Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi,
I brought some pepper seeds back from Italy last Easter (Corno di Toro Rosso) they've done well in the (unheated) glasshouse border and I have a dozen or so long peppers. But they're still green! If I pick them will they ripen, or just shrivel?
Russell
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I always think it's better to let them ripen on the plant if possible because that ensures a continual supply of moisture to them to stop the skin wrinkling, especially if your greenhouse is reasonably sunny. They need a combination of sun & warmth to ripen best. If you pick the fruit they may still ripen but there's a risk of the skin becoming less firm.
If you're worried about frost in your greenhouse, could you either throw some fleece over them at night or perhaps bring a few plants indoors to put on a windowsill or on trays by a patio window?
I have several pepper & chilli plants I've bought indoors for the fruits to ripen off which is happening, although the process does slow up a little at this time of year.

I leave them on the plant where they have two choices: ripen or stay green. Either way I can still eat them and, as primrose says, you are likely to better quality fruit by leaving them to ripen on the plant.

Thanks both, I'll try the fleece.