Hi all,
I have two chilli plants bearing fruit on my windowsil - I dont know the
exact varieties as they came from a mixed packet of seed, but I think one is
a birdseye (small fruit growing upwards) and one is a habenero (large bulb
like fruit - looks like the habeneros I see in the shops!).
My question is, when and how do I harvest them ?? Some are starting to turn
red, so I assume they're OK to pick but what is the longest I should leave
them - will they fall off when they are 'over ripened' ?? Also, what is the
best method for picking them - do I cut the stem holding the fruit close to
the main stem or close to the fruit ?? Shouwl I leave any of the fruit's
stem attached to the main stem ??

This is the first year I hav grown chillis - advice would be much
appreciated !

Thanks,
Neil

From: "Neil Catley"


My question is, when and how do I harvest them ?? Some are starting to turn
red, so I assume they're OK to pick but what is the longest I should leave
them - will they fall off when they are 'over ripened' ?? Also, what is the
best method for picking them - do I cut the stem holding the fruit close to
the main stem or close to the fruit ?? Shouwl I leave any of the fruit's
stem attached to the main stem ??

This is the first year I hav grown chillis - advice would be much
appreciated !

Thanks,
Neil

Pick em when full red--they will rot if left too long. You can pick green ones
also when they reach a usable size. Use em right away or---thread them on a
string and let dry in a airy location. Or pop in a plastic bag and freeze--no
processing needed. Or cut slits and pack in pure vinegar

thanks for the tips - how about cutting them from the plant - where do I do
it ??
"Frankhartx" wrote in message
...
From: "Neil Catley"


My question is, when and how do I harvest them ?? Some are starting to
turn
red, so I assume they're OK to pick but what is the longest I should
leave
them - will they fall off when they are 'over ripened' ?? Also, what is
the
best method for picking them - do I cut the stem holding the fruit close
to
the main stem or close to the fruit ?? Shouwl I leave any of the fruit's
stem attached to the main stem ??

This is the first year I hav grown chillis - advice would be much
appreciated !

Thanks,
Neil

Pick em when full red--they will rot if left too long. You can pick green
ones
also when they reach a usable size. Use em right away or---thread them on
a
string and let dry in a airy location. Or pop in a plastic bag and
freeze--no
processing needed. Or cut slits and pack in pure vinegar

From: "Neil Catley"
Newsgroups: rec.gardens.edible
References:

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thanks for the tips - how about cutting them from the plant - where do I do
it ??
You can cut the stem anywhere if you like or you can snap em off with the right
touch

Neil Catley wrote:

I have two chilli plants bearing fruit on my windowsil ....
My question is, when and how do I harvest them ?? Some are starting to turn
red, so I assume they're OK to pick but what is the longest I should leave
them - will they fall off when they are 'over ripened' ??

A few, comparatively lightly attached varieties will fall off on their
own - but this usually indicates a defective fruit, perhaps one
attacked by bugs. Most chiles will dry on the bush.

In general, you can pick any time from "full size" on ... though for
maximum green chile flavor, you really should wait until they just
start to change color. Best time to pick, though, is after full ripe
and before the first signs of drying.

Also, what is the
best method for picking them - do I cut the stem holding the fruit close to
the main stem or close to the fruit ?? Shouwl I leave any of the fruit's
stem attached to the main stem ??

Some chiles, like serranos, have a weak attachment to the stm, and can
easily be picked without cutting. Most need to be cut: cut anywhere on
the stem. Don't worry about where on the stem you cut, or how much you
leave on the plant - just take care not to harm the plant when
harvesting.

--

programmer, author http://www.midnightbeach.com
and father http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs

On Fri, 4 Jul 2003 18:57:12 +0100, "Neil Catley" wrote:

thanks for the tips - how about cutting them from the plant - where do I do
it ??

Just gently grab the fuit, twist and pull (holding the main stem if
necessary).

If it resists, you can cut the stem just above the fruit. However,
I've always thought that "naturally" tearing will break the plant
across in built weak lines. Cutting is a little more brutal.

