[Neil Denham]

Neil Denham asked the Naked Scientists:
   
We are growing some chilli peppers on our windowsill, for ages they have been green, but suddenly they are turning red and yellow. I understand the process of why most plants are green, but how do the peppers turn red and yellow, and what is the purpose of the colours?

What do you think?

[thedoc]

Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast.

[Neil Denham]

Thanks for the response guys! Sorry to hear you have not had luck in growing chillies Chris, not sure what our secret was, we didn't do much special and just stuck them in pots on a sunny windowsill! To make you jealous here is a link to a few pictures!

newbielink:http://exeterblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/chillies.html [nonactive]

The long ones taste pretty spicy, even when they were green, the fat ones are more like normal peppers with a slightly chilli taste.

[peteboy]

I have been growing dorset nagas (the hottest chillis in the world) this year and have a grow log newbielink:http://soundproofingforum.co.uk/chilli/ [nonactive]

[Conrad]

you were asking on chilli growing tips in your article - http://mouthburners.blogspot.com/2010/08/fundamentals-of-growing-chillies.html