Bell peppers are an essential ingredient in many of our favorite dishes. If you love cooking, it’s likely that you’ve grown bell peppers in your garden or purchased them from a farmer’s market. You may even have seeds to plant next year! If so, read on to learn more about when to harvest bell peppers and how to store them after harvesting.
When To Harvest Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are harvested at various times throughout the summer months. Each variety has a different maturity rate and will be ready for harvest at different times. While some varieties are ready to pick in less than 50 days, others take up to 80 days before they’re ready for harvest.
When Is The Best Month To Harvest Bell Peppers
The best time to pick your bell peppers depends on how long you want them to store. For example, sweet bell peppers require a longer maturity period than hot varieties because they have thicker walls that need more time to develop.
If you plan on eating them right away, then you should pick them when they’re still immature so that they don’t lose moisture or flavor while sitting in storage before cooking or eating them raw as part of a salad or sandwich filling.
Can You Harvest Bell Peppers Too Early?
You can harvest bell peppers before they mature. However, the problem with harvesting bell peppers before they are ripe is that they may not be as flavorful as those allowed to fully develop on the plant before picking.
This is because the sugars in bell peppers need time to accumulate in order for them to sweeten up properly after harvest. A fully ripened bell pepper has more sugar than an unripe one, which makes it more succulent and delicious — but also more perishable.
How to Harvest Bell Peppers
Harvesting bell peppers is easy and can be done in two ways. The first method is to simply wait for the peppers to ripen and then pick them as needed. This approach works well if you’re growing a large number of different varieties, as some varieties may ripen faster than others. Some peppers can take weeks to reach full size, but some varieties will be ready for harvest in as little as two weeks after planting.
The second method involves harvesting all the peppers at once so they are ready at the same time. To do this, simply cut the plant off at its base and lay it on its side in a cool location out of direct sunlight. If necessary, keep them watered until they’ve finished ripening.
Storing Bell Peppers After Harvesting
Bell peppers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. They can be grown in a container or in the ground, and they require little care. Bell peppers are harvested when they turn red and mature. There are several methods to store bell peppers after harvesting them.
Fresh Storage
To store fresh bell peppers, place them in a paper bag and keep them in the refrigerator for up to one week. Bell peppers will last longer if you remove their stems and place them in an open container with holes poked into it for ventilation.
Refrigerator Storage
Store your bell peppers in a plastic bag or container for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. You should not store green or red bell peppers together because they will turn each other brown. To prolong storage time, remove any damaged areas from your bell pepper before refrigerating them.
Freezing Bell Peppers
Freezing is probably the best method of storing bell peppers since freezing preserves most of their nutrients while allowing you to use them later on without much preparation required. Wash your bell peppers thoroughly before freezing them, then slice them into strips or dice them into cubes before placing them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper that has been sprayed lightly with cooking oil spray so that they do not stick to each other.
Conclusion
Bell peppers are a wonderful addition to any garden. They can be grown in a variety of climates, and they make great container plants. For those who have limited space or just don’t want a large vegetable garden, try growing your bell peppers in pots on your deck or patio! Whether you’re growing them indoors or in the garden, wait until they are ripe before harvesting them to get their full flavor.
