My neighbor gave me a gigantic bag with green peppers (non-spicy) and I'm wondering if there is any point in saving the seeds considering the peppers are green and biologically speaking immature? If I save and dry these would something be able to grow from it?
by louisalollig
5 Comments
There’s always a chance. It’s Mother Nature after all.
But it’s really ripe pods you want seeds from.
Save a couple, mark them as such and run your own experiments 👍🏻
Here is what I do:
Grab a paper plate. Scrape the seeds out of the pepper with a knife and remove as much of the placenta (white core) off as possible.
Allow to dry for 2 to 3 weeks (depending on humidity).
Then do a germination test.
To test pepper seed germination, moisten a paper towel, place pepper seeds on it, fold the towel, and place it in a plastic bag. Place the bag in a warm location, and after a few days (or longer for some hots), check for sprouts.
If your seeds are viable, you got a bunch of seeds for next year. I put them in mail envelopes with a label. If I do two tests with no/very low germination rates, I toss them.
Note – I have no idea what type of pepper that is, and if it is hybridized you may get mutant peppers from the seeds… which can be fun too!
Hope that helps!
I have had seeds grow from greenish peppers before and you don’t have to dry them out you can just plant some now fresh . Go for it and or let some of the peppers sit and see if they can ripen up more and put more energy into the seeds.
I’ve never been successful saving seeds from green peppers, even if fully grown right before blushing stage when seeds look fully developed. But you can try it.
However that pepper does not look fully grown and the seeds look very underdeveloped yet. I think your chances are slim to none here that any of those seeds are viable.
If he gave you a bag of peppers I don’t think he will mind you asking for a few seeds or a ripe one since you liked the peppers …..it probably won’t germinate but you could try but you could be wasting up to 30 days on it