When To Pick Purple Bell Peppers

Knowing when to pick purple bell peppers can feel like a guessing game. Get the timing right, and you’ll enjoy a crisp, sweet pepper with a unique color. Pick too early or too late, and you might miss the best flavor and texture your plant has to offer.

This guide will walk you through the simple signs of ripeness. We’ll cover how color, feel, and size tell you it’s time to harvest. You’ll also learn what happens if you wait too long and how to pick them correctly to keep your plant productive.

Purple bell peppers are a beautiful addition to the garden. Their deep, almost jewel-toned skin stands out. Unlike green peppers, which are simply unripe, the purple color is a true stage of ripeness for these specific varieties.

However, they have a more complex color journey than you might think. Understanding this is key to harvesting them at their peak.

The Color Change: Your Primary Signal

Watch the pepper’s color closely. It is your best indicator.

Start Green: All purple bell peppers begin life as a solid green fruit.
Look for a Glossy Sheen: As they mature, the skin becomes very shiny and glossy.
Watch for Purple Streaks: The first hint of purple will appear as streaks or a blush on the green skin.
Full, Even Color: The pepper is ready when it has developed a solid, uniform purple hue. This can be a deep violet or an almost eggplant shade.

A common mistake is picking them as soon as you see any purple. Waiting for that full, even color ensures maximum sweetness. The green parts will still be more bitter.

Feel and Firmness: The Touch Test

Color isn’t the only clue. Give your pepper a gentle squeeze.

A ripe purple bell pepper will feel firm and solid.
It should have a slight give, but no soft spots or wrinkles.
If it feels squishy, it is likely overripe or starting to decay.

The skin should be taut and smooth. Wrinkling is a sign the pepper is losing moisture and is past its prime.

Size Matters: Check Your Variety’s Potential

Compare the pepper to the expected size for its variety. Most seed packets or plant tags will list an average size.

A pepper that has reached its full size and has turned completely purple is ready.
If it’s still small but purple, it may be a “mini” variety or stressed. Full size with full color is the ideal combo.

What About the Shiny Surface?

The glossy shine on the skin is a great sign of freshness. A matte or dull finish can sometimes indicate the pepper has been on the plant a bit too long. The shine means the cells are plump with water and nutrients.

The Flavor Evolution of Purple Peppers

Why is timing so important for flavor? It’s all about the sugars.

Green Stage (Early): More chlorophyll, leading to a sharper, slightly bitter taste, like a green bell pepper.
Turning Purple (Mid): Sugars begin to develop, balancing the bitterness with mild sweetness.
Full Purple (Peak): Optimal sugar content. The flavor is sweetest, crispest, and most complex.
Overripe (Late): Can become slightly less crisp and may develop a faint fermented taste if left too long.

For the best eating experience, patience during the final color change is crucial. The flavor difference is noticeable.

A Surprising Twist: They Can Turn Red

Here’s a fun fact many new gardeners don’t expect. If you leave a fully purple bell pepper on the plant even longer, it will often transition to a deep red color.

This is because the purple anthocyanin pigments (which give the purple color) are joined by ripening red carotenoids.
A red purple bell pepper will be at its absolute sweetest, but it will have lost its unique purple hue.
The texture may also begin to soften slightly as it reaches this final biological stage.

So, you have a choice: pick at perfect purple for color and great flavor, or wait for red for maximum sweetness.

Step-by-Step Harvesting Instructions

When your pepper meets all the criteria, it’s time to harvest. Doing it right protects the plant.

Use a sharp, clean pair of garden pruners or scissors. Do not pull or twist the pepper off by hand.
Locate the stem connecting the pepper to the plant. It’s usually quite thick and sturdy.
Cut the stem about an inch above the crown (top) of the pepper itself. Leave a short piece of stem attached to the fruit.
This “handle” helps prevent the pepper from rotting at the top where it was attached. It’s a small step that makes storage much better.
Place your harvested peppers gently into a basket or bucket to avoid bruising.

What Happens If You Pick Too Early?

Picking a pepper that’s only partly purple isn’t harmful, but it’s not ideal. The pepper will not continue to develop its full sweetness off the vine like a tomato does. It will remain at the flavor stage it was at when picked.

It will still be edible, just more bitter and less sweet than it could have been. The texture might also be a bit harder.

What Happens If You Pick Too Late?

Leaving a purple pepper on the plant indefinitely leads to overripeness. Signs include:

Loss of firmness, becoming soft or wrinkly.
The color may fade or start to show red patches.
Increased likelyhood of sunscald or pest damage.
The flavor can decline, becoming somewhat bland or fermented.

An overripe pepper also sends signals to the plant to slow down production. Regular harvesting encourages more flowers and fruit.

Storing Your Purple Bell Pepper Harvest

To enjoy your harvest for weeks, proper storage is key.

Do not wash peppers until you are ready to use them. Moisture speeds up decay.
Place them in a plastic bag or container with a dry paper towel to absorb excess humidity.
Store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
Properly stored, they can last for 1 to 2 weeks.

For longer-term storage, you can slice or dice them and freeze on a tray before transferring to freezer bags. Their texture will soften upon thawing, making them best for cooked dishes like soups, stews, and stir-fries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are purple peppers just unripe green peppers?

No. While green peppers are unripe versions of standard varieties, the purple color in specific purple bell pepper varieties is a true stage of ripeness caused by anthocyanin pigments.

How long does it take for them to turn purple?

After reaching full size, it typically takes 1-2 weeks for the full, even purple color to develop, depending on sunlight and temperature.

Can I eat them when they’re part green and part purple?

Yes, they are safe to eat, but the green parts will have a more bitter, less sweet flavor compared to the fully purple sections.

Why are my purple peppers not turning color?

Extreme heat can sometimes stall color development. Ensure they get plenty of sunlight. Also, confirm you planted a true purple variety, as some peppers just have purple streaks.

Do purple peppers taste different than other bell peppers?

When fully ripe, they have a sweetness similar to a red or orange bell pepper, but many people detect a slightly fruitier, more complex flavor profile alongside the crisp texture.

Final Tips for Success

Consistent watering is vital for good pepper development. Fluctuating moisture levels can cause blossom end rot or cracked fruit. A layer of mulch around the plants helps keep soil moisture even.

Feed your plants with a balanced fertilizer when they first flower to support fruit set. Too much nitrogen early on will give you lots of leaves but few peppers.

Finally, keep an eye on your plants daily once fruit sets. The change from green to purple can happen suprisingly fast under the right conditions, and you’ll want to catch them at that perfect moment.