by 
The Curious Bag
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<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Use the Harvest Date on the Seed Package
Most packaged pepper seeds indicate a harvest date for optimum picking. Since peppers are planted at various times of the year, the harvest date is given in a range of days from the planting date. For example, most peppers will have a harvest date around 75 to 90 days after planting.
On the Other: Watch for Corking
Corking is the process of a pepper maturation when the skin begins to show stress marks. This often occurs before estimated harvest times and indicates the perfect time to pick a pepper. Corking occurs in many chile peppers, but not all types of peppers.
Bottom Line
Know your pepper type and how you wish to use the pepper. While the harvest date given on the seeds is usually a good indicator of when to pick, it is just an estimate. If your pepper corks, watch it closely and pick as soon as it first begins to crack. If you want crisper peppers, pick before a maturity date, but if you want to make a salsa or sauce, allow for peppers to soften at complete ripeness.
Source:
University of Illinois: Pepper Guide
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