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Hairy jalapeno?!

baggywhackerszEE1BMhbaggywhackerszEE1BMh Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg
I've been growing chillis for the first time this year, and was surprised that my jalapenos turned out "hairy". I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but I've done extensive googling and not found any reference to hairy jalapenos anywhere.

Just wanted to check, are these chillis normal and edible, or are those white "hairs" some horrible fungal growth that'll kill me?


Posts

  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    I can't see any "hair" in the photo, but I'm on a mobile device so it's sometimes hard to see detail. If you mean the white lines, that looks like corking to me - it happens if you water unevenly and the plant dries out too much, checking the growth of the fruit. If the lines are hard and have tiny ridges (as in, they're rough to touch), then it's perfectly safe to eat them.
  • baggywhackerszEE1BMhbaggywhackerszEE1BMh Posts: 2
    Aha, OK, many thanks for your prompt replies! Yes, I was unsure about using the word "hair" as the little white, um, ridges are surface features - ingrown hairs at best! 
    Corking's a new term for me, but your description of haphazard watering sounds very much like my gardening technique  :s so I shall scoff them without fear!
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Even well watered jalapenos cork it's considered a sign of quality with them.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Hope you enjoy them. 
    I grow Jalapeno every year and often get a few cracks.
    Try them just before they start go red - it's when they have the best flavour, and only a little less heat.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    Skandi said:
    Even well watered jalapenos cork it's considered a sign of quality with them.
    I don't think it's a sign of quality (it might be a sign of clever marketing though  ;) ). It happens purely because of inconsistent watering, the tough skin gets overstretched by internal growth if the plant dries out too much and then gets a full watering. The same thing can happen with cucumbers etc.
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