What makes chillies ripen more?

[OllieMartin]

I've got some chillies in a plastic GH outside, and some of them are starting to ripen. I'm concerned that it's getting too cold at night and I should bring them in, but the only windowsill I've got is West-facing.
So the question is, would they be better:
a) With more warmth, but less light (Inside)
b) With less warmth, but more light (Outside)

[Two_Sheds]

Rustylady's chillies are all doing much better than mine. She's had them in a very warm greenhouse all summer (while mine, same varieties, same size pots etc) have been on the south-facing patio.

So I'd say warmth is the key.

[zazen999]

Although my first cayenne to go red has been outside in the ground for months. The ones in the greenhouse are still green.

[join_the_resistance]

TS is definitely right about temperature being key, but I also always stress the plant but letting it getting really dry to encourage them to mature quicker.

This has worked for me in the last few years

[BumbleB]

My Cayennes are half red half green both outside and in the greenhouse (although more red than green. I gave my son some seedlings in June and he kept his on a sunny windowsil and they were red in July!

[COMPOST CORNER]

I have 4 plants (bought from GC's and Focus) just labelled Chilli plant, I kept one outside and three in the GH (space issues) and the one outside fruited later, but the fruits are now shiny and black as black thing. They have been this way for about three weeks. I think they may be staying black, in which case I am keeping the seeds to grow again next year. I have never een a black chilli before.
The GH chilli's have bigger fruits but all still green.

[Shirley Sherriffs]

I'm sure I saw one of the hairy bikers cooking with a black chilli in Guatamala or Mexico ?

[OllieMartin]

Well i've moved the plants indoors now (thanks for the advice) and the red ones do appear to ripening a little quicker.
3 green ones fell off in the transfer, so i chopped 'em, fried them with garlic and mixed them into a reheated spag'-bol'. They're not the hottest chillies in the world, but they've got a great flavour. Not sure what variety, probably jalapeno.

[Lavenderblue]

wow my plants look pathetic in comparison to those! I have a few green chillies, no red ones yet. I am still hopeful though.

[seanbadger]

but I also always stress the plant but letting it getting really dry to encourage them to mature quicker.

This has worked for me in the last few years

Never heard of this, I'll give it a whirl. I've got 2 plants in growbags so i can water one and leave one dryer

[Tam]

Here is a black chilli -

[OllieMartin]

wow my plants look pathetic in comparison to those! I have a few green chillies, no red ones yet. I am still hopeful though.

Thanks Lb, I was lucky with these as they (and their 3 brothers who are planted outside) came in a 'Mexican garden' set which also contained tomato seeds and coriander seeds, but a pot about the size of a standard envelope. I have no idea how they expected them all to grow AND produce fruit.
Sadly as a result I have no idea what variety any of them are, but i'd guess the chillies are jalapenos.

I've had 3 red ones off them after bringing them in, and they're definately ripening quicker.

[BarleySugar]

Sadly the greenfly got the better of me, I couldn't put up with sticky windowsills and greenfly dropping into anything left on my kitchen table, so mine have had to move off the sunny kitchen windowsill. I put them on the patio, and they attracted the hoverflies which did a good job of reducing the greenflies, but now it's got a lot colder I've moved them into the greenhouse. I'm hoping for the second flush of fruit to ripen, as I really like the choc habs and scotch bonnets. I've a few dried choc habs, but no scotch bonnets as we used them as soon as they ripened .