When should I eat tomatoes off my plant? When they turn red, or when they get big enough? The first two tomatoes have turned bright red but are still marble sized. Two others are nearly the size of a small billiard ball but still green? Should I assume the red ones aren't getting any bigger and just eat them?
What about chilli peppers? Is there a right time to pick them?
Comments
The larger fruits will eventually turn red but can be used green if you want. One way is to bread them and pan fry them. Another way is to pickle them in a brine solution for a week or so.
As for chili peppers, when to pick depends on the variety and intended use. If the pepper is a type that has a thick wall, you may want to wait until it just starts to turn red. If they have a thin, papery wall, you may want to let them mature and dry on the vine, then use the dried peppers in a variety of meals. Jalapeños, for example, have a thick wall and are ready when the dark green starts to become lighter.
I looked them up because I was afraid you might have gotten an inedible decorative chili but these should be very good to cook with. I had never heard of them before.
Actually, it's true for a lot of fruits.