Harvesting Peppers

After weeks (or months!) of planning, planting, and caring for your pepper plants, the most exciting moment finally arrives,  harvest time. Knowing when to pick peppers and how to harvest peppers properly ensures the best flavor, heat, and continued production throughout the season.

Below, we break down everything you need to know so you can harvest peppers with confidence and keep your plants producing strong.

Quick Guide: What This Article Covers

• • When peppers are ready to pick

  • How to harvest peppers without damaging the plant

  • How pepper color affects flavor and heat

  • What to do if peppers are picked early

  • Best ways to store peppers after harvest

How to Harvest Peppers (5 Easy Steps)

Harvesting peppers is simple, but using the right technique protects your plant and encourages more fruiting.

Follow these 5 steps:

1. 1. Use clean, sharp pruning shears or clippers

   2. (Optional, but highly recommended) Wear gloves when harvesting hot peppers

   3. Check that the pepper is firm and at your desired size/color

   4. Cut the stem close to the plant (don’t pull!)

   5. Store or prepare peppers immediately

👉 Pro tip: Leaving a short stem on the pepper makes them easier to dry or string later.

When to Pick Peppers (Signs They're Ready)

Knowing when peppers are ripe is key to flavor, heat, and yield.

General Ripening Timeline

• • Sweet peppers: ~60–90 days

  • Hot peppers: ~90–150 days (variety dependent)

How to Tell Peppers Are Ready

• • Peppers are firm and full-sized

  • Color matches the variety’s mature stage

  • Skin looks smooth and glossy

  • Pepper detaches easily when cut

🌶️ Important: Peppers can be harvested at any color once mature. Green peppers will continue to ripen if left on the plant, often becoming sweeter and hotter over time.

Does Pepper Color Matter?

Yes, color impacts both flavor and heat.

• Green peppers: More bitter, less heat

• Fully ripe peppers (red, yellow, orange, chocolate, etc.):

  • Sweeter flavor

  • Higher capsaicin levels (hotter peppers)

  • More nutrients

Example: Czech Black peppers are delicious both at the dark purple stage and fully red.

Harvest Often for Bigger Yields

One of the most important harvesting rules:

👉 The more peppers you pick, the more your plant will produce.

Leaving ripe peppers on the plant signals that the plant has “completed its job,” slowing new flower and fruit production. Frequent harvesting keeps peppers coming all season long.

Should You Wear Gloves When Harvesting?

If you’re harvesting hot or super-hot peppers, gloves are strongly recommended.

Capsaicin oils can:

• • Burn skin

  • Cause intense eye irritation

  • Transfer easily to surfaces

Always wash hands thoroughly after harvesting, even if gloves were worn.

What If You Picked Peppers Too Early?

No worries! Many peppers can still ripen off the plant.

How to ripen peppers indoors:

• • Place peppers on a counter at room temperature

  • Avoid refrigeration until fully ripe

  • Most peppers finish ripening within 1–3 days

How to Store Peppers After Harvest

If your plants are producing more peppers than you can use right away, here are your best storage options:

1. Hang Peppers to Dry

• • Ideal for long-term storage

  • Concentrates flavor and heat

  • Great for powders and flakes

2. Refrigerate Peppers

• • Do not wash before storing

  • Store at 40–45°F

  • Keeps fresh for ~2–3 weeks

  • Wash before use

3. Freeze Peppers

• • Freeze peppers in the form you’ll use them

  • Whole, sliced, or halved

  • Remove air from freezer bags

  • Keeps peppers usable for months

Ready to put your freshly harvested peppers to use? Whether you’re growing sweet peppers or super-hots, the fun doesn’t stop at picking time.

If you’re working with extra-hot varieties, check out our guide on how to use super-hot peppers to make your own hot sauce, plus our growing collection of pepper recipes for sauces, powders, salsas, and more. They’re great ways to preserve your harvest and experiment with flavor and heat.

🌶️ Explore our pepper seeds, live plants, and growing supplies to make this your most productive season yet. Whether you’re growing sweet bells or world-class super-hots, the right harvest starts with the right plants.