I grew up in the northwest of the US, very similar climate. Geology is somewhat different, but in speaking on climate as you are, I'm intimately familiar with the conditions. Soil may be different, but nitrogen in its various natural forms is identical globally, and it is quickly consumed or leaches out (esp in high rainfall areas like the UK!) and needs replenishment for plant productivity. Saying that nitrogen is to grow leaves omits critical information from the issue at hand. It is one of the fundamental building components of chlorophyll, and lower levels results in less photosynthesis by plants, and thereby lower production. When modern cultivars are grown where nitrogen levels are low, the plants languish, just as is evidenced by the leaf color of the grass, weeds, and strawberries in the photo. They survive, but far below their potential. Did you notice that the RHS site suggest application of growmore general fertilizer? Looking at the growmore website, their general purpose fertilizers are generally very high in nitrogen content. The RHS appears to agree that annual nitrogen application is of value to strawberries, despite what local practices might be.

Sugar is generated due to heat. In the commercial strawberry fields here along the Southern California coast, the fields are "mulched" with black plastic sheeting to absorb the heat and transmit it to the soil and surrounding air. Too much direct, not sun can damage the fragile berries, but warm soil and warm air provide them with all the heat they need to ripen. The coast here is often quite foggy and frequently cold compared to the inland heat. When it's 100+ inland, it can be forty, sometimes fifty degrees cooler along the coast. In those cooler, damper, foggier climates, the only way to grow sweet berries, citrus and tomatoes is in pots, preferably seated on stone or masonry surfaces to collect, reflect and radiate the heat not provided by the air. Perhaps you're experiencing similar issues? If it's the plant material preventing your berries from ripening, I'd think it would be due to their preventing the air and soil from warming. You might try thinning the foliage and runners toward the center of the planting box to provide more sunlight to the cooler parts. Hopefully that should warm them enough for you to begin seeing ripening in those areas. Good luck! Kim

Sometimes the ripening of a pod can be an immature kind. Or it can be that it was almost ready to change color when you picked it. I thing in this case probably harvesting hastened it. I don,t think fluoro had anything to do with it. I have ripened many pepper pods on the counter top in my kitchen. I have managed to germinate quite few seeds from those that turn color on the counter (shishito, serrano, gypsy, anaheim, chilaca ).. One of them did not germinate and that was a pepperoncino that I had harvested green and it turned red on the counter. On the other hand, if you want to use the pod as spice, it matters very little how it turned color. Unless you want ro save seeds from it.

Ok. I am a little south of you , in Seattle WA. area. My Habs, LD are just turning color. But coming along slowly. Our lows are dipping into high 40s(F). And our FFD should be around mid November. So there is no danger of frost anytime soon. Vancouver is usually couple degrees cooler than North Seattle. About Ripening: This is my personal experience, that once a pod is fully matured in size, from there on ripening is an internal process to the pod. That is, it can ripen without help from the mother plant. It just needs time. But those that are not up to the size, you can dry them but they won't get red. I have bought a lot of green serrano, shishito in the past ( with just a hint of color) and they have turned beautiful red just by sitting on the counter. Pulling and hanging upside down is the same. It might aide some of the immature pods to have a chance. Another option would be to bring your plants inside, until the fruits ripen. Here I am talking about potted plants. I might do that with one of my Habs that is way behind. Good Luck !