This is my first year growing chillis, I have a few varieties but I can't get my head around the black pearls, can anyone advise how I tell if they have ripened? They seem to go from flower to full size and then deep black/purple in about a week, but that's so much quicker than any of the other ones that take weeks to ripe.
by MungoSplodge
4 Comments
Mine are the same, probably takes a little longer than a week but once they are about 3/4 or an inch long and fully black then they’re good to go. My plant was rubbish in the first year but coaxed it through the winter and it’s been brilliant this year, only problem is I find that black pearl has a poor flavour profile though a nice little kick. I’ve found if you dry and grind the chillies then they’re make a decent chilli powder if you want a little heat but no real flavour, plus if you pick a bunch to do that then there’s still time to be rewarded with those pretty flowers and more chillies!
https://preview.redd.it/wncey1jkkrff1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e37d7a3e1f91e20d337cfab68e5f53127a14add
They turn red
Oh, I was just about to write a post. I just planted one bush from a seed. Have you ever had it stop growing for a couple of weeks after a couple of true leaves and then start growing? I got the impression that this is a feature of the variety, because at that time the leaves were actively turning black.
https://preview.redd.it/it3jkslpwrff1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5c060037c528c4423c0ae00ce4a537b6e3db048
They turn red. And take a good while to do so.