I dont think it will be hugely detrimental to the fruit. Only negative thing i can see about having the pod touching the ground is that it will increase access points for ground walking insects to climb on up and do some damage possibly.

I would try to prop up the branch or the pod itself don't want pods touching the ground especially after watering may cause the fruit to rot as it's sitting on wet soil. All my leaves whose tip touch the ground usually curl up and die.

I just checked and the ones touching the ground are indeed starting to rot where they touch. I dont think it was the moisture because the soil has been quite dry for the last week. The plant is nice and thick but not very tall. The vast majority of pods are higher up and wont ever touch the ground so it isn't that big of deal. Problem is, those touching the ground are mostly the first pods to set. I will have to wait to get some good ripe ones.

use chopsticks in an X to prop them off of the ground.

I may just do that Phildeez. I have a bunch of small wooden stakes (about a foot long) that I think are for crafts. I could break those into two and use them to prop the low hangers. All my other pepper plants are fine. Just this one.

I did it last year and saved a good number of early tomatoes, I am sure it would work with peppers. I used bamboo shishkabob skewers.

Well, the support sticks seem to have solved the problem. Now, I just wish something would changed from green to orange/red.

Ah, the ripening game... ;-)

Yes, the first pods to ripen seem to take the longest.
As soon as you pull the first ripe pod, the other pods begin to ripen in a hurry.
I've often been tempted to just pull a green pod in order to encourage the others to ripen.
But I usually just wait, checking them constantly....

Josh

Josh:
By "checking them constantly", do you mean 3-4 times per day? Or do you think I have a problem? :)

only 3-4, what do you do w/ the rest of your time ;)

I just stare at them. Sometimes after an hour or two, I swear I can see it grow. If I drink a "few" beers during the watching time, I can count on them changing colors as well.

I love drinking beer and watching my peppers grow. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! +1 essox07

LOL!! I may have to give that a shot real soon!! Checking on them 1-2 times a day doesn't seem to be giving me the results I am after!

Yep, twice a day...if not more ;-)
Sometimes I go out to the garden at night, too.

Josh

Josh, I know the deal. I start to get up at 2am and my wife says: where are you going? I tell her I heard a noise outside. I come back with the flash light and say everything is fine. But I think she is catching on. She doesn't ask where I am going any more.
Just kidding.
But I look forward to that first check in the morning to see if I can see any change from the night before.
Regarding drinking beer while watching my peppers grow. I often sit there wondering what would happen if I fed a Bud Light to each of my container plants? They get to looking pretty thirsty while I am sitting there with a beer in my hand.

ah good I was beginning to think I was the only one. any excuse to look @ my peepers, the wind just blew better check the peppers, the sun has changed positions in the sky, better check the peppers, a dog just barked down the street, better check the peppers, and of course the flashlight nighttime checking of the peppers, I had been telling my girlfriend that I wanted to find out what was eating my leaves @ night, it was slugs but I eradicated them months ago, I still check my peppers @ night, I just like the way the led blue glow makes them shine all pretty like ;) P.S. for those of u w/ slug problems, a couple of tuna or cat food cans filled w/ coors light left in the sun in between rows was all I needed to get rid of a hundred or more slugs allthough any beer will probably do, preferably one u don't like to drink ;)

Ha, I check for pests at night....and raccoons, which are showing up with their babies now....
Chile freak, I use the same type of cheap beer trap out here for slugs. Earwigs are the
main problem at the moment, so I've been using bamboo sections set around my plants,
and in the morning I dump the earwigs that take refuge. Works quickly.

Josh

Knock on wood. I haven't had to battle any real threats from bugs yet this year. Actually, since my plants went out doors a couple months ago, I have had little in the way of threats from bugs. Just a couple scares when I have found isolated bugs. But no infestations so far. I live in a rural setting and haven't had any furry critters to deal with either. I am afraid they are all waiting for my peppers to start ripening just like I am. 3:30pm, time for a pepper check. Later guys.

Haha, I catch myself doing that too. I have discovered I do much better in pots then in the ground on peppers. Less pests, more growth and more peppers. I already have a ghost pepper in a pot that has several full size (but still green) peppers on it. Although everything else grows well in my sandy soil, I think I may just stick to pots for peppers. I think the warmer soil in the black pots is part of the reason. I also find I water less often in pots.