Knowing when to harvest Green Chile is important for the best flavors. When to pick your chiles all depends on when you planted, the variety of chile, plus weather and soil conditions. In Hatch, New Mexico, for example, the harvest season typically begins in August and goes through September, with some seasons getting late harvests in October – it all depends on the weather! Depending on where you are growing your green chile will affect when you'll be able to start harvesting pods. Here are our tips:
How do you know when green chiles are ready to pick?
When the peppers has reached it's full expected size and is not growing any larger - this is a great time to harvest the pods, especially if they are just starting to turn to their mature red color – it's the perfect time to harvest them when there is just a tinge of red starts to blush on the pods.
Of course, you can also allow them to fully ripen to red for the maximum flavor. Most chile are harvested green commercially for selling fresh as green chile pods are not as perishable – while red chile is very perishable, so rather than selling it fresh, it is most often used right away or dried (often made into Ristras) and eventually crushed and made into powders and chile recipes.
When to Harvest Red Chile:
You'll know when your chile is ready to harvest when it turns fully red! Pick it and use it immediately if you can, or, you can also dry the pods for storage and use year-round in the kitchen. Many chile growers harvest the first harvest of pods when they are green, then the second flush of pods are often left to fully ripen to red for use in drying and ristras, and eventually made into powders and crushed peppers and used in many chile recipes.
The variety of Chile affects harvest time:
New Mexico Chiles including Hatch chiles usually take about 75-85 days after transplanting into the garden before they are ready for harvest. Some green chile varieties are earlier, and can start to be ready for harvest in 70 days from transplant, like the NM 6-4 Hatch Green Mild Chile. Other chile varieties take longer, like the Anaheim and the Rattlesnake Hatch Chile which take about 80 days, or the Lumbre X-Hot Hatch Chile which take a little longer at 85 days to harvest. And of course, soil and weather conditions are also going to affect how fast the chile plants grow, and when the pods may be mature enough to pick. Use our tips above to determine when the pods are ready to pick, whether you decide to pick them green or red.
Sandia Seed offers the world's biggest selection of New Mexico Chile seeds so you can grow all the famous varieties from New Mexico even if you live in Maine or Oregon! People grow our chile seeds around the world with great success. Once you try roasted chile you'll want to grow these delicious gems every year.
Green chiles including our Big Jims are some of the biggest peppers in the world that you can grow! Nothing beats a nice harvest of chiles, roasting them on the grill, and using in recipes or as toppings for pizza, burgers, sandwiches and so much more. Check out some of our favorite chile recipes »
Learn how to roast chile »
Happy growing and harvesting!
