hot pepper still green

Chenango · September 30, 2012

I have a lot a of portuguese Piri Piri hot peppers that are still green and the growing season is over here in Montreal, Canada. We might get freezing temperature during the night soon and it's too cool during the day for the little peppers to continue to grow and turn red like they are suppose to do.

Is there a way to get them to mature ?

Thanks in advance for your inputs

Redbaron · September 30, 2012

If they are close you could try the banana trick. But it doesn't always work on peppers. Just put them in a bag with a ripening banana. The problem I always had with trying to ripen Peppers is they seen to get soft and wrinkly. So ripening them means I only can use them for drying. Since it is your last batch you could try pulling them up by the roots and hanging the plant upside down in a garage or barn. I have done that before. Then simply pull off the dried up peppers that have the color you want. Last option is build a frame and cover it with plastic and a tiny electric space heater with a thermostat. The extra heat might coax a few to ripen.

Edit: When all else fails...Salsa Verde!

bitterwort · September 30, 2012

If it's just one or two plants, you might consider digging them up carefully and bringing them in the house, if you have a sunny window.

Chenango · October 3, 2012

Thanks guys,

I think I will enroot the plants and hang them in my garage for a while. Next year I will start my Piri Piri seedlings a month earlier to give them enough time to ripen.

Chenango

September 30, 2012	#1
Chenango Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 36	hot pepper still green I have a lot a of portuguese Piri Piri hot peppers that are still green and the growing season is over here in Montreal, Canada. We might get freezing temperature during the night soon and it's too cool during the day for the little peppers to continue to grow and turn red like they are suppose to do. Is there a way to get them to mature ? Thanks in advance for your inputs

September 30, 2012	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	If they are close you could try the banana trick. But it doesn't always work on peppers. Just put them in a bag with a ripening banana. The problem I always had with trying to ripen Peppers is they seen to get soft and wrinkly. So ripening them means I only can use them for drying. Since it is your last batch you could try pulling them up by the roots and hanging the plant upside down in a garage or barn. I have done that before. Then simply pull off the dried up peppers that have the color you want. Last option is build a frame and cover it with plastic and a tiny electric space heater with a thermostat. The extra heat might coax a few to ripen. Edit: When all else fails...Salsa Verde! __________________ 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

September 30, 2012	#3
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 292	If it's just one or two plants, you might consider digging them up carefully and bringing them in the house, if you have a sunny window. __________________ Bitterwort

October 3, 2012	#4
Chenango Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 36	Thanks guys, I think I will enroot the plants and hang them in my garage for a while. Next year I will start my Piri Piri seedlings a month earlier to give them enough time to ripen. Chenango