When to pick Banana peppers? – How to Grow and Care for Banana Peppers?

Banana peppers are also popular by their other name, yellow wax peppers. They tend to grow in the full sun for their growth and will give you results for a long time. There are various types of banana peppers. They come in different flavors such as sweet, hot, etc. You can easily grow the delicious banana peppers in your yard and get their benefits. It can be a great addition to your garden collection. Do you know when to pick banana peppers?  

Quick takeaways:

• Banana peppers are pest-free and can be picked when they attain their mature size which will be discussed below in this article.
• If you pick them at the wrong time then they will taste bitter.
• It is even one of the famous pepper varieties that need to be there in every gardener’s area.
• They are crunchy and even can be used in the kitchen.
• You can make pickles which will taste fantastic. 

So, in this guide, you will come to know more about banana peppers.  

Let’s proceed to understand its process of growing and maintaining so that they give you long-lasting results. 

What are Banana peppers? 

Banana peppers are also known by other names such as banana chilis, yellow wax pepper, etc. It is a small or medium-sized part of the pepper family. It has an amazing mild and spicy taste that will make you happy.

They will add a savory flavor to your meal. They can change in various shades such as green, orange, red, etc. They can be used as a pickle or even a raw item for food items.  

When to pick Banana peppers?

As you come to know about the princess of growing banana peppers in your garden, it is great but it is the initial step. Do you know when you should pick them up? It is a tricky thing to do as picking them at the wrong time will be of no use. They need to be picked by anyone when they get fully ripe. 

It is suggested to pick the banana peppers when they gain a yellow color with a mature size of 4-5 inches long as that is the best time for the plant to be picked. Picking them properly at the right time will give fruitful results like Cayenne Pepper, Serrano Peppers, Bell Peppers, etc. and you will see a tangy and mild taste of the peppers. Otherwise, picking them at the wrong time will let the peppers change their color from yellow to orange and then orange to red. 

For those, who are planning to save the seeds for the next year so that they can grow them another time, they need to let their banana peppers get fully ripened.

This will happen when they gain a deep red color. They can be used in the next growing season. You can eat the peppers anytime after they get mature. 

How can you grow banana peppers?

Folks, who want to grow banana peppers in your garden area, then you can easily do so, it just needs your efforts and potential. Follow the below steps to grow your banana peppers: 

Step 1- Firstly, you have to put the soil in any container in which you want to grow your plant. 

Step 2- Then, add water and mix it. 

Step 3- Put down the seeds in the soil and tap them smoothly. 

Step 4- You have to dig a hole of about ¼’’ deep for planting the peppers for each seedling.

Step 5- Then, put 1-2 seeds in every hole. 

Step 6- After that, you have to cover them with the soil and by spraying the water, let them moist. 

Step 7- As we know, plants need some things like oxygen, water, and sunlight for their growth, so, provide them this by placing them in a warm area. 

How to care for banana peppers? 

Caring for your plant is important if you want the results faster. You can also plant some companion plants with pepper. So, below are the caring tips that will help you in maintaining your banana peppers: 

1. Sunlight needs 

Place your banana peppers in an area where they receive plenty of sunlight for their growth. They tend to receive at least 7-8 hours of sunlight in a day to give you amazing results. 

2. Soil needs 

You can use organic matter and manure in your soil for your banana pepper’s growth. Some people love to grow plants in pots, so they are recommended to use a potting mix of good quality. They will grow in well-drained soil. 

3. Fertilizer requirements 

You can fertilize your pepper plant two times a month which will enhance its growth of the plant. You can feed them organic vegetable fertilizer. 

4. Water needs 

The banana pepper plant needs regular water for its expansion like any other plant. You have to keep the soil moist all along in its growing season. Make sure not to overwater your plant as the plant is sensitive. 

5. Mulching

You can do mulching on your banana pepper plants as it will control the weeds. You can use organic matter as it will remain moist. 

Growing Tips:

The following are some growing tips that will help you grow banana peppers:

• For choosing the place to grow bananas you need a place where you haven’t grown other nightshades for about two seasons.
• The right location for transplanting seedlings is where the low nighttime temperature needs to be above 50°F.
• You need to supply at least 1 inch of water per week to grow them properly.
• The right way of watering the plant is to avoid watering them above the plant leaves which will help to keep them away from diseases.

How to harvest banana peppers?

The following are tips for harvesting banana peppers such as:

Harvest banana peppers in the morning:

• To harvest banana peppers you need to choose the early time and pick them before the sun gets too hot. 
• They are used to regain moisture during the night and in the morning you get juicier and crispier fruit. 

Wear the gardening gloves:

• Make sure to wear gardening gloves to pick the pepper as in peppers there is the presence of capsaicin which makes them spicy and causes irritation when you get in touch with your skin and eyes.
• After picking the peppers you need to wash your hands before you are going to use the bathroom or touch your eyes.

Snipping the pepper’s stem:

•  You need to cut the stem of banana peppers instead of pulling them off because they are brittle and can easily break.
• You can cut them by using shears by placing them as close as the plant to get the main stalk.
• While cutting the stem you need to hold the stem and make sure it doesn’t fall to the ground.
• After cutting you need to sanitize the shears so that there is no chance of getting the bacteria or fungi to spread.
• In case of not have a pair of pruning shears, you can pinch the stem between your fingers by holding the stalk with your other hand and pulling the stem gently in an upward direction to break the plant off. 

Keep checking banana peppers:

• When picking the peppers they often robust new growth by producing flowers that bloom into more fruit.
• You need to check the plant in case any new peppers have ripened or grown.

Enveloping the context 

Last but not least, planting savory banana peppers in your garden is a great decision. You can grow them with the help of this guide and care for them properly. Banana peppers are also popular by their other name, yellow wax peppers. They come in different flavors such as sweet, hot, etc. You can easily grow the delicious banana peppers in your yard and get their benefits. So what are you waiting for? Move ahead and plant your banana pepper plant in your home garden. 

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