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It is that time of year again. I pick six chilli varieties each season for us to grow together, same plant and same timing, so we can compare progress through the season. If you want a guided way into chilli growing and a community to share results with, grab a kit and grow along.
How I chose this year’s six
I usually start with 12 to 15 candidates and narrow them down based on how they grow, how they taste and how well the seeds germinate. This year I kept a handful of kits aside for Patreons and YouTube members for the first week, just in case we run out of stock!
What is in the 2026 Seed Kit
This year’s selection focuses on flavour, usefulness and a bit of fun. There is something for everyone: mild, medium, hot and completely insane. Below I run through each variety and why I chose it.
CC Fushimi
This is my selectively bred take on the Japanese Fushimi. About four or five years ago I noticed variegation in one of my Fushimi plants: “half-white leaves, crinkle textures and striped pods”. I have been breeding that out for consistency, keeping the beauty while making it more reliable.
The pods are mild and mostly sweet, brilliant in the kitchen. I use them fried or fresh in a stir fry, and they make an excellent filler inside hot sauce. It is one of those plants that is as beautiful as it is useful.
Kimchi pepper
If you love kimchi, you will love this. This is the pepper I use to make the Gochugaru, the red flakes that give kimchi its colour and flavour. I sourced these seeds from a grower in Korea and they dry to a rich, dark red with a truly incredible aroma when drying.
The pods are thin skinned and I dry them slowly to protect the colour and the seeds. The colour is perfect for proper kimchi flakes, and the heat is gentle enough to notice but not overpowering. That balance makes them ideal for kimchi, soups, stews and even sauces. I have already used them in a hot sauce that came out beautifully and I may share that recipe soon.
Chinesicher Runzelhout
The name is a mouthful and roughly means Chinese chilli in German, but it was an experiment that paid off. It turned out to be one of the earliest and most productive plants of the year. The pods are gnarly, crinkled and very attractive.
Heat is mild to medium, about a poblano level. It performed fantastically in my hydro setup and I will try it in soil next season. If you want an easy, early producer that reliably gives loads of pods, this is a really fun plant to grow.
Rocoto Manzano
If you have never grown a capsicum pubescens, this is a special one to try. Look out for black seeds and hairy leaves. The pods are thick and juicy, roughly golf ball size, and begin very sweet and succulent on the palate.
Do not be fooled by that initial sweetness because these rapidly climb to around 150,000 Scoville. They are particularly well suited to cooler climates, like the UK, because they keep producing late into autumn when other plants are fading. If you need a variety that extends your season, these will please you.
CC Chonky Cayenne
This is a new variety I have developed over roughly four years. It started when I noticed some KN plants producing shorter, fatter pods with the same flavour and heat but thicker walls and more flesh. I wanted more usable weight for sauce making, so I selectively bred for higher meat to seed ratio.
The result is the CC Chonky KN: same KN flavour, thicker juicier pods and far better yield for making sauces. It is very productive and performs well in cooler climates. I use KN a lot as a base in sauces, including in my Blazing Buffalo Extreme, and Chonky gives me much more usable flesh per pod.
MA Warthog
This one is for the heat freaks. The MA Warthog comes from Matthew Arthur’s project and is possibly the hottest thing I have ever eaten. It is not fully stable yet and my grow outs showed a lot of variation, but one red plant stood out as the healthiest, most productive and unquestionably the hottest.
I have saved seed from that red variety and that is what is in this year’s seed kit. I also had yellow and peach variants which I will be isolating and stabilising over the next few seasons. There will be a few packets of those variants on the Chili Chump Seeds website as they become available.
The plant itself is a beast. One plant produced four massive trays full of pods. As per the originator’s request, all profits from the warthog seeds will go to children’s charities. For 2026 I want to have some fun: let’s see who can grow the biggest MA Warthog. Tag me or send photos through my website and I will feature the best ones on the channel. If I can find a sponsor, there might even be a prize.
Where to get the Seed Kit
The ChilliChump Seed Kit 2026 is available now at chillichumpseeds.com. Quantities are limited but I have more stock this year than last year, so you should be able to get one. While you are on the site you will also find other seed varieties restocked, including old favourites and some brand new varieties I am excited about.
How to grow along with me
Order a kit, sow the seeds at the same time as me, and we can track progress through the season. Use the same plant choices and timing and share regular updates. Tag me on social or send photos through the website and I will show the best results.
Quick highlights
- CC Fushimi: mild, sweet, beautiful variegation and striped pods, great for frying and sauces.
- Kimchi pepper: thin-skinned, dries to perfect gochugaru colour, gentle heat, ideal for kimchi and sauces.
- Chinesicher Runzelhaut: early, prolific, mild-medium heat, excellent in hydro and soil.
- Rocoto Manzano: capsicum pubescens, hairy leaves, black seeds, sweet then extremely hot, great for cool climates.
- CC Chonky Cayenne: meatier KN pods, higher yield for sauce making, productive in cooler climates.
- MA Warthog: super hot, high variability but extremely productive, profits to children’s charities, grow contest for biggest pod.
FAQ
What is included in the ChilliChump Seed Kit 2026?
The kit contains seeds for six chilli varieties selected for the 2026 season: CC Fushimi, Kimchi pepper, Chinesicher Runzelhaut, Rocoto Manzano, CC Chonky Cayenne and the MA Warthog. It is designed so we can all grow the same plants and compare results.
Where can I buy the seed kit?
You can buy the kit at chillichumpseeds.com. There is more stock this year than last year but quantities remain limited.
Are the seeds suitable for cooler climates like the UK?
Yes. Several of the varieties, including Rocoto Manzano and CC Chonky Cayenne, are especially well suited to cooler climates and will keep producing late into autumn.
Is the MA Warthog safe to grow and eat?
The MA Warthog is a super hot chilli and should be treated with respect when handling and eating. The red variety included in the kit is the one I selected for heat and productivity.
Can I grow along with you and share my results?
Absolutely. Sow the kit at the same time as me, tag me or send photos through my website and I will share the best grows. There will be a friendly competition to grow the biggest MA Warthog this season.
Do you restock other seed varieties?
Yes, the online shop contains restocked favourites plus some new varieties. Check chillichumpseeds.com for the latest availability.
Final notes
This year’s seed kit is all about flavour, usefulness and fun. Whether you want mild chiles for cooking, peppers tailored for kimchi, meaty pods for sauce making, or a super hot challenge, there is something here for you. Grab your kit, grow along with me and let us see how the season unfolds.
Stay spicy!