So you have a lovely crop of hot peppers thriving in the garden, but when do you pick them? There are several things to consider before you decide how and when to pick hot peppers.
Depending on the variety, how and when to pick peppers can vary. Hot peppers have different requirements than sweet peppers and the timing for harvest impacts the level of spice. Let's take a look at how to pick peppers for peak flavor and heat. Plus, some general vegetable harvesting tips that will help you pick the best hot peppers.
When to Pick Hot Peppers
Most peppers take at least 70 days from transplanting and another three to four weeks thereafter to reach maturity. Hot peppers often take longer.
Be sure that you know what type of pepper you have planted and then look up the days to maturity. If you have a plant tag or seed packet, the planting time should be there. If you're not sure which pepper variety you have, there are a few general guidelines to tell when they're ready for picking.
The days to maturity will give you a big clue as to when your hot pepper harvest will commence, but there are other clues as well. All peppers start out green and, as they mature, turn colors. Most hot peppers turn red when they are mature but they can also be eaten when raw. Hot peppers also get hotter as they mature.
Peppers can be eaten at most any stage of development, but if you want to be picking peppers that are as hot as they can get, wait on your hot pepper harvest until they are red.
How to Harvest Hot Peppers
As mentioned, you can begin picking peppers that are hot at almost any stage, just be sure that the fruit is firm. Peppers that remain on the plant past maturity can still be used if firm. Keep in mind that the more often you cut fruit, the more often the plant will bloom and produce.
When ready to begin harvesting hot peppers, cut the fruit from the plant with a sharp pruning shear or knife, leaving a bit of stem attached to the pepper. It’s generally recommended that you wear gloves when cutting fruit from the plant to avoid irritating your skin.
Peppers that have been harvested just as they begin to turn color will continue to ripen at room temp for three days. Those that are full sized can be eaten green.
How to Store Hot Peppers
Harvested hot peppers can be kept at 55 degrees F. (13 C.) for up to two weeks. Do not store them in temperatures that are cooler than 45 degrees F. (7 C.) or they will soften and shrivel. If your refrigerator isn’t set too cold, wash the peppers, dry them, and then store in a perforated plastic bag in the crisper.
If you find that you have a surfeit of peppers, too many to use quickly, try pickling them or freezing them either fresh and diced or roasted for later use.
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