Mind you, the Habenaro may get its revenge on you if you've got a good
one. After your eyes have stopped watering, you can think about next
year's crop and maybe trying something else, like a Scotch Bonnet
(just as good a heat, but maybe something extra in the flavour
department).

Colin
-----
(Please reply via the newsgroup)

On Fri, 4 Jul 2003 18:57:12 +0100, "Neil Catley" wrote:


"Frankhartx" wrote
From: "Neil Catley"

My question is, when and how do I harvest them ?? Some are starting to
turn
red, so I assume they're OK to pick but what is the longest I should
leave
them - will they fall off when they are 'over ripened' ?? Also, what is
the
best method for picking them - do I cut the stem holding the fruit close
to
the main stem or close to the fruit ?? Shouwl I leave any of the fruit's
stem attached to the main stem ??

This is the first year I hav grown chillis - advice would be much
appreciated !

Pick em when full red--they will rot if left too long. You can pick green
ones
also when they reach a usable size. Use em right away or---thread them on
a
string and let dry in a airy location. Or pop in a plastic bag and
freeze--no
processing needed. Or cut slits and pack in pure vinegar

thanks for the tips - how about cutting them from the plant - where do I do
it ??

Cut/clip through the stem. This *light touch* business will have you
wrenching branches from your chile plants. They don't have a neat
little 'detach here' bend like tomatoes. Most peppers can be
'harvested' pretty much as soon as they're big enough to recognize
whether they're bell or jalapeno. We eat/cook/use peppers in all
stages of maturity. In general, the flavor sweetens and mellows
somewhat as the fruit matures and, perhaps, changes color. And
eventually they will rot on the plant. They *don't* drop when they're
"ready."

Neil Catley wrote:

Hi all,

This is the first year I hav grown chillis - advice would be much
appreciated !

Thanks,
Neil

Neil, do not, under ANY circumstances pick the habaneros bare handed. I
picked the habs off just 4 plants last year and it was fully 10 days before
I could close my fingers against each other. I wish you could hear my voice
for emphasis. Do NOT work with habs bare handed. You WILL regret it. Search
the usenet archives via Google for the topic of habs if you don't believe
me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.

You don't have to listen to me. But if you don't listen to me this time, you
will next. Wear TWO pairs of plastic gloves when working with habs. I cut
70 habs for the dryer. I paid full price for a full week.

Just a FYI,

Bill
--
I do not post my address to news groups.

When last we left our heros, on Sat, 05 Jul 2003 18:44:57 -0400,
Noydb scribbled:


me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.


raises hand I do. I don't squish them with wild abandon between
my neeked fingers, but I do pick them bare handed.


Pam, sometimes I even gasp! carry them around in my pockets.





--
Get your love some roses. There is nothing more romantic
than the gift of the decaying, severed sexual organs of
plants grown in mounds of cow manure.
- Demotivational Posters.com

Being from New Mexico where we do chili, I can attest to the good
advice below. We roast a gunny sack or two each year and peel it &
into the freezer bags it goes. We *ALWAYS* wear rubber gloves, always!

Noydb wrote:
Neil Catley wrote:


Hi all,


This is the first year I hav grown chillis - advice would be much
appreciated !

Thanks,
Neil


Neil, do not, under ANY circumstances pick the habaneros bare handed. I
picked the habs off just 4 plants last year and it was fully 10 days before
I could close my fingers against each other. I wish you could hear my voice
for emphasis. Do NOT work with habs bare handed. You WILL regret it. Search
the usenet archives via Google for the topic of habs if you don't believe
me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.

You don't have to listen to me. But if you don't listen to me this time, you
will next. Wear TWO pairs of plastic gloves when working with habs. I cut
70 habs for the dryer. I paid full price for a full week.

Just a FYI,

Bill

Pam Rudd wrote:
When last we left our heros, on Sat, 05 Jul 2003 18:44:57 -0400,
Noydb scribbled:



me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.



raises hand I do. I don't squish them with wild abandon between
my neeked fingers, but I do pick them bare handed.


Pam, sometimes I even gasp! carry them around in my pockets.

Great way to 'roast' your chiliG!

