Aji White Fantasy - how do I know when it's ripe

M

Mitzi

Just that, really.  The pods started off a pale green / creamy colour and turned white quite quickly (when not even full size.)  Other baccatums seem to take a really long time to ripen so I just wonder how long I need to wait for these ones to be fully ripe and is it possible to tell?
 
I have an Aji Champion in the next pot and they started setting pods at a similar time, so I'm thinking of waiting until the Champion pods go red and then assume the Fantasy will be ripe at the same time.  Is that reasonable?
 
Masher said:
Pick one and cut it open, check if seeds are mature?

Eat it?
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I tried this yesterday.  The seeds weren't mature.  It didn't taste of anything.  So obviously it wasn't ripe. 
 
What I need to know is how to identify if they are ripe BEFORE picking them, because once I've picked them and cut them open then it's too late to ripen them further.
 
I would say they are pretty slow to ripen by observing my Aji fantasy plants i had growing few years ago, perhaps 80-90 days at the earliest and there should be some indication when they are ready to pick.
 
Chilidude said:
I would say they are pretty slow to ripen by observing my Aji fantasy plants i had growing few years ago, perhaps 80-90 days at the earliest and there should be some indication when they are ready to pick.
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80-90 days from pods setting?  Yikes, we'll probably have frost by then.
 
Mitzi said:
 
80-90 days from pods setting?  Yikes, we'll probably have frost by then.
Click to expand...
 
Yes, chili plants in general are slow to ripen their pods. C.annuum are usually the fastest, c.baccatum are next slowers and then there is the c. chinense ripening speed. I am afraid you will have to bring the plant inside to ripen it's pods when the first sign of frost is incoming.
 
My chinenses are ripening beautifully, as it happens.  Ah well, just have to be more patient with the baccatums.  Unfortunately the plants are too large to bring back indoors.
 
It may be an exception to the rule, but my reapers are ripening faster than my jalapeños, and my lemondrops are even slower.
Imo, I think it depends on which varieties like your climate/conditions the most.
 
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