Jalapeno is a popular pepper grown in home gardens due to its versatile features. Jalapenos can be used in salsa, stir-fries, and even nachos. It produces dozens of green fruit and can be easily grown in containers or garden beds. One of the primary concerns for home gardeners is “When are jalapenos ripe?” and whether to harvest them when they are green or wait until they change color. This blog highlights the optimal time to harvest jalapenos and related aspects.
How to Know if Jalapenos Are Ripe and Can Be Harvested?
Whether jalapenos are ripe or not is essential to know, as harvesting depends on it. Here are the two indications to know if jalapenos are ripe enough and ready for harvesting:
Maturity Size
On maturity, the fruits of jalapenos reach 3-4 inches long, so when they reach maturity, they’re ready for harvesting, even if they’re green. Towards the end of the growing season and before the onset of the first fall, if you see any fruit left on the plant that is smaller in size than the maturity size, you can harvest them as well. This is because these fruits are edible even when they have not reached maturity. It only lacks the spicy taste of mature pepper.
The Right Color
Color is a strong indicator of whether jalapenos are ripe. When the chilli pepper turns deep green, you can pick it. Jalapenos slowly change color, turning red when left green for a week or two.
| Notes | Read the mature size of the fruit on the seed packet or the nursery pot label, as it is usually labeled there. It helps you gear up to harvest the fruit at the right time without delay. |
Corking
Corking is the crack along the length of a chilli pepper, a sign that the fruit is ready for harvest. Though there’s a different opinion on this, as some marketers believe that cork is a defect, while others consider it normal. However, you get the best flavor of jalapenos on corking.
Firmness
Another way to tell if jalapeno fruit is ripe is by checking its firmness. When fruit is firm to the touch, it is ripe and ready to be harvested.
Which is the Best Method to Harvest Jalapenos?
The stems and branches of the jalapeno plants are fragile and can get damaged easily, so don’t pull peppers from the plant or twist them. If you try to harvest fruit manually, unripe fruit on the stem may also detach from the plant, potentially resulting in broken branches. The best way to harvest jalapeno fruit is using garden shears, hand pruners, or garden snips.
Hold the stem or branch with one hand and cut fruit from the stem using the other hand. Put freshly cut pepper in a basket and take it indoors. Either consume the fruit right away or store it in a paper bag for later use. You can also freeze them for winter use, but make sure to wash them before freezing.
What is the Right Time to Harvest Red Jalapeno?
Usually, jalapeno peppers are harvested when they are green, but if left to mature, they turn red. A red jalapeno pepper indicates it has fully matured. A less mature green jalapeno is preferred by many, but others also like red jalapenos for their spicy taste. The spiciness of the fruit is measured on the Scoville scale in the range of 2500-8000.
How to Store Jalapenos?
Storage depends on the timeframe of consumption. If you want to use them soon, within a week, store them in a vented bag and store them in the crisp drawer of the refrigerator. If you plan to use it later within a year or so, freeze them in an airtight container, either whole or cut. Frozen jalapenos can be used in soups, stews, stir-fries, and breads, or to make hot pepper jelly.
Reasons for Jalapeno Turning Black
Sunscald
When plants are pruned, the fruit doesn't receive enough leaf cover to protect it from scorching heat, leading to a blackened appearance. Sunscald jalapenos can be eaten unless the fruit turns white and starts to rot because of severe damage.
Natural Ripening Process
If the fruit shows some black streaks, there’s nothing to worry about, as it is part of the natural ripening process. However, if the fruit is uniformly black, it’s a sign of a problem.
Cultivar Color
The black jalapeno seeds and purple jalapeno seeds appear to be black because of their dark color.
Some Disease
One common cause of black color could be a fungal or bacterial disease. On the skin of a healthy fruit with no other signs of any disease, the reason could be harmless.
