How do you get peppers to turn red?

[EstimatedProphet]

I've seen posts here saying that peppers should be cut green, because the plant will produce more. How do I get them to turn red after cutting?

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Leave them on the counter.

We figured this out by accident one year when we had an early abundance. It works best if you cut them after the first bit of reddish color is showing. We place them in a basket in a cool* but bright area and they change color over the course of a week or so. Fair warning, though -- if there are any blemishes on the skin the pepper may rot before ripening.

If they don't start to redden after a week, consider them green peppers. Since your growing and weather environment is different from my dry hot conditions, I'd suggest that you try the counter method with one or two at first. We ripen everything from serranos to bells this way and it usually works, but as I noted above it's most reliable if there's a hint that the pepper is ready to start changing color when you pick it.

*cool, as in not in direct strong sunlight or sitting high in the kitchen where it stays hot. Too hot, they rot. Too cool (think refrigerator) and they won't change color.

[Dover]

2. So you don't leave them on the plant until they turn red?

I've planted some too, and also wonder about it. I've seen red bells turn red on the plant
so just curious.

[asdjrocky]

3. That's what I thought.

I thought you left them on the plant too. My goldens are changing, but ever so slowly. I may go out there a pick a few to see what happens.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. They'll turn red on the plant.

The OP's question was how to ripen them off the plant. I'm not sure if removing them early does promote more new pepper formation as the OP suggested, but it makes sense.

[EstimatedProphet]

5. Unfortunately, the ones I have picked have gotten soft instead of red

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Ugh. That's too bad.

If they were solid green, they may have been too immature for the ripening trick. Young green ones do get soft rather than turning color. Try it again with some that have a little yellowish or orange color.

[ThomWV]

11. Hang them up to dry. don't lay them down on anything

We take a needle and heavy thread and sew them into a chain through the stems and then hang them in front of windows from the curtain rod holders or from anything else we can find to keep them up.

Doesn't matter what kind of peppers they are really, but we don't do it with bell peppers.

[ClayZ]

7. Pepper ripen tricks:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pepper/msg1009335623185.html?2=

[EstimatedProphet]

8. Interesting. Thanks

[madeline_con]

9. Ours got a second wind, and bloomed and are now

producing again. I don't know why. Maybe you could leave them on, then give the plants a shot of miracle grow. :shrug:

[EstimatedProphet]

10. I have a few plants that are doing really well

Several of them have flowers, some have a bunch of flowers. I figure it's only a matter of time...