Problems With Pepper

Aphids

• Many common pepper plant diseases are caused by viruses spread by aphids. Aphids group under leaves and suck any new growth from the plant, leaving a sticky residue called "honeydew" which attracts molds and leaves discolored spots on leaves. Common aphid-caused infections include: Cercospora leaf spot, Alternaria leaf spot and bacterial leaf spot. Aphids can be sprayed away with a blast of water, or killed with insecticidal soap. Natural predators of aphids include lacewing flies, ladybugs and praying mantis.

Insects

• Cutworms, gray or brown grubs that hide in soil by day and feed by night, cause seedlings to be cut off near the soil's surface. Deter them by removing all plant debris from your garden or building a 3-inch cardboard collar around the plants one inch into the soil. Or just remove them by hand. Many other insects chew through leaves, leave them appearing withered and scorched, or leave a white froth on stems. Most bugs can be controlled by cleaning debris, using insecticidal soaps and hand removal.

Environment

• If the plants aren't developing and dropping blossoms, the temperature may be too cold for growing peppers. If it is warm enough during the day but too cool at night, install a wire cage around the peppers and cover the cage with plastic at night. If foliage is lush but little or no peppers are developing, the soil may be too nitrogen rich and not contain enough phosphorus. Adding aged compost to the planting bed before planting can help, too.

Fungi

• Leaves and peppers turning yellow and brown or stems splitting colors are the primary signs of a fungal infection. Common fungal infections include southern blight, Phytophthora stem rot and early blight. These can be prevented through crop rotation, weeding, proper garden drainage, and not over-watering. Sunken water-soaked areas on fruit and stems causing fruit to sometimes become watery and collapse are caused by the fungus anthracnose. If this happens, do not collect infected seed. Instead destroy the rotting fruit and spray with a fixed copper- or sulfur-based fungicide every seven days.