Why are My Habaneros not Turning Orange? (Explained!)

Have you ever wondered why your habanero peppers aren’t turning orange like the ones at the grocery store? If so, then this article is for you. In this article, I’ll explain why habaneros not turning orange. Read on.

Should Habaneros turn orange?

Habaneros are hot peppers that can be orange, red, or yellow. The color of habanero peppers depends on what variety you are growing and when they are harvested. For example, if you harvest a habanero at the green stage, it will look green even if it is very spicy. It is also possible for some varieties to turn orange or yellow when they reach maturity.

Why are my Habaneros not turning orange?

The most common reason why your habanero peppers aren’t turning orange is because they aren’t mature enough yet.

If you see that your plant has big green fruits on it with no sign of turning orange then it’s probably not mature enough yet and should be left on the plant until it matures into its full-color phase.

There are a few other things that can cause your habanero peppers to stay green, including:

Temperature – Habanero peppers do best in warm climates. If you live in an area with cooler temperatures, you may need to supplement the temperature inside your home for them to grow well.
Light – Habaneros need a lot of light to develop their characteristic coloration. If they don’t get enough sunlight, they won’t turn orange as expected.

How do you get Green Habaneros to turn Orange?

The answer is quite simple. You need to expose the peppers to light. If you use them green, they will still taste good but will have a different heat level and color than if you wait for them to turn orange.

The best way to do this is to plant your seeds indoors in early spring, about 2-4 weeks before your last frost date. You can also plant them outdoors once the soil has warmed up and all chance of frost has passed. You can also start indoors but transplant them outside when the weather warms up enough for them not to freeze during the night.

Once these peppers are in a sunny spot, they will start producing chlorophyll which turns them green (and gives them their heat).

You can tell when they are ready to harvest because their stems will turn red and start drooping over toward the ground. This is when they are ready for picking!

How long does it take for Habanero peppers to turn orange?

A habanero will take approximately three months from planting to turn orange. Habaneros are very slow-growing plants and require much more attention than other peppers. The key to growing a good habanero is watering and fertilizing frequently.

Habanero peppers are a member of the Capsicum family and grow well in tropical climates. They can be used in many recipes or eaten raw. When you are growing habaneros, it is important to know how long it takes for your plant to turn orange as this helps you determine when they’re ready for harvesting.

Why are my Habaneros Staying Green?

They hadn’t had enough time to ripen Habaneros are a slow-ripening pepper. They need about 75 days to reach full size and up to 90 days for the flavor to develop fully.

If your habaneros are still green after that amount of time, you may have planted them too early or watered them too much.

If your plants were grown from seed, they may not have gotten enough sunlight. If they were grown from seedlings, they may have been stressed by lack of water or too much heat (or both).

Will Habaneros Turn Orange after Picking?

It is possible for habanero peppers to turn orange after picking, especially if they have been allowed to ripen on the plant for some time before being picked.

This does not mean that you should stop eating them, though. The color change actually indicates that the pepper has reached full maturity and has been exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time.

There are two main reasons why habaneros may turn orange when picked:

  1. The plant was allowed to ripen fully before harvesting; or
  2.  The plant was harvested before it had fully ripened

Conclusion

The number one reason why habaneros don’t turn orange is that you’ve picked them before they were fully ripe. Most peppers can ripen on the plant, but habaneros are different. It’s important to wait for as long as humanly possible for your peppers to ripen, and then harvest them. Even then, it still might not happen.

Sources:

Habanero Peppers Growing and Plant Care Guide