Gardening - Q&A: Peppers Spoil Before Ripening

ArcaMax Publishing > Home & Garden > Gardening

Your email address is safe with us. View our Privacy policy.

Gardening hangman:

Try our FREE ArcaMax Gardening Hangman Game

The Funnies:

Get free jokes, comics, and more! See them all on
our funnies page

Books:

Read the classics online or by email. More details on the books page

Q&A: Peppers Spoil Before Ripening

Question: My peppers always seem to rot before they turn red. What's the problem, and what can I do to get nice, ripe peppers?

Answer: It sounds like there may be some cultural problems with the peppers, as well as a bacterial soft rot. Peppers need a long, warm growing season to mature. If yours are not maturing by the end of summer you need to either find a shorter season variety, or help them along by enhancing the heat in the garden. Try using a dark colored mulch to absorb heat during the daytime and radiate it back toward the plants at night (black plastic will work). Make sure the plants are receiving 8-10 hours of direct sunlight earh day. Peppers have shallow roots, so make sure the plants get ample water during the growing season.To guard against bacterial soft rot, avoid overcrowding of plants, try not to water from above, and promply remove infected plant material and debris from the garden.

Content provided by the National Gardening Association