Purple chile pequin - when to harvest?

TexasTycoon · September 26, 2017

We're growing our first purple chile pequin plant in a patio box in our backyard. I'm pretty sure they're ready to harvest, but I wanted to be sure. What do you think? I'm planning to dry them in the oven and make powder. Would purple work for this or should I let them turn red?

dmforcier · September 26, 2017

I'd wait until they ripen. Better flavor. But picking immature might also mean fewer/smaller seeds. Nice looking plant.

TexasTycoon · September 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmforcier

I'd wait until they ripen. Better flavor. But picking immature might also mean fewer/smaller seeds. Nice looking plant.

So they're not ripe when purple? They were light yellow first, most have now turned purple.

Worth1 · September 26, 2017

If they ripen purple they shouldn't turn red.
Worth

TexasTycoon · September 26, 2017

I have no idea what they're supposed to do. They were on clearance at HEB with just a sticker that said "purple chile pequin", not even a stake with care instructions or anything.

Worth1 · September 26, 2017

Well I would say they are ready.
mine go from green to red.

dmforcier · September 27, 2017

Whether they're purple on the shelves is no indicator of ripeness. After all, the jalapeños in your store are green, no? All the purple peppers I've seen - even Black Pearl - ripen to red. Your question was "Would purple work for this or should I let them turn red?"

As I said, I'd wait, but that's only a preference. You might try some now, and wait on some to try later. IMO, you want them ripe for powder, unless you want purple powder, which could be a thing. So your call.

TexasTycoon · September 27, 2017

Maybe I'll harvest at purple for this batch, and red for the next batch, that way I can compare the two.

zipcode · September 27, 2017

I don't think there are peppers that ripen purple (maybe some on the surface like the antho tomatoes). Would be interesting to see if they keep the purple when dry (probably not quite same taste when dried immature though).

lexxluthor · October 24, 2017

Really pretty pepper.

guruofgardens · October 25, 2017

Pretty purple, but the better flavor is in the ripe red ones.

Good idea to try both colors for the flavor you like.

September 26, 2017	#2
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	I'd wait until they ripen. Better flavor. But picking immature might also mean fewer/smaller seeds. Nice looking plant. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

September 26, 2017	#5
TexasTycoon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Round Rock, TX, Zone 8b Posts: 1,157	I have no idea what they're supposed to do. They were on clearance at HEB with just a sticker that said "purple chile pequin", not even a stake with care instructions or anything. __________________ -Kelly "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn Bloom where you are planted.

September 27, 2017	#7
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	Whether they're purple on the shelves is no indicator of ripeness. After all, the jalapeños in your store are green, no? All the purple peppers I've seen - even Black Pearl - ripen to red. Your question was "Would purple work for this or should I let them turn red?" As I said, I'd wait, but that's only a preference. You might try some now, and wait on some to try later. IMO, you want them ripe for powder, unless you want purple powder, which could be a thing. So your call. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

September 27, 2017	#8
TexasTycoon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Round Rock, TX, Zone 8b Posts: 1,157	Maybe I'll harvest at purple for this batch, and red for the next batch, that way I can compare the two. __________________ -Kelly "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn Bloom where you are planted.

September 27, 2017	#9
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	I don't think there are peppers that ripen purple (maybe some on the surface like the antho tomatoes). Would be interesting to see if they keep the purple when dry (probably not quite same taste when dried immature though). Last edited by zipcode; September 27, 2017 at 04:53 AM.

September 26, 2017	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	If they ripen purple they shouldn't turn red. Worth

October 24, 2017	#10
lexxluthor Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: New York Posts: 156	Really pretty pepper.

October 25, 2017	#11
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	Pretty purple, but the better flavor is in the ripe red ones. Good idea to try both colors for the flavor you like.