When are my chillies ripe?

Question

I bought a little chilli plant at Kew Gardens, but I'm wondering when they're "ripe". I know they go from cream to orange to red but do they grow longer when they're red, or is that it? They're all quite small. Don't ask what type they are, I haven't a clue, I'm not the gardening type. ;]

Today I'm thinking of buying a windowbox. Can I put the chillies and the basil plant I have in it or is it better to keep it inside?

Answer 1

When chilie peppers turn red...they're ripe.
Harvest peppers when they are large, glossy, and thick-walled. Wait for the mature ripe stage when color changes from green to red. When harvesting, always cut, rather than pull, peppers from the plant.
If the pepper still has a slight green coloration, put it in a cool, dark, but well-ventilated place for two or three days. This will help it finish ripening; green chili peppers will only shrivel and turn a dull orange color as they dry.
http://www.farm-garden.com/node/315/print

"For dry chile, the most important consideration is to preserve the red color of the mature fruits. Drying them in the sun is commonly done; however, this tends to bleach the fruits and rainfall or dew can rot the fruits. Solar dryers have been developed for drying Chiles, but they require fairly constant sunshine. Cloudy weather increases the drying time and the risk of mold infestations. If ovens are available, fruits may be dried for eight hours at 60°C, then reduce the temperature to 50° C"
In temperate regions, chile pepper production is usually halted by frost at the end of the season.
http://ushotstuff.com/Growing.Tips.htm

Poor soil and dry conditions produces smaller but hotter pods than those found on a similar plant in a more hospitable environment. Just pick even the the small ones when they're red & you'll get more peppers.
http://www.farm-garden.com/backyardgardener/keeping_the_fire
Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

They are ready when they are shiny, and if they are red, you should have picked them already - that is the size they are going to be.

They don't get any hotter on the plant, and the earlier you pick them, the more you will get. Once the plant has made its seed (inside the chilli), it will stop trying, so you should pick them as early as possible, for the biggest crops. You can also help it by giving it some tomato feed now and then, especially if it's in a pot.