I grew a few plants one year and got a few pods. I'd been told that it doesn't grow here in northern Calif. (cool dry summers, with nights in the 50s or rarely, and in a warm year, 60s), so I had to try it. I also saw a very happy and productive plant at the master gardener demo garden, which is warmer than my site and not windy, and they watered theirs a lot more. They grew a red variety from Seeds of Change, probably Red Velvet:
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_...tem_no=PS15999
So it depends on your microclimate and how much attention you're willing to give it.
Sandhill says the variety Emerald "yields well (even in the north)."