When do you pick jalapeno peppers from the plant?

Question

I am growing jalapenos for the first time and I am really not sure when they are ripe enough to pick them. One of them has a strip of black on it. Is there a certain color that determines the correct time to pick them? Thanks

Answer 1

Some chile varieties will develop "corking", or small stress stripes, on the pepper surface when they reach full size. This a great clue that peppers are ready for early harvesting. A few of the peppers which show corking are certain Jalapenos, Habaneros, Hungarian Hots, Chilcostles, and Fresnos.

Answer 2

Its been my experience that you can pick and use jalapeno peppers as soon as they are big enough for what you want to use them in. As soon as I have them about 1 1/2" long I start using them.