Are the peppers in your garden ripe yet? Peppers come in many shapes and sizes and in a wide array of varieties. From the every day green bell pepper to the spicy hot habenero pepper and all the other peppers in between, knowing the signs of ripeness ensures they can be enjoyed to the fullest.
General rules for determining if a pepper is ripe
The first thing to consider is the seed packet or plant information that came with the plants when purchased at the nursery. These will include details like approximate size of mature pepper, color and an estimate of the number of days to maturity. In general peppers are ready to pick 75-90 days from planting, although this will vary slightly based upon weather conditions and the variety being grown.
Signs that sweet bell peppers are ripe
Bell peppers are ready to pick as soon as they are full size - ususally 3.5 to 4 inches and firm to the touch. However, if you planted a variety other than green, you'll want to wait until the pepper has turned the expected color. Sweet bell pepper varieties include reds, yellows, purples, whites and even a chocolate brown color. Keep a close eye on the colored peppers though. Once they start to turn color they complete the job rather quickly.
To encourage the plants to continue producing as many peppers as possible, pick the peppers when they are large enough to pick early in the season. The plant can then set more fruit to let ripen fully a bit later in the season.
Signs that other types of peppers are mature enough to pick
Banana peppers are 6 to 8 inches long when fully developed and they will change in color from the pale yellow to darker yellow, then orange and finally red. They can be picked and eaten anytime once they've reached their mature size, however, many people prefer to let them turn red for better flavor. This is a good one to experiment with. Pick them at various stages to decide how they taste best. Banana peppers can be either sweet or hot and they look pretty much the same. If you've forgotten which you planted take a look at how they are growing. Hot banana peppers grow up and sweet banana peppers grow down.
Cayenne peppers grow to about six inches long and just 1.25 inches in diameter. They have a very strong flavor, even when they're small.
Cherry peppers are so named because their shape and appearance when ripe resembles a tree cherry. They are a sweet mildish pepper that turns a bright red and is usually one to two inches in diameter when fully grown - about the size of a cherry tomato.
Chillies are 5 to 8 inches long and 1.5 to 2 inches wide and taper to a point. The flavor ranges from mild and sweet to moderate hot when they are red and fully mature. The pepper can be picked when it's large, thick-walled and glossy.
Habanero peppers typically turn orange or red when fully mature. They are 1 to 2.5 inches long and get hotter as they mature to their final orange or red color.
Jalapeno peppers can be picked as soon as they are a deep green about 3 inches long. Jalepenos are most crisp when they are green, but they are also very mild. While ripening, jalepenos go from green, to dark green and then start turning red. When fully mature they are red and have a sweet/hot flavor.
Poblano peppers are a larger pepper variety - about 4 inches long and 2.5 inches wide and very dark green until fully mature they turn reddish-brown in color and get sweeter.
Serrano peppers have thin walls and will ripen to red, orange, yellow or brown when ripe. They can be used green or fully ripe.
How to harvest peppers
Use a knife or garden clippers to remove peppers from the plant to prevent any damage to the plant. You'll also want to consider protecting your hands when picking hot peppers. The oils can irritate sensitive skin and you'll also want to be sure to wash your hands before touching your face or your eyes so any residual pepper oil doesn't burn your eyes.
You'll also want to make sure to harvest peppers when the plants are dry to avoid inadvertently spreading disease. This is important to remember even if you can't see any signs of disease.
For more info: This is one in a series of articles to help new and seasoned gardeners alike know if the fruits and vegetables growing in their gardens and landscapes are ready to pick and enjoy. Links to more articles are listed below and more are being added regularly.
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