Peppers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. It may be difficult to determine exactly when they’re ready to be plucked. Find out how to tell when peppers are ripe and ready to pick! We’ll talk about everything we know about pepper harvesting so you can be sure of your harvest!
One of the most exciting parts of growing peppers is harvesting those ripe, colorful fruits fresh from your garden. But it can be tricky to know exactly when your peppers are at their peak for picking. Follow these tips to identify when different pepper varieties are fully ready for harvesting so you can enjoy the best flavor and quality.
Look for Color Change
The most obvious sign that peppers are ready for harvesting is a change in color from green to their full ripe hue
- Bell peppers turn red, orange, yellow, or brown when ripe.
- Hot peppers like jalapeños and serranos turn red.
- Habanero peppers change from green to orange or red.
- Banana and wax peppers transition to yellow.
- Purple varieties like Black Pearl darken to a deep purple/black.
Check your pepper variety’s seed packet or plant tag to know what color to look for. The skin will appear smooth and glossy when ripe.
Monitor Pepper Size
Another indicator peppers are ready for picking is their size.
- Bell peppers are typically ready to harvest when they reach about 3-4 inches long.
- Banana peppers grow to 5-6 inches.
- Jalapeños should be 2-3 inches long.
of course, the size can vary a bit depending on the specific cultivar Just watch for them to fill out to their expected mature dimensions and pick them once they stop actively growing
Feel for Firmness
Mature peppers will feel firm and solid when you gently squeeze them. Their skin will be taut and smooth with a slight yield. Avoid picking peppers that still feel small and hard – they need more time to properly fill out.
The fruits shouldn’t have mushy spots or wrinkled skin, which indicates overripe produce. Ripe peppers will feel heavy for their size too, due to higher moisture content.
Watch Days to Maturity
Most pepper seed packets provide the “days to maturity” number, which tells you roughly how long they’ll take to harvest from transplanting or seeding.
Here are the averages, though weather and other conditions can affect timing:
- Sweet bell peppers: 60-90 days
- Banana peppers: 60-70 days
- Jalapeños: 65-80 days
- Poblanos: 65-85 days
- Habaneros: 80-90 days
Mark your calendar when planting and watch for ripe peppers as you approach that timeframe. The maturity timeline gives you a helpful harvest guide.
Identify Dead Flowers
Pepper plants self-pollinate, so the flowers fade and fall off as the fruit develops. When you notice dried up, dead blooms at the end of the pepper, it means pollination occurred successfully. That’s a great sign the pepper is nearing maturity.
Check the Stem & Shoulders
Some pepper varieties develops a brownish or corky appearance on the stem end as they ripen. The pepper’s shoulders may also broaden and square off when the fruit is fully mature.
Consider Weather Changes
Cooler night temperatures and less water often help peppers ripen more fully. If you notice color change and taste improvement after a cold spell or drought, it’s a clue some of your green peppers are ready for harvest.
Taste Test
When in doubt about a pepper’s readiness, sample it! A ripe pepper will taste mild and sweet rather than bitter. Just be sure to properly ID hot varieties before biting into them.
I like to harvest one early pepper and let another size up for comparison. You can definitely taste the difference.
Watch for Issues
Sometimes plants indicate a pepper should be picked early through signs of damage. Harvest right away if you notice:
- Holes from insect feeding
- Sunscald
- Cracks or soft spots
- Wilting or dying on the vine
The unaffected parts of the pepper will still be usable if you pick promptly at the first sign of trouble.
Best Practices for Picking Peppers
Once you confirm your peppers are ripe and ready, use these tips for harvesting:
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Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to clip peppers off. Never yank or tug fruits.
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Try to leave some stem attached to peppers you plan on storing.
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Handle delicate fruits like habaneros carefully to avoid bruising.
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Pick peppers dry to avoid spreading diseases. Either wait for morning dew to dry or pick after rain.
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Check plants daily once peppers start maturing since they ripen over several weeks.
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Clean up and remove rotting peppers, which redirects energy to healthy fruit.
With the right harvest timing, you’ll enjoy maximum pepper flavor, nutrition, and productivity from your plants. Pay close attention to signs of ripeness and you’ll soon stockpile a bumper crop of delicious peppers.
