So you want a riper reaper? That tail will turn from green to red in a couple of days.

Yah, just gonna have to eat that one and let the rest ripen a bit longer. Don't worry, they say they are not as hot until they they are fully ripe.

yeah I have that problem too, it used to happen quite frequently. as a result I've vowed not to pick peppers at night anymore. but it's so freaking hot during the day, so it's tempting.

however, at least in my opinion, a lot of peppers, like morugas for example, taste better right at the cusp of ripeness. for peppers like bhuts this is not the case.

Peppers are generally hottest right before they are fully ripe....the reasoning is that the capsaicin begins to degrade once full ripeness is achieved.

Josh

What about seeds? Are they mature enough before fully ripe to germinate successfully? I mean at the point of ripeness of the Reaper in the picture.

Put it in a sunny window for a day or so see if it ripens up.

Kclost, absolutely.
Those seeds were viable long before that color saturation was achieved.

Josh

My general rule is when Bhuts and Nagas "look ripe"... meaning no more green, wait another 3-4 weeks and they're ready (red). Where I am, I'm in no hurry though.

Same thing with saving seeds.. Josh is right, they're probably viable right now, but I wait until FULLY mature and then a week.

Kevin

Ahhhhh the dreaded waiting game.
Randal

Ripening fruits, changing color in particular, is due some internal changes inside the pod. That is assuming that the pod has matured. I have bough green peppers with a faint suggestion of color , then let them stay on the counter. They turn beautiful red. Case in point: SERRANO, SHISHITO, CAYENNE, GYPSY, CUBANELLE.
I have planed the seeds from all of those store boughts an are growing and fruiting right now.
But having said all that, I don't know what happens to heat and flavor. But I think some peppers, when dried develop even better flavor, maybe due to some slow fermentation inside the pod.

I know what you mean. I picked a chocolate cherry pepper today, and turned it over and the side I hadn't seen was still green... dang it.

Really Josh? I thought the seeds weren't fully mature (or at least it was safe to collect) until the fruit actually started getting a bit soft.
Pam

Try here PepperMeister seed saving tips.!

Or
vvvv_GW Pepper Seed Saving Advice._vvvv

Here is a link that might be useful: Saving Pepper Seeds