Q about hot peppers that haven't turned red yet

habitat_gardener · October 11, 2009

1-- Do hot peppers need to turn red for the seeds to be mature? Or can I save seeds from any pepper that's a good size?

2 -- I plan to dry most of the hot peppers and use them as a condiment. I'm used to seeing red pepper flakes, and I'm wondering if it'd be worth drying the not-yet-red peppers. Is there any reason not to dry the green ones?

3 -- How long should I wait before harvesting whatever's left on the plants? Usually we don't get a freeze until the first week of December, but it took until this week to get the first red one. Nighttime temperatures are heading into the 40s. And a big rainstorm is coming on Monday.

October 11, 2009	#1
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Q about hot peppers that haven't turned red yet 1-- Do hot peppers need to turn red for the seeds to be mature? Or can I save seeds from any pepper that's a good size? 2 -- I plan to dry most of the hot peppers and use them as a condiment. I'm used to seeing red pepper flakes, and I'm wondering if it'd be worth drying the not-yet-red peppers. Is there any reason not to dry the green ones? 3 -- How long should I wait before harvesting whatever's left on the plants? Usually we don't get a freeze until the first week of December, but it took until this week to get the first red one. Nighttime temperatures are heading into the 40s. And a big rainstorm is coming on Monday.