Greetings Dan, I find habs do way better in pots than in the ground here in Ottawa. This gives you a big jump on the growing season, speeds growth in general, and may help build a hotter hab. A 12" pot can grow a huge chile plant, and you have the advantage of being able to keep a few over the winter for a head start next year (I pulled a dozen fully ripe habs off a second-year plant yesterday, the first ripe fruits came about 2-3 weeks ago). I find bigger pots (5 gallon buckets) grow many more leaves before fruiting (the plants are probably too comfy to bother flowering), whereas the 12 inchers start fruiting sooner and yield just as many peppers. good luck. -j