bitter green bell peppers

Nematode · May 20, 2015

Last couple years my jalapenos and red peppers were great, but green bells were horribly bitter, any idea what can cause that?

Thanks
Nematode

Worth1 · May 20, 2015

Maybe picked too soon.

Worth

Labradors2 · May 20, 2015

I had the same thing with my bell peppers last year. The green ones were awful and I couldn't eat them. They were better when red, but still not great. I grew California Wonder and Shepherd if that makes any difference.

Anxiously awaiting any answers to this question.

Linda

Stvrob · May 20, 2015

I never developed a taste for unripe peppers, to me they all taste bitter. Main reason I grow my own is so I can enjoy them ripe.

Redbaron · May 20, 2015

The microclimate of Bell peppers is critical. They need humidity.

Keiththibodeaux · May 20, 2015

yep, let them ripen.

Darren Abbey · May 20, 2015

There really isn't a "green" bell pepper variety. They're just picked unripe. That said, there will be differences in flavor based on variety and environmental conditions (like amount of water).

clkeiper · May 20, 2015

Green bell peppers are unripe. I won't eat them... they are bitter.

sdzejachok · May 21, 2015

I've never had a really bitter pepper, but a farmer told me to make sure they are mature enough before picking, otherwise they are bitter. A chef told me to remove all ribs plus the top and bottom of the pepper, and you know what, food made with them tastes a lot better that way. You didn't spray them with anything, right? That could make them bitter.

Misfit · May 21, 2015

Red bell peppers (to me) are the sweetest, and taste even better when roasted with a little olive oil and seasoning.

-Jimmy

Nematode · May 21, 2015

Thanks everyone.
Thought I was growing them wrong. I'll concentrate on red ripe from now on.

jmsieglaff · May 21, 2015

When I pick green peppers before frost comes in the fall I notice the peppers under a certain size are bitter, and throw those out, but the ones that are larger and closer to maturity do have a more juicy, sweet taste (not as sweet as mature (red or other color) pepper).

Tormato · May 22, 2015

Permagreen stays green when ripe. Sand Hill Preservation has it in their 2015 catalog.

hoefarmer · May 22, 2015

Try FlavorBurst Hybrid. Light green color is sweet. Turns yellow when ripe. Everyone I know that tasted it in the green stage liked it. Totally tomatoes carries it.

shelleybean · May 22, 2015

My husband thinks all green peppers are bitter. To me, they're cheap enough to buy on the few occasions that I want one. I allow all the peppers I grow to turn red, yellow or orange because they cost so much at the store. 99 cents for green vs 3.99 a pound for the ripe peppers. The bells sometimes have that fungus inside so I don't even grow those anymore. I like the smaller pimento types and the sweet frying peppers.

May 20, 2015	#1
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	bitter green bell peppers Last couple years my jalapenos and red peppers were great, but green bells were horribly bitter, any idea what can cause that? Thanks Nematode

May 20, 2015	#5
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	The microclimate of Bell peppers is critical. They need humidity. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

May 20, 2015	#7
Darren Abbey Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 586	There really isn't a "green" bell pepper variety. They're just picked unripe. That said, there will be differences in flavor based on variety and environmental conditions (like amount of water). __________________ http://the-biologist-is-in.blogspot.com

May 20, 2015	#8
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Green bell peppers are unripe. I won't eat them... they are bitter. __________________ carolyn k

May 22, 2015	#14
hoefarmer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 110	bitter bell peppers Try FlavorBurst Hybrid. Light green color is sweet. Turns yellow when ripe. Everyone I know that tasted it in the green stage liked it. Totally tomatoes carries it.

May 20, 2015	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Maybe picked too soon. Worth

May 20, 2015	#3
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,898	I had the same thing with my bell peppers last year. The green ones were awful and I couldn't eat them. They were better when red, but still not great. I grew California Wonder and Shepherd if that makes any difference. Anxiously awaiting any answers to this question. Linda

May 20, 2015	#4
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	I never developed a taste for unripe peppers, to me they all taste bitter. Main reason I grow my own is so I can enjoy them ripe.

May 20, 2015	#6
Keiththibodeaux Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 587	yep, let them ripen.

May 21, 2015	#9
sdzejachok Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 98	I've never had a really bitter pepper, but a farmer told me to make sure they are mature enough before picking, otherwise they are bitter. A chef told me to remove all ribs plus the top and bottom of the pepper, and you know what, food made with them tastes a lot better that way. You didn't spray them with anything, right? That could make them bitter.

May 21, 2015	#10
Misfit Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Baltimore Posts: 165	Red bell peppers (to me) are the sweetest, and taste even better when roasted with a little olive oil and seasoning. -Jimmy

May 21, 2015	#12
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	When I pick green peppers before frost comes in the fall I notice the peppers under a certain size are bitter, and throw those out, but the ones that are larger and closer to maturity do have a more juicy, sweet taste (not as sweet as mature (red or other color) pepper).

May 22, 2015	#13
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Permagreen stays green when ripe. Sand Hill Preservation has it in their 2015 catalog.

May 22, 2015	#15
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	My husband thinks all green peppers are bitter. To me, they're cheap enough to buy on the few occasions that I want one. I allow all the peppers I grow to turn red, yellow or orange because they cost so much at the store. 99 cents for green vs 3.99 a pound for the ripe peppers. The bells sometimes have that fungus inside so I don't even grow those anymore. I like the smaller pimento types and the sweet frying peppers. __________________ Michele