Black skin on my chilli's?

[Naga]

On some of my chilli's they have a type of black skin where it should be green, they all look healthy apart from this.

Pic is a little blurry, took it quite quickly.

[Flummery]

I've had this happen. I don't know why. The chilli was still edible and very nice. Someone might know what causes it?

[kernowyon]

Haven't got a scooby on what causes it, but i have had it happen as well and as Flum says it doesn't impair flavour etc. i wouldn't worry unless it starts to go soft

[Naga]

Ok good stuff, thanks!

[Rabidbun]

They do this in response to strong sunlight, doesn't affect the taste at all as far as I can tell from mine at least. You'll also see this blackening along the stems most likely.

(If they ever go squishy and brown/black at the ends though, that would be calcium deficiency, just incase you spot that happening - called blossom end rot)

[teakdesk]

I believe outdoor chillis go a dark purple due to cool winds on the fruit.

Could it be this?

Mine are often affected but taste is just the same.

[WeeGarden]

I was wondering this too, as when my chilli plant was given to me in Feb, it was dripping in red chillies. I cut those off and am on to the second cropping, but it's dripping in purplish black chillies! The bits that are slightly green are where it's touching something (leaf, another chilli), and in the past couple of days, I've had a bright red one just on the underside of the plant...

so I think it's to do with sunlight.

*puffs on amateur detective cigar*

[annacruachan]

Mine are doing this too, but the same plant did the same last year, produced so many chillis that we still haven't finished half of them - can't eat them by the dozen like some - and most turned red, the black layer disappearing as they did. I think it's the amount of direct sunlight they get.