How to quickly ripen a chilli

[Sportball]

Hi Y'all,

I am looking for a way to ripen my chili plants before the cold weather sets in. According to another thread it is all to do with heat but as it is now October I cannot see it getting any warmer.

Do I pick the chillis whilst they are green?
Can i put a bag over the plants to increase the heat as I don't have a greenhouse?
Will cutting down on watering help?
Will the chillis ripen after picking?

Any help will be appreciated.....

[zazen999]

Where are they?
more to the point
where are you?

Can you pop your location into your profile, it really helps.

I just leave some on the plant - but I'm in the midlands....they ripen in their own good time.

I take some off and use them

and I take some off and dry them for chilli powder once the ones on the plant have gone.

[HayleyB]

Hi Y'all,

but as it is now October I cannot see it getting any warmer.

....

Oh I don't know I'm ever optimistic that this climate warming thing is true and that we'll have a heatwave for Chri...... um later this year

[Sportball]

I am in the east of england. The chillis are against the house facing south east. I have 2 plants in a container.

When is the latest I can wait until they ripen?

[kernowyon]

Im in the south east(ish) and still have a few chillis outside, protected from the wind which are still ripening nicely (but not sure if this cooler weather sets in though)

if they are in a container can you move them inside to conservatory or similar?

[Sportball]

I thought of that but I don't have anywhere suitable. They are about 3ft tool and in a huge pot.

I could put them in the garage (which has a window) but I guess they need more sunlight

[sarraceniac]

Pick them if you are worried and keep them warm. Adding some banana skins to the area you keep them would help. The methane given off, as the bananas go black, speeds ripening. The 'East of England' covers about 4 USDA zones from Northumberland to Kent so I for one am no wiser. We seriously aren't nosey about your location but I, for example, am in an equivalent to USDA zone 8b but 5 miles inland or 20 miles north are zone 8a and 10 miles north if you go 5 miles inland is zone 7b. Kent is zone 9a (sob) so the discussion changes according to location.

[Sportball]

I wasn't being secretive, I live in East Anglia near Newmarket if that helps the discussion.

I have changed my profile as suggested.

[sarraceniac]

I wasn't being secretive, I live in East Anglia near Newmarket if that helps the discussion.

I have changed my profile as suggested.

No problems. When I first joined a forum (some years ago when you had to wind the Internet up before using it ) and they asked me where I was for my profile, I was a bit worried that they wanted the information so they could target the spam that they sent me. Now I realise that the more experienced gardeners on a forum will give slightly different advice to people from warmer areas than they will to people from colder ones. Even the aspect and geography of your garden is actually quite important. Part of my garden is 2oC warmer in winter than other parts. Now I know which bits, as I love growing tender plants, I can put them where they have a greater chance of surviving.

So, in Suffolk, which should be Zone 8b, you will be, freak frosts apart, OK for a few weeks yet. Watch the weather forecasts for your area and if a sudden drop in temperature is predicted then either, move the entire plant into the house (I assume they are in the ground so you should pot them up into large pots) or do what I suggested with the unripe ones and pick them and banana them.

If you want to keep them going for next year by the way (chilis are actually tender perennials) I suggest you pot them and move them in as house plants anyway. They produce more fruits the second year.

As an aside why does everybody put chili topics in 'Vegetables'? . Yes they actually (like their relatives the tomato) are fruits. Just don't put too much in your fruit salad.

[sarraceniac]

Sorry just noticed they are in a 'huge pot'. Suggest picking in a few weeks, cutting back the plants to about 6-10" and putting inside for winter.

[Nicos]

You know if you keep them frost free, and bring them into the house they'll fruit all winter- and next year may do exceptionally well!( depends on the variety)
Can you sort of pot on individually and bring them indoors- and kick out a teenager or something???

[Sportball]

I could put them in my back hallway where they would get a bit of light. The only places I have in full sun are window seals and they are a bit big for that.

Not sure what variety they are, they were grown from seeds taken from a regular supermarket chilli.

IS that right they will continue to grow over winter and produce fruit?

[Two_Sheds]

IS that right they will continue to grow over winter and produce fruit?

No.
They will go dormant over winter, but (if they survive) they will grow again in the spring and give you an earlier crop.

FYI, my chillies are on the lotty and are turning red, albeit slowly. My patio ones have been put indoors on windowsills and are turning red much quicker.

[Sportball]

Thanks for all the responses. I have moved them in-doors and will cut back on the watering and feeding and see what happens....

[faerieprincess]

Bringing chillis inside

If you want to keep them going for next year by the way (chilis are actually tender perennials) I suggest you pot them and move them in as house plants anyway. They produce more fruits the second year.

Good to know, I have some patio sized ones which I can easily bring inside so I will do that!