Peppers come in many colors; green, yellow, orange, red and even purple, but when is the best time to pick them? Will they ripen after you harvest them? If they ripen indoors are they as good as vine ripened ones? Let’s have a close look.
Key Takeaways
- Peppers can be picked before they are fully ripe.
- Peppers will continue to ripen once they are picked if they are picked at the right maturity stage.
- Fully ripe peppers are not the hottest ones.
What is a Ripe Pepper?
A common definition that most people would accept is, a ripe pepper is a fruit that has reached its peak in terms of flavor, color, and texture. The ripeness of a pepper affects its taste, nutritional value, and overall quality.
The problem with this definition is that it looks at it from a humans point of view and is based mostly on what we like to eat. A botanical definition is quite different. In botany a fruit is ripe when the seeds are developed to a point where they can germinate. This is also the point in development when the plant stops providing nourishment to the fruit.
Stages of Maturation (Ripeness)
A pepper fruit goes through these stages of development.
- Immature stage- the pepper is green and has not reached its full size yet.
- Mature green stage – the pepper is still green but has reached its maximum size.
- Breaker stage – the green pepper is starting to show some color. In the case of yellow and orange peppers this is a yellow coloration. In the case of red and purple ones, it can be a yellow or a darker chocolate color.
- Fully mature stage – the pepper has reached its maximum coloration
The fruit color can vary as it goes from green to full color. The green coloration decreases as chlorophyll levels drop resulting in a yellow coloration. Orange and red carotenoids increase at the same time. If chlorophyll level drops quickly the fruit goes through a yellow stage. If chlorophyll drops more slowly and the production of red pigmentation happens more quickly, the fruit takes on a dark chocolate color before going red.
When is Pepper Seed Mature?
Understanding how the seed matures is important for seed collection as well as understanding when you can pick the fruit.
About 50% of the seed is viable at the matured green stage. This reaches 100% by the time the final coloration starts to show. The dry weight of seeds and seedling vigor continues to increase until the fruit is fully ripe.
Fruits and seeds are botanically mature at the breaker stage and can be harvested at that time. Seeds continue to develop past this stage and have the best quality when the fruit is fully ripe. It is therefore best to harvest seeds from fully ripe fruit that matured on the vine.
Do Peppers Ripen After Being Picked?
The following is taken from Food Science for Gardeners:
Fruits are classified as either climacteric or non-climacteric. Climacteric fruit continues to ripen after harvest, provided that harvesting is not done too early. Climacteric fruit can be left at room temperature until it is perfectly ripe, and then it can be stored in the fridge. Non-climacteric fruit does not continue to ripen once it is harvested, so it needs to stay on the plant until it is fully ripe.
Traditionally, peppers have been classified as non-climacteric, however, some hot pepper cultivars are climacteric. After more testing it appears that peppers fall somewhere between the extremes. Call them semi-climacteric.
Sweet bell peppers show semi-climacteric characteristics. Color change progressed from green to red in both attached and detached fruit during ripening. In attached fruit, the green color is present longer and then the fruit turns red quickly. Detached fruit begins to change color more quickly.
Provided peppers are picked at or after the breaker stage, they will fully ripen off the plant. Ripening is accelerated by exposure to ethylene gas inside the pepper but external sources of ethylene gas have limited effect on ripening.
Do Peppers Need Sunlight to Ripen?
It is a common belief that peppers need exposure to sun to ripen properly indoors, but that is a myth. Light has no effect on ripening. The same is true for tomatoes.
When Should You Pick Green Peppers?
Green peppers taste best when they have reached their full size. Common advice is to harvest before they change color, but you don’t really know when that is until it is too late. You are also told to pick at peak size and firmness, but again this is hard to know in advance. And each fruit on a bush is a bit different.
Peppers that are harvested too early are too bitter and have a tough skin.
Here is what I do. I wait until I see the first hint of a color change. At this point they still taste like a green pepper. I also look for a glossy appearance. Immature peppers tend to have a dull, matte color.
Producing the Hottest Peppers
The most critical step in getting hot peppers is to select cultivars that are hot. Green bell peppers will never be hot no matter what you do.
Now that you have selected a hot variety – when should it be picked for maximum heat?
Common advice is “to leave them on the plant as long as possible before harvesting. Fully mature peppers are much spicier “
That is a myth. Each variety of pepper is a bit different, but once they pass the breaker stage they start to produce capsaicinoids (hot chemicals), including capsaicin . The amount of these increases until the fruit reaches about half its full color. After that the amount of capsaicinoids drops for a while and then increases again at full color. A fully ripe pepper is usually less hot than one that has started to color.
If you are interested in growing hot peppers there are several things you can do. See Growing Hot Peppers – What Makes Them Hotter?
Which Color is More Nutritious?
Color does not affect the macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate) or fiber. There are some differences in vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient levels but the differences are not large enough to select one over the other.
According to the USDA Nutrient Database, “green peppers contain 80 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams (about 3 ounces), whereas yellow peppers contain 184 milligrams per 100 grams”. This sounds like a big difference but since the required daily amount is 75-90 milligrams per day, either provides a good level of vitamin C and excess is expelled in the urine.
Red peppers have more beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A) than yellow peppers but green peppers have more lutein and zeaxanthin. Each color has some benefits over the other, but none is significantly superior. Eat a variety of colors.
Is it true that seeds are the spiciest part of a pepper? Close – but not quite! Actually, the white “pith” called placenta is the hottest part. If you want to reduce the spiciness of a dish, try scraping this part off of the outer walls before using.
How to Harvest Peppers
Selecting the Right Time
Harvesting peppers at the right time is crucial for ensuring optimal flavor and texture. The timing of the harvest largely depends on the variety of pepper and its intended use. For green peppers, this means they should be firm and fully grown. For colored peppers, it’s best to wait until they show some color change. Then harvest and ripen inside.
One advantage of picking earlier is that there is less chance of critters taking a bit out of them.
Using the Proper Tools
The pepper stem is quite thick so it is best to cut them off with sharp scissors or garden shears. Avoid using a knife or pulling peppers off by hand, as this can injure both the fruit and the plant. Gently cut the stem about 1-2 inches above the pepper, leaving a short stem attached to the fruit.
Handling Peppers Carefully
Once harvested, handle peppers with care to prevent bruising or damage. Place the peppers in a basket or container that provides enough space to avoid crowding. Do not stack peppers too high, as this can cause them to press against each other and become bruised.
Timing and Frequency of Harvest
Peppers should be checked regularly, especially as they approach their expected harvest time. Picking peppers frequently encourages the plant to produce more fruit and ensures that you catch them at their best stage of ripeness.
Post-Harvest Care
After harvesting, store peppers in a cool, dry place. They can be kept at room temperature until they reach the ripeness you desire and then store in the refrigerator. For longer storage, consider freezing or canning peppers to preserve their flavor and nutritional content.
Very useful and timely! Thank you.
Would like a legend for the graph.
It does have a legend. See the research for more details
Love all sorts of peppers. Reds are sweeter than greens.