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When to harvest peppers?

Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
in Fruit & veg
Hi
this is my new “when to harvest” question ;) this time, peppers

What’s the best moment to collect peppers? Any thumb tule, like twisting the pepper and click it without opposition?

thanks
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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think usually it's done more by size, when they're the right size just take them off.
    Are you talking about sweet peppers or chilli peppers? 
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    Hi
    sweet peppers but the plant is quite small yet, so I don’t know what’s the expected size of a pepper in that plant
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I grow the long red peppers (corno do torro rosso)
    They're ripe when they look bright red and shiny and the fruits are firm.
    A few days later they go darker red, loose their shine and start to feel a bit squidgy and  wrinkly at the end - then they're not so good.

    Do you know the variety you are growing?

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Do you have a picture of the plant? I would expect it to be quite large by now. Is it in a GH or outside? Is it a named variety? You can pick them green or wait for them to go red but don't twist them off the plant you need to cut them.
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    Ni idea about the variety. I just know that slugs love the leaves

    It was outdoor but moved to a greenhouse last week 
    pic 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    They're fully ripe when they turn red, but you can pick them when they are green if that's how you like them.
    As the days get shorter and cooler, time is running out for them to ripen properly, so see how they go, but they look good. They need warmth and good light.
    As mentioned above cut them off don't twist.

    Looking at the photo, there's a cluster of small brown marks on the stem. Not easy to see properly, but they could be scale insects which are best rubbed off if that's what they are.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    Yeah I noticed in the pic. No, they are not insects, that’s just the stem that is a bit porous I think 

    my fight is with slugs. I have tried almost everything and they still eat my leaves. Is there any black magic to avoid that?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've had a few nibbles on the leaves, but nothing really noticeable.
    I do get slugs/snails nibbling my cucumbers, so I put just a few slug pellets on top of the compost which helps a bit.
    Unless they're really making a meal out of the leaves I wouldn't worry too much

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • PlashingPlashing Posts: 328
    I have grown long red marconi peppers a hand tip is when the weather starts cooling is to cut off at the stem and hang them upside down somewhere warm like a conservatory so fruit can continue to ripen.Been that I haven't a conservatory I am trying to find a warm place to hang them.
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    edited September 2020
    Pete.8 said:
    I've had a few nibbles on the leaves, but nothing really noticeable.
    I do get slugs/snails nibbling my cucumbers, so I put just a few slug pellets on top of the compost which helps a bit.
    Unless they're really making a meal out of the leaves I wouldn't worry too much
    I have used the pellets but it’s not making too much effect. Can those pellets be added to the soil? I’m pouring it around the pot, maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong
    i also heard about baking eggshell and spreading that around the soil, as it will harm them, but that’s too much I think 
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