Mark Anderson wrote:

This year I grew a jalapeno pepper plant for the first time. The peppers
are starting to get big but I'm confused as to how one goes about
determining when to pick them. My Chili peppers are easy in that they
turn red when ready to pick but the jalapenos will just stay green. Does
anyone have a system for this?

I think they are definitely ready--maybe over ready when they scar.
They tend to get lots of stem to end scarring/cracks on them. I recall
reading that this was a definite sign of maturity.

My jalapeno rarely turn red. I just found one 1/2" long
jalapeno--red. Had a problem with minature fruits at the start of the
season. The only ones that turned red were at the very end of summer
into fall last year. They usually don't last on the plant long enough
to turn red. :-) Also if they are red then the seeds should be mature
and the chance of the plant shutting down increases.


DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
2nd year gardener
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/royalfrazier/