Banana peppers are one of those vegetables that are best harvested young because the longer you wait for them to mature, the less flavorful they become. Many people had found their banana peppers turning black when they used to be a vibrant green.
There are many explanations for this color change, but one of the most common is that your pepper has gone bad. This article will explain the most common causes of turning black, how you can prevent it in the future, and what steps you should take if your pepper has already turned black.
Why are My Banana Peppers Turning Black: Causes
Banana peppers come in a wide variety of colors, including bright green. The banana peppers can sometimes turn black because of the lack of nutrients. In the following section, we will discuss five reasons your banana pepper may turn black.
Excessive Sun Exposure
If you harvest your banana peppers too early, they may turn black. Green banana peppers are unripe. It is best to wait for them to mature before harvesting them or adding them to your grocery cart.
You can usually let the pepper mature by waiting until it has reached a yellowish-orange color. Wait too long, however, and the sweet banana will become sweeter and less juicy, which means the pepper won’t have any juice when it is ripe enough to eat anyway!
Cold Temperatures
Banana peppers turn black when they are exposed to cold weather, especially if they are immature and unripe. While most vegetables and vegetables would be ready for harvest during the later summer months after it has exposed them to cold autumn weather, banana peppers dislike such conditions.
Banana peppers will keep growing in colder climates until the first frost before the pepper is mature enough for harvest. This makes it very important that you store your banana peppers properly.
Poor Storage of The Banana Pepper Vegetable
If you don’t store your bananas properly or expose them to too much sun while still on the plant, then the vegetable might ripen too quickly. The vegetable might also turn black because the cold temperatures have blocked its nutrients from flowing to the rest of the plant.
Fungus Growth or Bacteria
If you detect black spots on your banana, it may be a sign that fungus has developed. If your banana pepper turns black after being exposed to water, then it may have developed bacteria overgrowth, which is often found in old food products left out for too long.
It will usually help reduce the bacterial load if you let bananas sit overnight before cutting them up. Theoretically, this should allow time for any harmful organisms to die off; however, there are no guarantees for what kinds of harmful organisms can develop within your food.
Pesticide Exposure
Banana peppers are very susceptible to pesticides. When you use the proper pesticide to prevent bugs or fungus from harming your banana pepper plants, then you will keep your vegetables fresh and vibrant with no discoloration.
But if you use too much of any type of pesticide on your healthy plants, this may cause them to turn black. The black spots on your banana pepper will be more than just unappealing; the chemicals used to keep pests away may be harmful, too.
Prevention And Treatment
If you’re worried about bananas turning black in the future, then there are several things you can do in order to prevent this from happening again.
Keep Your Banana Peppers Properly Stored
Banana peppers are very susceptible to cold weather, so if you leave them outside for too long, they may turn black. You can either cover them with a blanket or bring them inside in order to avoid this from happening again.
Keep The Banana Pepper Moist to Prevent Fungus Growth
If you see a banana pepper turning black, then this is usually a sign that fungus or bacteria has developed. You can help keep the black spots moist in order to deter fungus from growing while also killing off any harmful bacteria. Remember: bacteria thrive when it is left dry!
Leave The Banana Peppers Out at Room Temperature Overnight
If the black spots show bacteria overgrowth, then you can usually kill off any harmful organisms by letting banana peppers sit out for 24 hours or more. While you may not get rid of all the damage done to your vegetable rot, this should help reduce bacterial load in order to keep your banana pepper healthy.
When Black Peppers are a Problem
Mature green banana peppers will turn black when they are disturbed or if their environment becomes too warm. You may notice your bananas turning black in the very beginning stages of ripening.
If this is the case, then it is best to pick them before any other color shows upon them, unless you are looking to have a pepper similar in flavor to bell pepper.
If your banana peppers are showing signs of ripeness but not rotting or fermenting, then it is time to apply solutions that will fix the problem. These problems can be solved by applying heat directly to the pepper, so they can become green again.
This process takes between one week and two weeks, depending on the temperature that you expose them to. Simply wrap your banana peppers in tin foil or place them directly on the oven racks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does This Fix Take?
It takes about seven to fourteen days. You can check on them daily, but if you do this, then you have to be extremely careful not to disturb the peppers by brushing against them or touching their skin.
How can I Prevent My Bananas from Turning Black in The Future?
Banana peppers are very susceptible to cold weather, so if you leave them outside for too long, they may turn black. You can either cover them with a blanket or bring them inside in order to avoid this from happening again.
What Kinds of Pesticides Work on Banana Peppers?
Any pesticide that is used on bugs and fungus will work just fine on banana peppers. Banana peppers are very susceptible to pesticides. When you use the proper pesticide to prevent bugs or fungus from harming your banana pepper plants, then you will keep your vegetables fresh and vibrant with no discoloration.
When Should I Pick Bananas That are Turning Black?
Pick your bananas before they turn black to prevent this problem from happening in the future. Black spots on banana peppers can be a sign of bacteria or fungus overgrowth. If that is the case, then it is best to pick them before any other color shows upon them, unless you are looking to have a pepper similar in flavor to bell pepper.
Summary
Banana peppers are very susceptible to cold weather, so if you leave them outside for too long, they may turn black. You can either cover them with a blanket or bring them inside in order to avoid this from happening again.
If your banana peppers are showing signs of ripeness but not rotting or fermenting, then it is time to apply solutions that will fix the problem. These problems can be solved by applying heat directly to the pepper, so they can become green again.
