I haven't had a deep dive in chilis (or paprika) yet. I've got a bit of experience, but my knowledge is still lacking.
This is why I'm asking you chili/ pepper nerds out there to fill my knowledge gaps :)
I've noticed that, of course, not only the fruits look and taste different.
The vegetative growth type is different too. The leaves are different sized/ shaped, some plants are compact bushes, some others are tall and leggy.
Just look at those. Thai chili (Capsicum annuum) left, Habañero (C. chinense) right. I topped them both at least once a while ago to initiate more node formation if that information helps.
That doesn't wonder me much at all, since they're different species.
On the plant label, same supplier and same label, it was said that one has a high, and the other a moderate water need for example.
My question is now: do different varieties (species, hybrids and breeds) have different needs in general? Light level, temperature, water usage, pruning, and so on?
Is there something I have to keep in mind when I look at the lineage of each? They probably come from different habitats after all, how does that translate to gardening conditions? Or, do I just treat them all the same?
How about overwintering? At the end of the season, I'd like to put them at an unheated greenhouse. It shouldn't freeze there I guess, but it will be really really cold. Like, just a bit above freezing. Would they survive in there? Pro: very bright, cold temps inhibit growth Con: could sometimes be very cold.
Or would a dark corridor at roughly room temperature be better? Pro: relatively warm Con: warm temperature and lack of light wouldn't stop growth and it might die a slow painful death due to lack of energy.
Should they get pruned before?
I'm no expert, but I have some experience growing chillies over the years. Whenever I've grown them it's been a selection of seedlings from the nursery, or at best a single young plant. Sometimes I grew them in pots, but these days I'm using beds. Currently I'm at the tail end of our growing season with two different varieties (a birds eye and a Thai) sharing a raised bed with some spring onions and rhubarb.
Every time I've grown chilli I've found that they start slow, then explode in size, then fruit. I always end up with more than I can eat. I'd go as far as to say that they seem to thrive on neglect. I don't top them, rarely feed them, and they just keep performing. I certainly don't treat different types differently. My beds are currently a mix of old clay soil, compost, some ash from the fire, with some granular fertilizer and topped with a straw mulch. I harvest 20 or so per week and leave the rest. I generally get 3 or more months worth this way. My planting notes for this batch say I planted these in December, and started harvesting in March. Both plants are still going strong and loaded with fruit in varied stages of ripeness. I am expecting a few more weeks yet.
I've never really tried to keep them going over winter, as we get fairly severe frosts here. We're already getting nights below freezing, but so far, so good. The plants get good sun in the morning and middle of the day, but by mid afternoon they're in shade.
Hope that helps.