Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Neil Denham on 04/08/2009 13:30:02

Title: Why do chilli peppers change colour when ripe?
Post by: Neil Denham on 04/08/2009 13:30:02

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?

Title: Why do chilli peppers change colour when ripe?
Post by: thedoc on 04/08/2009 19:21:25

Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2009.08.02/)

Title: Why do chilli peppers change colour when ripe?
Post by: Neil Denham on 06/08/2009 14:08:39

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!

http://exeterblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/chillies.html

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

Title: Why do chilli peppers change colour when ripe?
Post by: peteboy on 16/08/2009 12:57:27

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

Title: None
Post by: Conrad on 02/09/2010 19:18:32

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