Why pepper rots on the bush: we identify the cause of the problem and effectively save our harvest
Bell peppers, popular among gardeners, belong to the nightshade family. This tasty and healthy vegetable is susceptible to the same diseases as other members of this family. As a rule, these are diseases of fungal origin associated with rotting fruits and seedlings.
Let's look at why peppers rot on the bush, and what treatment methods and preventive measures are offered.
Causes of rotting of peppers on bushes
Let's consider the main types of rotting of pepper on bushes and the causes of such problems. This may be a violation of the temperature regime, too frequent or insufficient watering, a lack of any substances, and much more.
Apical rot
If brown, dry spots appear on the tops of the fruit, it means that the peppers have become infected with blossom end rot. Subsequently, the spots grow, and the growth of vegetables slows down. Fruits affected by blossom end rot should not be eaten, as they can be harmful to human health and have an unpleasant taste.
The main cause of this disease is non-compliance with the watering regime during high-temperature periods. The optimal air temperature for pepper is 18-22°C. If the temperature drops below the minimum limit, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of watering. If the temperature rises above the maximum limit, you need to water the plants more often.
Another reason for the occurrence of apical rotten - lack of calcium, which occurs due to a lack of nitrogen in the soil.
Late blight
Why do peppers rot right on the branches? If dirty green spots have formed on the fruits, which quickly spread throughout the entire plant and practically lead to the complete destruction of the bush, this is a fungal disease called late blight (late blight).
The leaves of the plant curl and wither. Phytophthora fungal spores are spread throughout the entire area by the wind, and as a result, all plants in the garden are affected by this unpleasant disease. Late blight spreads easily in low-lying areas with stagnant water.
The main prerequisites for the occurrence of the disease are high humidity, poor ventilation and too dense planting. Excess nitrates and lack of boron, copper or manganese in the soil can also lead to late blight.
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Blackleg
The peculiarity of this disease is that it affects the seedlings with the fungus. A dying area appears near the root, which subsequently spreads to the root, resulting in the death of the entire plant.
To prevent the occurrence of this dangerous fungal infection, it is recommended to soak pepper seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate before sowing. During the growing process, seedlings must be constantly monitored: if diseased sprouts appear, they should be destroyed.
The main causes of infection of pepper sprouts with black leg are contaminated soil, sowing seeds too closely, excessive watering, poor ventilation, failure to maintain the required temperature and failure to thin out seedlings in a timely manner.
Anthracnose
The fungal disease of pepper anthracnose forms on adult fruits during transportation and storage. Brown spots with a dark border around the edge appear on the peppercorns. The red-colored fruits are covered with a gray coating.
This disease develops in conditions of elevated temperature (above 28°C) and high humidity. To prevent the spread of infection, it is necessary to collect fruits only in dry weather during the period of technical maturity. This means the peppers should have thick, healthy green skin with some initial redness. The optimal storage temperature for peppers is 3-4°C.
Spotted wilt
If brownish-yellow spots appear on the fruits and leaves of the pepper, similar to sunburn, and adult fruits become spotted in color, this means that the plant is affected by spotted wilt. This disease is spread by aphids, thrips and cicadas. Insects must be destroyed using insecticides, and the plant must be treated with Fundazol.
Gray rot
Gray rot is characterized by the development of gray mold fungi on peppers. Symptoms: brown wet spots of irregular shape on fruits and stems. Everything is affected - leaves, fruits and even flowers of plants. The disease of greenhouse plants spreads under conditions of high humidity and changes in daily temperature through mechanical damage to bushes and fruits.
To avoid the development of gray rot, it is necessary to carefully remove plant debris in the fall, avoid crowded plantings, ventilate the greenhouse, monitor the plants and remove diseased leaves, and maintain optimal humidity and air temperature in the greenhouse.
Conditions for the growth and development of healthy plants
It happens that after putting in the work in a dacha or home garden, rotting peppers are found on the bushes. Why is this happening? What should you pay attention to when growing plants in greenhouses and in open ground?
In the greenhouse
The main conditions for successfully growing peppers in greenhouses are timely loosening of the soil and optimal air humidity (60%). The soil should be moist, but not waterlogged, the soil temperature in the greenhouse should be 25°C. Important factors are regular ventilation of greenhouses and timely application of fertilizers.
Seedlings should be placed in a well-lit place, but avoid direct sunlight. The distance between plants should be 25 cm, and between beds - 60 cm.
