man I always have problems with sweet peppers, can grow everything else
but peppers are always a problem. Anyway, my peppers were going great
until the bottom leaves starting falling off, now only the tops are
left, they are brown at the edges, at the middles, you name it. Only a
few leaves left on the top but many new small leaves popping out of the
main stem, like its trying to come back. I have two patches of peppers
physically seperated, now I'm starting to see problems with the second
patch, during hot weather six or seven of them get real droopy, even
though the soil is damp and mulched, the others are fine but probably
won't be for long. Brown edges are starting, is this a fungus? I read a
description here and it sounds like the problem
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3122.html (Fusarium wilt and
Verticillium wilt), apparently there are no peppers that genetically
are immumed, so thats why my tomatoes don't seem to be infected, but
thats just a guess.

In any case is it time to go get a gas mask and some fungicide? These
are all in raised beds, cow manure and seaweed/fish emulsion fertilized
(also compost from grass and leaves mix). I lime as needed.

Its funny, my neighbor plants his peppers directly underneath a huge
oak tree, no mulch and his do great!(his tomatoes do horrible) My
plants are in direct sun, do sweet peppers like semi shade?

On 21 Jun 2005 20:10:10 -0700, wrote:

man I always have problems with sweet peppers, can grow everything else
but peppers are always a problem.

In my experience, bell peppers are more susceptible to disease
than chilies. I didn't grow any bells this year for that reason.
I planted several other varieties of sweet peppers, and some of
them aren't doing well. I just pulled up 2 Corno Di Toro plants
because they looked so bad.

In fact, speaking generally, _C annuum_ varieties are more
susceptible to disease than any of the other species.



Anyway, my peppers were going great
until the bottom leaves starting falling off, now only the tops are
left, they are brown at the edges, at the middles, you name it. Only a
few leaves left on the top but many new small leaves popping out of the
main stem, like its trying to come back. I have two patches of peppers
physically seperated, now I'm starting to see problems with the second
patch, during hot weather six or seven of them get real droopy, even
though the soil is damp and mulched, the others are fine but probably
won't be for long. Brown edges are starting, is this a fungus? I read a
description here and it sounds like the problem
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3122.html (Fusarium wilt and
Verticillium wilt), apparently there are no peppers that genetically
are immumed, so thats why my tomatoes don't seem to be infected, but
thats just a guess.

Take a few leaves into your local extension office and get an
accurate diagnosis so you know what you're dealing with, if it's
not one of the fungal wilts, they can direct you toward an
effective treatment.

In any case is it time to go get a gas mask and some fungicide?


If it's Fusarium or Verticillium Wilt, there's not a lot you can
do.

These
are all in raised beds, cow manure and seaweed/fish emulsion fertilized
(also compost from grass and leaves mix). I lime as needed.

Do you test the soil? Could your mixture be too rich?


Its funny, my neighbor plants his peppers directly underneath a huge
oak tree, no mulch and his do great!(his tomatoes do horrible) My
plants are in direct sun, do sweet peppers like semi shade?

No, peppers like full sun.



Penelope
--
"Maybe you'd like to ask the Wizard for a heart."
"ElissaAnn"

Yes I test the soil, its ok and certainly not rich, cow
manure/compost/fish emulsion are very low in nutrients so I have a
tough time maintaining a normal level of nutrients.

Looks like it Verticillium Wilt