Harvesting Peppers (2024)

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October 1, 2021

Harvesting Peppers:

How do you know when peppers are ready to be picked?

It depends on the pepper, it's good to look at the average harvest time of the pepper you are growing. Next, look at the color, most peppers go through a color change as they ripen. Many peppers turn from green to red, or other colors such as darker or light green, yellow, orange, and chocolate.

Read up on the variety you are growing to make sure you pick them ata good ripened stage. For example, our Easter Peppers start out in lavender and ripen to light yellow, maturing to a light orange. Green Chile such as Hatch Chiles start out green, and most will eventually ripen to red, though often they are picked when ripe but still green. Some varieties are meant to be picked red, and some are meant to be picked green. Red chile is usually dried (thinkRistras) and often used to make red chile powder to make chile dishes all year long. Green chile is most often roasted, peeled and de-seeded to use foreverything from green chile stew to pizza and burgers. Bell Peppersstart out green and some are picked when ripe but still green, while others are allowed to stay longer on the plant to ripen to yellow or red. There are also Purple Bell Peppers that start out light green then change to white and then ripen to develop purple stripes that cover the whole fruit, eventually turning a brilliant purple. The purple skin contrasts beautifully with its lime green flesh.

When to Pick Peppers
Still not sure if your peppers are ripe? Our advice is to pick one and taste it, if it tastes “green” wait a few days or a week or two and try again until they taste more flavorful. Read more....

Does picking peppers make more grow?

Yes, picking peppers off your pepper plants will keepthem producing more pods. We also like to pinch off the first blossoms on pepper seedlings to ensure that they put more energy into growing so they produce more pods later.

Should I use Pruners to Harvest Peppers?
While ripened pods may come up with a gentle tug, that is not always the case, so we like to use pruners to snip them off to be more gentle with the plants rather than yanking them off.

Learn more about How to Prune Pepper Plants for Maximum Yield »

Do peppers regrow after harvest?

While peppers are typically grown as annuals by most gardeners who have winters, they are actually perennials and can live for many years if in a frost-free climate or greenhouse. If you harvest your peppers and have warm weather ahead, they will rebloom and produce more pods over time. Read aboutHow Long do Pepper Plants Live »

What month do you harvest peppers?

This depends on where you live, you can harvest peppers from a greenhouse or in the tropics year-round. In areas with winters, we typically start pepper seeds indoors in February/March/April, and transplant outside in the spring after all chance of frost has passed. Then, we start harvesting peppers in June/July/August, depending on the variety. Some peppers, like Super Hot Peppers, can take a long growing season to produce, for example, the Carolina Reaper can take 90+ days to harvest, and the Ghost Pepper can take up to 110+ days! Want faster growing peppers? Grow our Short Season Peppers so that you can harvest peppers faster!

What do you do with hot peppers after harvesting?

Enjoy them right away! Roast them, cook them, ferment them, pickle them, or just chop and use raw in all sorts of pepper recipes. Or, to store, place peppers in a sealed reusable container and put them in your refrigerator vegetable drawer, storing them at 40-45˚F. Don't wash before storing, as they could rot faster if washed.

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As an avid gardener with years of experience cultivating various pepper varieties and other vegetables, I'm well-versed in the nuances of harvesting peppers and maximizing their yield. I've grown different types of peppers, from Bell Peppers to hot varieties like Ghost Peppers and Carolina Reapers, understanding their growth patterns, ideal harvest times, and post-harvest care.

The article "Harvesting Peppers: How do you know when peppers are ready to be picked?" delves into crucial aspects of pepper cultivation. It highlights the factors determining pepper ripeness, emphasizing the significance of color changes in identifying readiness for harvest. Peppers typically transition from green to red, although they may adopt shades of yellow, orange, and even chocolate as they mature. This color transformation is a vital indicator, but understanding specific varieties is equally essential. For instance, Easter Peppers start as lavender and progress to light yellow and then a light orange hue.

The article stresses the importance of knowing the ideal ripening stage for each pepper variety. While some, like Green Chiles, are picked green and left to ripen to red, others are intended for harvest when fully red. It also touches upon the impact of picking peppers on continued growth, advocating for the removal of initial blossoms on seedlings to encourage enhanced pod production later.

Additionally, it addresses queries such as the use of pruners for harvesting, the regrowth potential of pepper plants after harvest, and the variable harvesting times based on climate and pepper type. Notably, the article provides insights into the longevity of pepper plants in frost-free climates and the extended harvesting periods in warmer regions or greenhouses.

Finally, the article concludes with suggestions on utilizing harvested hot peppers, recommending immediate consumption, various culinary preparations, and proper storage techniques for preservation.

The mentioned blog also offers diverse content, covering topics ranging from gardening gifts, seed promotions, and recipes using harvested peppers like the Pasilla Mole Recipe.

To summarize, the concepts covered in the article include:

Pepper ripeness indicators based on color changes.
Understanding specific varieties' ripening stages.
Impact of harvesting on continued plant productivity.
Techniques for gentle pepper harvest using pruners.
Pepper plants' regrowth potential after harvest.
Seasonal harvesting timelines based on climate.
Post-harvest handling and storage of hot peppers.

This comprehensive knowledge aids in fostering successful pepper cultivation, ensuring optimal harvest times and utilization of the bounty in various culinary creations.