I Always start seeds indoors in december actually, only way to get peppers to ripen here in the tundra of Norway. I Basicly have my plants longer inside than they are outside considering the short season ;)
I think Anders might be right. My earliest to ripen is alway the cayennesque Buena Mulata . The sweet but slightly spicy paprika spice varieties are also very early, my favorite of the latter is sweet kalocsai.