When last we left our heros, on Sat, 05 Jul 2003 19:24:35 -0600,
John DeBoo scribbled:

Pam Rudd wrote:
Noydb scribbled:

me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.
snip
Pam, sometimes I even gasp! carry them around in my pockets.

Great way to 'roast' your chiliG!

giggle

Oh, honey, no!

I don't have a chile, I have melons.

Pam, so is that a jalapeno in your pocket, or are you just
glad to see me?



--
"Maybe you'd like to ask the Wizard for a heart."
"ElissaAnn"

Xref: kermit rec.gardens.edible:58443

Thanks for the advice - I'll be sure to bear it in mind when picking time
comes for the habs.
I picked a couple of birdseye yesterday to put in a chili - pinched the
stems with my nails and they just came off. Not sure what will happen to the
rest of the stem though - will it rot or will it grow ?? Maybe just a case
of wait and see.....

"John DeBoo" wrote in message
...
Being from New Mexico where we do chili, I can attest to the good
advice below. We roast a gunny sack or two each year and peel it &
into the freezer bags it goes. We *ALWAYS* wear rubber gloves, always!

Noydb wrote:
Neil Catley wrote:


Hi all,


This is the first year I hav grown chillis - advice would be much
appreciated !

Thanks,
Neil


Neil, do not, under ANY circumstances pick the habaneros bare handed. I
picked the habs off just 4 plants last year and it was fully 10 days
before
I could close my fingers against each other. I wish you could hear my
voice
for emphasis. Do NOT work with habs bare handed. You WILL regret it.
Search
the usenet archives via Google for the topic of habs if you don't
believe
me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.

You don't have to listen to me. But if you don't listen to me this time,
you
will next. Wear TWO pairs of plastic gloves when working with habs. I
cut
70 habs for the dryer. I paid full price for a full week.

Just a FYI,

Bill

Pam Rudd wrote:

When last we left our heros, on Sat, 05 Jul 2003 18:44:57 -0400,
Noydb scribbled:


me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.


raises hand I do. I don't squish them with wild abandon between
my neeked fingers, but I do pick them bare handed.


Pam, sometimes I even gasp! carry them around in my pockets.

Pam, I don't know how you do it. My pain was severe and very, very real. I
suspect yours were not as fiery as mine. I've seen several people try to
handle mine. Every one of them has regretted it.

Bill

--
Zone 5b (Detroit, MI)
I do not post my address to news groups.

On Wed, 09 Jul 2003 18:30:27 -0400,since it's all about me
Noydb professed:
Pam Rudd wrote:

Noydb scribbled:

me. Nobody picks habs bare-handed for free.

raises hand I do. I don't squish them with wild abandon between
my neeked fingers, but I do pick them bare handed.

Pam, sometimes I even gasp! carry them around in my pockets.

Pam, I don't know how you do it. My pain was severe and very, very real. I
suspect yours were not as fiery as mine.

gasp!

sputter!

Not as fiery?!!!

Not as fiery!!!!

You..you...you cad! How *dare* you slander me in that vile
fashion! I will hold the fieriness of my peppers up against
the fieriest of the fiery! I have to shoo local chileheads
away from where they're huddled on my steps in hopes of
merely a glimpse of one of my fiery peppers. Dragons of olde
hover near my garden in hopes of stealing one of my fiery
peppers to restoke their sizzling breath. The FBI sent a
special task force to make sure The Puppies O' Thunder
were up to the job of defending my fiery peppers from
terrorists who would turn them into Weapons of Mass
Destruction! After eating a bowl of chili with one, just
*one* of *my* fiery peppers in it, you can expect to have
flames shooting out of your butt the next day.


I've seen several people try to
handle mine. Every one of them has regretted it.


Well, perhaps those who handle *my* fiery peppers are simply
made of sterner stuff than you and your pantywaist friends.
Huh! huh! Did you ever think of that, you nattering nitwit!
Or perhaps they regret it because it's one of your wimpy ass
peppers and not one of *my* fiery peppers! Huh! Huh! Did you
ever think of that, you mewling milquetoast!


Pam, not as fiery, my lily white ass! Dem's fighting words!




--
"Maybe you'd like to ask the Wizard for a heart."
"ElissaAnn"