[chili]

i got my plants mixed up lol and now have no idea whats what, i do know that so far all the fruits seem to be turning black? is this normal, piccy below taken 5 minutes ago.
everything starts off green and ends up black these are about 1.5 / 2 inches big how long do i leave before i pick them.
better still once i do pick them what shall i do with them, i only grew them for something to do

[sunshineband]

They look good 

You can use them for all the things you would normally do with chillis, and they do look ready to eat.

If you have too many, they dry really well by threading them through the top with a needle and cotton to make a garland (called a ristra  ) Just hang it up somwehere warm and dry.

[missycat]

I agree they look ready
We freeze our excess chilies on a flat tray then put them in freezer bags. To use them we chop them frozen and add to whatever we're making

[WirralWally]

. . . .  i only grew them for something to do

 
I have to sympathise with you.
I'm a chilli lover and grew a multitude of plants (about 40) but started them off in seed pods without labels.
Now I have them spread around all of my window sills; in the greenhouse and on the patio.
I have no idea what variety is in which pot.

I have some surprises. For instance, two plants, which have produced about 20 green chillies each, are now producing baby bright orange chillies.
Why? I haven't a clue.

What I do know is that I shall be using them all in my cooking.

If you produced your chillies for 'something to do' now is the time to find something else to do.


. . . . . . . . cook dishes with chillies. 

[oldcow]

Interesting... I have some Jalapeno peppers, and they're turning half black too (the part in the sun). The black part is nice and shiny, it doesn't look like a disease at all, but it sure looks strange. I wonder if any chilli expert out there has seen that too, and if it's something to worry about.

[FatMog]

Yes, they are chillies and they are ready... I grew some like that last year.  Unfortunately it was a plant bought from a local garden centre as a sweet pepper so I don't know which variety it actually was either!  But if you have a look at any of the big chilli seed supplier websites you'll see there are several similar-looking purple/black varieties.

Anyway, it was like a jalepeno in heat and texture, as I remember.

My favourite variety is Santa Fe Grande which is a yellow/pale green chilli, not actually particularly grande, more medium sized.  Tastes great drizzled in olive oil and roasted on the bbq and then sprinkled with sea salt. Yum.

[Novice but totally hooked]

One suggestion of what to do with excess chillies.

Last year I made loads of crabapple jelly and put whole chillies in it when potting it.  As long as the chilli is completely submerged it won't go mouldy.

By the time you come to eat the jelly (very yummy with sausages and gravy in mid winter) the chillies have done their job!

[sunshineband]

One suggestion of what to do with excess chillies.

Last year I made loads of crabapple jelly and put whole chillies in it when potting it.  As long as the chilli is completely submerged it won't go mouldy.

By the time you come to eat the jelly (very yummy with sausages and gravy in mid winter) the chillies have done their job!

Like the sound of that a lot -- if you have the complete recipe you could add it to the recipe section about chillis as I am sure it would be popular 

[chili]

so if they are ready do i just pick them off as close to the plant as possible? and what would be the best way to store them?

many thanks

[sunshineband]

Cut them off with a bit of stalk attached