When to pick jalapeño peppers: for fantastic fiery flavors

A green jalapeno being picked from a plant outside

(Image credit: Alamy)

Jalapenos are slow-growing peppers, and it can be hard to know when to pick jalapeno peppers for the best flavor and balanced spice.

These spicy peppers can be difficult to grow, so learning how to pick them is important for reaping the rewards of your hard work. What’s more, with these chili peppers being rich in vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, they make excellent additions to your vegetable garden ideas.

When to pick jalapeno peppers

One red and two green jalapenos growing on a plant outside

Much like when to pick bell peppers, there are a few signs that jalapenos are ready to pick. 'Whether you’re making fajitas, a curry, or throwing them on a pizza, jalapenos are a great way to add a kick to your meal,' says Samantha Richards, garden expert at Gazeboshop.

'Their size also gives a good indication as to when they’re fully primed,' continues Samantha. 'A fully-grown jalapeno pepper should be around three to five inches in length. Generally speaking, this can take between four to six months. '

The jalapeno's green coloring is the best way to tell if the pepper is ready to pick or not. As the peppers mature, they will develop from light green to dark green – signifying they are perfect for picking. This stage is reached traditionally around five to six months after planting, or around 60 to 80 days after transplanting.

Although jalapenos are usually picked before they turn black or red, allowing the peppers to turn red can increase the pepper’s heat and sweetness.

Another clear sign that jalapenos are ready to pick is corking. These small white lines on the pepper's skin develop as the pepper grow rapidly from small pods to their full size and are perfectly safe to eat.

How to pick Jalapenos

A green jalapeno growing on a plant outside

Picking jalapenos is easy but should be done with care to prevent damaging the plant.

‘Picking jalapenos is much like picking other fruit from pepper companion plants in your vegetable garden,’ explains Rachel Crow, garden editor at Homes & Gardens. ‘Hold the plant’s branch below the pepper and pull the ripe pepper upwards. Holding the plant still prevents shaking the plant and causing unnecessary stress.

‘Jalapenos should come away from the plant easily with a snap. You should avoid twisting or tearing the stem if you want your plant to continue producing fruit.’

You can also use pruning shears if your jalapenos are not coming away from their stems easily. 'The pepper when ripe will be firm to touch and should pull off the plant easily, if you have to tug it, it’s still growing,' Samantha warns.

What happens if you pick jalapenos too early?

If you pick jalapenos early, they will be crisper and offer a bigger crunch when eating but might not have their characteristic spice. Jalapenos can continue to ripen off of the plant, however, they will not be able to reach their spiciest red stage.

Some growers pick jalapenos early to prevent overripening, or to use in pickles, like when picking cucumbers.

If you want to try cultivating these fantastic crops at home but are short of space, then you can consider growing jalapeno peppers in pots. The plants can be grown successfully in containers on a sunny deck, patio, or balcony.

Chiana is Homes & Gardens’ kitchen appliances editor. With a lifelong passion for cooking and baking, she grew up experimenting in the kitchen every weekend with her baking-extraordinaire Mom, and has developed a great understanding of how tools and appliances can make or break your ideal relaxing kitchen routine.