Topic: Peppers

[Paulines7]

Just a quick question as I am off out shortly, but I want advice on my Sweet Pointed and Bell peppers please.  They seem to be suffering in the cold weather despite being in the greenhouse.  I have been picking the ones that have changed colour but should I harvest those that feel ripe but are still green?  I don't want to lose them. 

Your help is much appreciated.

[Tee Gee]

Crystal ball job this! e.g depends upon the upcoming weather!

I had a look at my lot (which are very late this year) and they sound as if they are similar to yours.

I have decided to leave mine as they are for the time being!

What I will do is ease off on the watering as cold and damp is not good for them, this combination can cause botrytis to develop!

[BarriedaleNick]

I dont mind them green but with a fair wind you could be picking them for another month or so..
Unless they start to rot I'd leave them and see what happens.

[Paulines7]

Thanks for your replies. 

Some of my peppers have started to rot despite cutting down on the watering.  I am also getting a lot of holes in them but whatever is feeding on them, they are keeping out of sight.  I must admit that the plants have a lot of foliage on them so if I thinned the leaves out, the peppers may change colour sooner as it would allow the sun to get to them if and when it decides to come out of hiding.   

[Deb P]

I don’t overwinter any peppers or chillies, so I cut my plants right back, taking off all the growing tips and flowers to leave just the fruits a few weeks ago this year. I pick the fruit when really ripe and that encourages the rest to ripen. Chillies have a bit of bottom heat from my open Vitapod propagator which keeps them going long enough to ripen and the greenhouse doors are kept closed now. I also reduce the watering right down and stop completely for the tomatoes and peppers at the end of September and only occasionally for the chillies. Works for me!

[Vinlander]

Some years I've had holes in my peppers from something that has no interest in slug pellets of any kind.

I was very confused until I found a big bright green caterpillar on one - it was near the exact diameter of the holes. I used to see a very similar one on my nectarines many years ago - it always seemed to be a solitary kind that are very good at hiding

I always leave the peppers in my polytunnel to ripen towards red until the first frosts outside - then I clear the lot - there's no way you are going to end the season without some green ones, but some recipes specify them.

Cheers.

[Paulines7]

Thanks for your replies.  I will take the growing tips and flowers off as you suggest Deb P and get some of the large leaves off too.  I might be able to see what is eating the fruit then and the peppers will have a chance to ripen.  I found a huge slug on the leaves a couple of months ago but haven't seen any since.  Maybe, like you Vinlander, I will find some caterpillars.  There are a lot of moths and butterflies still around at the moment.   

I was surprised at how warm it was outside tonight. so hopefully no frost.