I've got a lot of green tabasco hot peppers still on my plants. Surprisingly, it's November first, and we've avoided a frost so far here in extreme north central Maryland.
So, what can I do to get these peppers to ripen before we do get a frost? Or is there anything I can do after picking them to get them to ripen?
Let me see if I remember my high school biology here...
I think if you put them in a brown paper bag, they will ripen quicker. I seem to remember that the skins of fruits give off methane which acts as a ripening catalyst for other fruits. The paper bag traps the methane while allowing them to breath a bit. Warmth (such as a windowsill) speeds the process.
Leaving them on the vine? Maybe try a brown garden recycling bag at night? Would protect against frost at least.
No, you are right... I don't think it's methane tho' but I can't remember the name of the gass off the top of my head. Bannanas tend to put out more than some fruits so you can put avocados, peppers or tomatoes in a paper bag with a bannana or two to speed things up.
It's ethene (old name ethylene). As frisco said, Bananas (particularly ripe ones) and rice give off stacks of it, so that would be a good source of it.
You know, I've been thinking about this. As the Queen of trying to eke out a few more weeks of garden time, I have noticed how much ripening slows down as the days get shorter and the sunlight less intense. It's not unexpected, just...frustrating. I can keep the pepper plants alive, but the return on fruit isn't really worth it much past this time of year.
I was thinking that this would be the time of year that the red mulch that some gardeners further north use might be an advantage. It usually warms up quickly enough in the spring here that I don't see much advantage in using it then, but I wonder about this time of year? Hmmm, I might have to experiment by putting the red mulch around a couple of plants and seeing if they ripen more fruit, or if the fruit ripens faster.
Alien telepathist or government thought control beams are keeping my peppers from getting ripe?
Makes sense.
Naw, actually, I thought about the tin foil, but I've heard so many good reports from folks that have tried the red mulch I was leaning toward trying it.
Plus, my neighbors think I'm weird enough. After all, I squeal in excitement over finding lady bug larva on my plants, flake out in the grass out front to listen to an owl calling, and made them all come and see my monarch and black swallowtail caterpillars whilst I proudly burbled on about The Importance of Larval Food Plants.
This begs the question, "If a pepper or tomato is picked when unripe, will it produce viable seeds when ripened?" I have about 30 semi-mature heirloom tomatoes and peppers and it looks as though cold (for peppers and tomatoes) weather is going to be here before they ripen.
A Florida gardener, Lou Please ping me for my real address. SPAM.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.