Storing & Using Freshly Picked Peppers
Enjoy peppers straight from the vine or follow these tips for storing your harvested bounty:
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Leave unwashed peppers whole and store in the crisper drawer of your fridge for up to 2 weeks.
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Place peppers in perforated plastic bags with a dry paper towel to absorb moisture.
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Wash, core, seed, and slice peppers before freezing for longer storage.
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Pickle pepper rings or finely dice peppers to can as salsa for year-round enjoyment.
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Smoke-dry hot pepper varieties like jalapeños and chipotles.
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Blister and peel peppers to freeze for easily adding to recipes later.
With proper post-harvest handling, your homegrown peppers will grace dishes and meals for months to come. Get ready to pick your pepper patch!
When To Pick Bell Peppers
One of the most common types of pepper grown is the bell pepper, which can be hard to tell when to harvest. This is because many people prefer to eat bell peppers when they are green (before changing colors).
The fact is, green bell peppers are not fully ripened. You are welcome to pick them early, but sweet red bell peppers will be better if you wait a few more weeks. There are also other color varieties (orange, yellow, purple). Green bell peppers ready for harvest. Green bell peppers after picking.
The bottom line: Pick bell peppers when they stop growing larger, or ideally, wait for them to turn red! We prefer the vibrant color and sweet flavor of a red bell pepper. They are also full of vitamin A (beta carotene)!
When To Pick Peppers (Harvesting By Variety)
To make harvesting peppers easier, we have put together some examples of the most common peppers. If you are growing a different variety, just follow the basic principles of harvesting peppers:
- Changing color
- Growth stops
- Softening flesh
- Easily picked from stem
- Corking (on some varieties)
Following these guidelines will help you feel confident when picking any pepper variety.
Note: If you want to save pepper seeds, you should wait until the peppers are fully grown and turn color. Another benefit of allowing your pods to ripen, the seeds become viable for next year!.
Here are some more details on when to harvest for the most popular pepper varieties.
Harvesting Peppers – When To Pick Peppers (Jalapenos, Bell, Banana, Ghost & More)
FAQ
How do I know if my peppers are ready to harvest?
How long can you leave peppers on the plant?
Can you pick a pepper too early?
How do you know if a pepper plant is ready to pick?
Each type of pepper plant offers unique signs of maturity. For example, jalapeños develop small cracks near the stem, indicating they’re ready for picking. Banana peppers turn a pale yellow, and from there, they can be harvested anytime over the coming weeks. Temperature and season greatly influence when your peppers reach their peak.
How do I know if my chili peppers are ripe?
Another factor to consider when determining if your chili peppers are ripe and ready to harvest is their size and overall appearance. As chili peppers ripen, they will typically reach their full size, which can vary depending on the variety. Familiarize yourself with the expected size of your chili plants to better understand when they’re ripe.
When should you pick peppers?
Depending on your preferences, you can harvest peppers when they’re fully ripe and colorful or pick peppers while they’re still green. If you enjoy cooking with color, try picking some peppers when they’re green and allow the rest to mature fully. This will provide you with more pepper color variety for your recipes.
How long should a pepper be before harvesting?
Once the fruits have reached that size, give them another week or two and then harvest. Jalapeños are often picked when they’re about 3 to 4 inches long, while a bigger pepper like a poblano will be about 3 to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. Don’t expect homegrown peppers to be quite as large as the ones you see at the grocery store.
How big should a pepper be when ripe?
Of course, you must first know what the typical size and color of your pepper should be. For instance, cayenne peppers will usually be 4 to 6 inches and red when ripe. Green bell peppers should be 3 to 5 inches in diameter and a deep green color. Jalapeno peppers should be 3 to 5 inches long and a deep dark green.
When do peppers ripen?
Depending on which pepper variety you’re growing, you’re looking at 70 to 150+ days before you pick your first peppers, and that’s under ideal growing conditions. Individual peppers will ripen on the same plant at different times. You want to pick peppers as soon as they’re ripe so that your plant will keep growing more peppers for you.