In the open ground
Pepper is a heat-loving tropical plant. Unlike greenhouses, it is difficult to ensure a constant temperature regime in open ground conditions. Before planting ready-made seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to select an area with good lighting, not in a lowland, without waterlogging the soil. Before planting peppers, it is necessary to apply a complex of fertilizers, which include nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
The seedlings must be strong and healthy, not overgrown. Avoid overwatering plants. Avoid crowding when planting; the bushes should have enough sunlight.
It is worth paying close attention to weather forecasts and not planting seedlings during possible frosts. The average daily temperature should be at least 20°C.
Watering in greenhouses and in open ground is carried out as the top layer of soil dries. It is better to water little by little, but often with water at a temperature of at least 20°C. The soil must be constantly loosened.
Important! Under no circumstances should fresh manure be used for fertilizer.
What to do, how to save the harvest
To identify the problem in a timely manner, it is worth studying photos of the affected vegetables in advance. Having discovered in time that the plants are sick, all measures should be taken to save the crop.
It is necessary to provide comfortable conditions for plant growth. Remove and burn diseased fruits and bushes. After this, you can begin to treat the peppers.
To treat diseased bushes, fertilizing is used. To prepare it, dilute 2 tbsp in a bucket of water. l. potassium carbonate and the same amount of calcium nitrate. A glass of this product is poured under each plant.
Systematically, once a week, spray the plants with a 1% solution of calcium chloride. In the case of blossom end rot in an advanced stage, you will have to use preparations containing copper.
Drugs
To save the harvest, they resort to chemicals. When using, it is important to follow the instructions exactly. Both a deficiency and an excess of chemicals are equally harmful to plants.
Attention! Any of the substances that will be a medicine for plants can be dangerous to humans, so it is necessary to wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after working in the area.
How to treat rotting vegetables? When treating pepper against fungal infections, the following drugs are used:
- "Alirin-B". For irrigation, dilute 2 tablets of the drug in 10 liters of water, and for spraying - 2 tablets in 1 liter of water. Processed carefully. Repeat 2 more times with a week break.
- "Gamair" - contains live bacteria. For watering, dilute 1 tablet in 5 liters of water, for spraying - 2 tablets in 1 liter of water. Repeat the treatment similarly to the drug "Alirin-B".
- "Oxyhom" - a fungicide that is used for spraying. 1 sachet of the drug is diluted in 2 liters of water.By analogy with this drug, “Ordan”, “Ridomil”, “Gold”, “Fitosporin-M” are used. All these drugs are effective in combating late blight.
To treat plants with blackleg, sprinkle the soil around the bushes with a mixture of 1 cup of wood ash and 1 tsp. copper sulfate.
Traditional methods
Folk remedies for combating pepper diseases have stood the test of time. These methods are no less effective and are actively used by summer residents along with chemicals.
“Fitosporin” can be replaced with 1% Bordeaux mixture or a solution of potassium permanganate, diluted to a bright crimson color. Dilute it in a 10 liter bucket and process the leaves and peppers every week.
Reference. Before planting seedlings, many gardeners add dried crushed eggshells.
Diluted crushed chalk helps to cope with fungal infection of pepper bushes: 2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. The main thing is not to overdo it, since with an excess of calcium in vegetables there will be a lack of potassium. This will lead to delayed fruit ripening. Moderation and an integrated approach are needed in everything. Excess is just as unacceptable as deficiency.
In the fight against blossom end rot, many gardeners use skim milk: 1 liter of milk per 10 liters of warm water. Damaged peppers are sprayed with this product once a week. If you start fighting the disease in time, you can easily cope with it in 2-3 sprayings.
Preventive measures
It is always easier to prevent a problem than to fight for the harvest later. Important measures to prevent fungal diseases are preparing the soil for planting, sufficient fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, and ventilating greenhouses.
The means of disinfecting soil and plant seeds should not be neglected.A good preventive measure before planting would be to calcine the soil before planting plants in it. If you put thick cardboard or foam rubber at the bottom of the box, this will protect the soil from cooling quickly.
Read also:
A selection of the best varieties of sweet peppers with descriptions.
The best sweet pepper varieties for greenhouses in the Moscow region.
Conclusion
A problem that worries gardeners is why peppers rot right on the branches. There are several reasons, but the main one is errors in care that provoke the development of fungal diseases. Treatment does not always bring positive results, so it is better to take measures to prevent pepper diseases in advance.