What Kinds of Peppers to Plant for Dried Red Chili Flakes

• Make your own red chile pepper flakes for spices that are fresh and inexpensive. Jim Franco/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Red chili flakes are made from just one kind of pepper--the red chili pepper, which give an extreme amount of heat and spice when cooking. To prep, wash your peppers and dry them. Cut into long strips and remove any seeds. Place strips on a cookie sheet into a preheated oven set at 200 degrees Fahrenheit and allow to roast for six hours. You'll know the peppers are ready when they appear dry and brittle.

Chili Pepper Varieties

• Many chili pepper varieties exist. All are good choices to plant for your own chili flakes. Experiment with different varieties or choose peppers according to the seed packet's information indicating how spicy they are.

  Some varieties of the red chili pepper include: Santa Fe Grande, Anaheim, Poblano, Ancho and Aji.

Grow Your Red Chili Peppers

• Red chili peppers like hot weather and sun and light watering. Temperatures in the 70s to 80s are ideal. However, transplanting should be done during cool weather to avoid shock or wilting.

Make Your Dried Flakes

• Roast your peppers in the oven at a low temperature, 200 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, for at least six hours. Cool on a rack and blend in a food processor for a few pulses. The fewer the pulses, the larger the flakes will be. One pound of peppers will equal about a half a cup of fresh flakes.