In article ,
"Paul M. Cook" wrote:

"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Paul M. Cook" wrote:

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Paul M. Cook wrote:
I can't do much about the heat here in SoCal. Even the shade is 92F
today and literature says peppers drop over 90F. So my bell peppers
have started to drop their buds and small fruit. I have several
larger peppers holding their own. The plant is not stressed, it gets
water every day and needs it, the nights have been rather warm and
the days in the low 90s. I gave them all a drink of magnesium this
morning - 2 tablespoons for a gallon of water. What else can I do? The
one that drops the most buds is in a 5 gallon white bucket. Could the
roots be getting too hot? I was thinking about wrapping
some foil around the bucket.

Make sure the top of the bucket is well mulched and that it is not on
concrete or brick that will get hot from the sun. If the air temp is
so
high there isn't much you can do about that.


OK, can do. I put the bucket on the grass and I have a huge bag of
mulch.
Will it help to wrap the container in foil as I think the bucket is
getting
overheated. I have peppers in terra cotta colored plastic containers and
they seem happier.

Tin foil would reflect some of the heat, but it would also transfer it
around you pot.

What's going on is that most of the plant's energy is being used to pump
water to the leaves for evaporative cooling via the stomata. Anything
you can do to cool the plants will be beneficial. Is there anywhere
where the plants could catch some wind? Afternoon shade during the
hottest 3 hours of the day, until the heat wave is over is another
thought. Shading just the pots will cool the roots. Do you have some old
rags or towels that you could wrap around the pots? Hose these down and
you'll get shading and evaporative cooling for the pots (and roots).
Hell, throw in a couple of ice cubes into each pot during the hottest
part of the day.


I'll see if I can find a shadier spot during the afternoon. But what heat
wave? This is cool for July. We get triple digits in these parts.

Paul

Why not then just grow peas, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
Optimum temperatures fall between 70 degrees and 80 degrees F. for
bell-type peppers. Most peppers will drop their blooms when daytime
temperatures get much above 90 degrees F. in combination with night
temperatures above 75 degrees F.

Prepare to be tested Paul.
--

- Billy

There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who
learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and
find out for themselves.
Will Rogers

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