harvesting jalapeno

[TightenUp]

whats the best way to know when a jalapeno is ready to be picked?

is it when you get the small cracks? mine also have some black coloring to them.

i'm going to let some get red but i also want some green ones

[COMPOSTER]

Small cracks or webbing is an excellent indicator that jalepeno's are ready to be picked. However, some of the hybrids have bred that quality out. Also, as long as the pepper has achieved a decent size and feels very firm it is ready. If you wait until they turn red they aquire a different sweeter kind of taste than if you pick green. Also if you wait until red they will not hold nearly as long as if picked green and I find they become like mush if you pickle red as apposed to green.

Glenn

[WVTomatoMan]

I tend to pick my peppers when they are ripe. In the case of Jalapeno it will turn red.

The cracking you mention is called corking and is preferred by many pepper aficionados. Just do a google search on pepper corking.

Good luck.

Randy