Does picking peppers encourage more to grow?
Yes, the more peppers you pick, the more peppers will continue growing on your plant! Keep harvesting peppers as soon as they are ripe and firm so you can grow more!
How do you know when peppers are ready to pick?
Pick peppers when they are the size and color you want.The harvest time depends on the chile pepper, so look at your seed packet to find out the number of days to harvest for a general idea of when to expect to pick your peppers. However, it all depends on the growing conditions, so the best way is to watch the pods to see when they reach their typical size and appear to stop growing larger. Note: Many peppers are often picked while still green (think Jalapenos and green chile). However, you can also let peppers ripen to their final color on the vine, most peppers will eventually turn red (or yellow, orange, purple or chocolate) if allowed to fully mature. For example green chiles will eventually turn red if left on the plant to fully mature, but they taste great when harvested when still green at their full size. When fully mature, they will develop even more flavor – fresh red chile is a perishable delicacy so it's hard to find, but you can enjoy them right of your garden if you grow them!
Can you pick green peppers too soon?
Make sure that the peppers have reached their full size. Remember that some peppers are often harvested green such as Jalapenos, Shishitos, and green chile, while others like Carolina Reapers, Habaneros, or Piquillos are typically allowed to mature to their final color (red, yellow, orange, chocolate). If they grow to full size, but you're not sure if your peppers are ripe, our advice is to pick one and taste it, if it tastes bitter or “green” wait a few days or a week or two and try again until they taste more flavorful.
All that said, we've harvested many peppers before the first frost of fall while they were still green (such as Carolina Reapers and Habaneros) and they still pack a ton of heat and flavor... sometimes you have to pick them before they ripen if in a short season climate! Don't waste them! They still make great salsa and hot sauces even if they haven't had a chance to ripen. And, often, if they are close to fully mature they may continue to ripen and change color after picking if left on the counter.
Also to note: During stressful growing conditions, peppers may not reach their expected size even when mature.
Should you cut or pick peppers?
We like to use pruners or scissors to cut off pepper pods – this avoids damaging the plant if the pepper won't come off easily. Some peppers have very thick stems so cutting them is the best way to go.
