Habaneros are a variety of chilies that are mostly known for their spice level. These have a green color on them when unripe, but this slowly turns into an orange shade once the chili starts maturing. Aside from this, some variants have a red color on them but the only difference between these chilies is their level of spice. The size of these chilies can vary from 2 to 6 centimeters depending on how ripe they are.
The plants are also quite easy to grow in most gardens as they require low maintenance. Although, you will notice that there are also some problems that you can run into with these. A common question people ask regarding these chilies is “Why are my habaneros not turning orange?”. If you are running into the same issue, then going through this article should help you in finding some troubleshooting steps for it.
Why Are Habaneros Not Turning Orange
- Habaneros Not Ripe
The most common reason why the habaneros you have might not be turning orange can be that they are not ripe. When harvesting the chilies, people should wait patiently as these can take some time to ripen up. If you decide to harvest them before it then the chilies will most likely not be ripe enough. Keeping this in mind, the first thing that you should do is understand when to tell these are ripe.
The color will start to turn into a bright orange as soon as this start maturing. The size should be around 1 to 2.5 inches long which helps in indicating that these are ripe enough to harvest. The color is usually the best indication to get some habanero chilies from your garden, but you can also try pinching the spice. This helps in checking if it is firm enough.
If you feel that the insides are still hallowed, then let your chilies grow for a few more days. Once these are ready to harvest, make sure that you use a sharp knife to remove the habaneros. This helps in ensuring that they can come off without any damage to the plant. The process also allows new chilies to grow in place of the ones you just harvested.
- Amount Of Light Your Plant Is Getting
The second main reason why the color on your habaneros might still be a green shade can be that these are not receiving enough light. The color usually starts changing when the chilies are mature enough to grow. However, the sunlight around the plant is mostly used as the main source of nutrients.
This is why if you are having problems with your plant growing then it is not getting enough light. Start by checking the position where your habaneros have been planted and try changing it. This should be in a spot where the plant gets about 6 to 8 hours of light every day. If done properly, then the chilies should grow without any issues.
Make sure that you keep them away from shade and direct light hits the habaneros. The process can take some time and might be quite difficult for people which is why they can also test the solution by putting their chilies inside a pot. This allows them to easily test around different locations and then find one that best suits the chilies.
- Weather Conditions Around The Habaneros
Finally, if you are still getting the same issue with your habaneros then keep in mind that the weather conditions around the plant can also play a huge role in its growth. The chilies mostly prefer a warmer environment which is why you must keep them in a spot where they get long hours of sunlight every day. However, if you live in a colder area then this might not be enough.
This is where the use of fertilizers and soil comes in. The type of soil that you are using should help the plant by maintaining the warm temperatures around it. Additionally, the fertilizers should boost the growth of your habaneros by providing them with all the nutrients they are lacking. There are tons of stores that manufacture the product, just make sure that you select a reliable one for your chilies.