour and mild heat. From only one Jalapeno Early plant you should get around 30 bullet shaped pods going from dark forest green to brilliant scarlet red. The Jalapeno Early is such a vigorous plant that you should get a continuous crop over a few weeks. The peppers can be eaten either green or red and are perfect used on nachos, pizzas, fresh or pickled.

The Tam Jalapeno is great for kids to cultivate as these chilli peppers are relatively mild so children can have the satisfaction of seeing their plant grow and eat the fruit as a reward afterwards! This chilli pepper is a derivative of the traditional Jalapeno but is milder although still packed with flavour. The pod turns red when fully ripe but it is better to consume it when still green and goes with pretty much anything!

Although not the spiciest chilli out there the Jalapeno chilli plant is easy to grow with a fruit that is extremely versatile and mild enough for everybody to enjoy!

The Devil’s Garden Chilli Seeds are here!

January is the best time to dust ourselves off and get back into the thick of things, especially after the overindulging of the festive season.

And what better to do than to start preparing your own crop of fresh chillies? Have a look at the hydroponics in our “grow your own” section where you can see what’s best to suit your needs even if you live in a top floor flat.

We have added lots of new chilli seeds that range from mild to wild and can’t wait to hear how your crop is going. Each year we usually grow a combination of indoor plants such as the Bulgarian Carrot or Serrano Tampiqueno and outdoor or greenhouse plants such as Habanero (red, orange or white), Jalapeno (Tam, Early or Purple) or the much loved Scotch Bonnet (Red or Orange).

We have lots of various rarer species such as Anaheim, Bishop’s Crown, Fatalii, Red Cherry, Satan’s Kiss and many more that can be used in everyday cooking or simply eaten on their own. The Georgia Flame or NuMex Big Jim are ideal for those who like stuffed peppers while the Pasilla Bajio and Ancho Grande are great to flavour sauces.

Whatever you go for, you can be sure of getting quality chilli seeds from The Devil’s Garden as all our seeds come from a DEFRA registered source.

You will also definitely get your money’s worth as all chilli seeds are delivered for free in the UK! So trowels at the ready and let’s get planting!

Happy New Year to all Chilli Heads

Another year, another opportunity to discover what the chilli world has got to offer, whether you are just starting up or are already an advanced chilli head!

The Devil’s Garden has got lots more chilli chutneys, mustards, relishes, salsas, chocolates, jellies, spicy snacks and of course devilish hot sauces in store for you and we cannot wait for everybody to have a go and sample the best of what the UK and US produce.

For now and with everybody recovering from Christmas and New Year, we advise you to have a look at our “Grow your own” section where you can see what hydroponics are all about. They are a great and easy way to get a few plants going even if you are a novice and/or are limited with space. Now is the time to start your chilli crop for this year so why not treat yourself to a few of the rarest and most popular chilli plants like Jalapeno Purple or Habanero Orange (free UK delivery on all chilli seeds!)

We are always looking for more input and recommendations from our customers so please do not hesitate and give us some feedback about our website or service by emailing us as info@thedevilsgarden.co.uk

May 2011 bring you lots of chilli goodness!