When are Jalapeno's ready?

[maillme]

Hi there,

Im growing jalapenos - but I;m not sure at what point they are ready to pick?

i grew some last year, but i think when i picked them they werent very hot

is there any hard and fast rule as to when they will be most ripe?

Also - whats the best way of pickling them? (like the old el paso ones you buy) ? - simply vinegar and a jar?

many thanks,
neil

[HotStuff]

I'm no expert, but from what I've read generally the longer you leave them the hotter they will get. Of course this could be a problem if you want green ones I've got some red ones on one of my plants and I'm trying to resist harvesting them, they've got a nice bit of corking on now.

I also seem to remember another thread a while ago about 'stressing' the plants to get hotter fruits, I'll try to find it and post a link.

ETA http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post508427

[maillme]

thanks

What is corking?

neil

[HotStuff]

Corking is the markings Jalapenos get when they ripen, here's a pic of a couple of the ones I'm resisting harvesting.

[maillme]

Aha,

But i guess you only see them when they are red - therefore if i want them green i wont see that?

Neil

[rana]

They wont always turn red and corking can be seen on green Jalapenos too.

[maillme]

i see - so in answer yo my original question, when they appear to cork - thats when they are ready?

thanks,
neil

[Snadger]

The Sarsons clear pickling vinegar is a bit too 'Tart' for my taste so last year I added some sugar to taste to each jar and they were great.This sweetens the vinegar, but because sugar is a preservative it doesn't dilute it. I just finished last years lot and they were as crunchy as the day I made them.
Use them raw, with seeds if you want them crunchy and spicy. If you blanch them and clean out the seeds they give a very mild mushy jalapeno...............which defeats the object, I think!

[maillme]

oh, also - are red spicier than green then?

thanks,
neil

[Snadger]

oh, also - are red spicier than green then?

thanks,
neil

I did both last year and I think maybe the red were slightly hotter!