I think you have enough time ahead of you to get at least a few ripe pods by the end of September, assuming some of them are already mature in size, or close to, barring any kind of freak early killing frost. If there is a threat of early frost, you could protect the plants with some kind of row cover or even just an old drape. I could not say for certain if the removal of flowers and immature pods would help the rest ripen faster, but I don't think I would bother. Do stop fertilizing and keep watering to a minimum.

If saving seeds from a ripe pod is your main concern, perhaps taking only one plant indoors, when the weather worsens, until it ripens a handful of pods could be considered and hopefully doable for you.

Even if you somehow don't get a ripe pod in the end, don't discount saving seeds from the most mature green pods, they might still sprout and grow.

Good luck!

Thanks for your suggestions, isgen, you were quite right. Most of the peppers are of a good size and suddenly two plants have ripened peppers on them, eventhough the weather has been cloudy and damp. My problem is that I have plants of two fairly rare peppers, meaning they are pure from the Ministry of Agriculture in Jamaica (according to my source). I have already shared all of my seeds with other gardening friends, so I really want to collect seeds from them. I hate bringing plants in soil indoors - I have already been 'burned' by this. I brought in bugs which are a bit of a bother to this day. Perhaps I can wash those two down and use my seed-starting lights to coax them into ripening. I hope we have a Indian Summer, or a few warm days. I will keep in mind your suggestion of saving seeds from the most mature green fruit. Thanks again.

Cool that you're getting a few ripe pods!

I totally understand about bringing in plants and a host of pest along. I don't really do it myself (not in the house at least) and really go to extreme lengths with my overwintered plants to avoid it.

Me being in southern Québec, I'm probably experiencing about the same weather patterns you do as of late, which is to say somewhat cold nights and cool (mild at best), wet days. For the last few years, you could count on September as a true extension of summer, I guess 2017 breaks the streak. I have a bunch of late tender crops still going on, so I really hope frost is still at least 3-4 weeks away.

I once sowed a bunch of seeds from a grocery bought green Jalapeno and got 90%+ germination rate, hence my suggestion in case you do not get any ripe pods, better than nothing.

"My problem is that I have plants of two fairly rare peppers, meaning they are pure from the Ministry of Agriculture in Jamaica (according to my source)."

Who's your "source?" ;)

They're not as rare as you think. There are lots of vendors selling "MoA" seeds/plants now. I didn't mean to make it sound that way :)

I hope the seeds grew true for you, northerner_on. A lot of my seed stock seems to have crossed last year, due to them being open pollinated.

Anyway, I always pinch off any buds, flowers, and small pods I know won't ripen in time. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I do it anyway.

Best of luck!