Rotting peppers on the bushcan be caused by both cultivation errors and infectious diseases. Water shortages, too low temperature of cultivation, or lack of calcium in the soil can causerotting of pepper fruitsA common symptom is the so-called dry top rot of fruit. It is worth knowing all these reasons thoroughly and what to do in a given situation. We explainwhy the pepper rots on the bushand how to fix it!
Why does the paprika rot on the bush?
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Pepper rots on the bush because it's too dry
Too little watering and watering plants with cold water may contribute to the occurrence ofdry top rot of pepper fruitsIt manifests itself with brown spots and watery discoloration on the top of the fruit. The stains can be dry and concave (with low air humidity) or loose (with high air humidity). The infection attacks the fruit, while the leaves are unchanged.
Dry top rot of paprika
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Peppers have high water requirements and do not tolerate droughtDuring dry and hot weather (26-28 ° C), the plant requires watering even twice a day. At slightly lower temperatures, daily watering is not an exaggeration, especially during the flowering, setting and ripening of the fruit.
Watering peppers should not use cold tap water Watering with rainwater or stagnant water, which could also heat up in the sun, is beneficial. It is recommended to irrigate using drip irrigation systems, thanks to which the water is fed directly into the soil, without wetting the plants. If you water paprika with a watering can, make sure to pour the water directly onto the ground.Avoid soaking leaves and fruit
Avoid soaking the leaves and fruits when watering the peppers
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Pepper rots on the bush because it's too moist
Peppers are extremely sensitive to air humidity.When growing peppers in a greenhouse or in a foil tunnel, during the flowering and growth period of the fruit, the air humidity should be 70-80%. Too intensive watering and too rare ventilation, combined with high temperature in a greenhouse or tunnel, increase humidity and promote the occurrence of many fungal and physiological diseases. Infected pepper fruits die and rot
Pepper rots on the bush because it's too cold
Pepper is a thermophilic speciesand the optimal temperature for proper plant growth should be 20-28 ° C during the day and 16-20 ° C at night. The soil temperature is around 20 ° C. At lower temperatures of 14-15 ° C, the uptake of water and minerals from the substrate is disturbed, which may be manifested by the occurrence of physiological diseases androtting of pepper fruits
Excessively high temperatures are also conducive tothe occurrence of diseases that cause rotting of pepper fruitsTo avoid overheating, it is necessary to shade the plants as well as frequent and proper airing.
In home gardens and crops on balconies, it is worth planting next to the pepper herbs such as lovage and fennel thatshield the paprika from drying winds and sun , and enhance its flavor.
Pepper rots on the bush due to lack of calcium
Peppers require a fertile, moist substrate with a pH close to neutral (pH 6-6.8). Too high soil pH is detrimental to the cultivation of peppers andcauses many diseases responsible for fruit rotLack of calcium is also conducive to the appearance of dry apical rot. Therefore, before setting up a pepper crop, it is worth measuring the pH of the soil and liming the soil, if necessary.
Measurements of soil pH as well as soil temperature and soil moisture can be easily measured with an electronic soil meter. The meter combining all these functions in one device is extremely useful in growing peppers and preventing rotting changes on the fruit.
Diseases that cause rotting of pepper fruits
Despite proper care, watering and fertilization, peppers can be attacked by pathogens.Fruit rot on a pepper bushcan be a sign of many diseases, both fungal, bacterial and physiological.
In the event of an infection caused by pathogens, it is necessaryto remove the diseased fruit , leaves and even entire plants. You can also try natural ways to strengthen plants and fight fungal infections. For this purpose, we spray or water the plants with extracts and slurry of nettle, horsetail, onion, garlic or yarrow. In the vicinity of paprika, we can also plant garlic or onions, which reduce the occurrence of fungal diseases.From ready-made natural preparations available in garden stores, we can use Biosept Active biopreparation and nettle extract offered under the name Nettle growth stimulator. If natural measures prove ineffective, spraying with chemical pesticides may be necessary.
Gray mold on the pepper fruit
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Gray mold- is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen Botrytis cinerea.It can be identified by gray spots with a brown tinge on which black spores of the fungus are formed. The infection manifests itself on both the fruit and the stalks. After noticing the first symptoms of the disease, remove the infected parts of the plants and spray the entire crop with one of the following preparations: Amistar 250 SC, Signum 33 WG or Switch 62.5 WG.
Curd rot- is a disease caused by the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. It manifests itself with a white coating of mycelium and drying fruit. For the protection of peppers against this disease, the same measures are registered as for the control of gray mold, i.e. Amistar 250 SC, Signum 33 WG and Switch 62.5 WG.
Pepper phytophthorosis- is a disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora capsici. Infested fruits turn dark green and watery with white mycelium on their surface. In the fight against pathogens causing phytophthora on various garden plants, the biological preparation Polyversum WP is helpful, which is used to preventively water and spray the plants.As far as chemical protection measures are concerned, the Scorpion 325 SC is worth recommending.
Bacterial paprika- caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae. We recognize the infection by small, brown spots without a border. They do not blend together and do not enlarge as the plant grows. After the emergence of this disease of peppers, the infected plants should be removed and the greenhouse should be disinfected after the season.
Wet bacterial rot- caused by the bacterium Ervinia carotovora pv. carotovora. It occurs most often on plants grown under cover. It is manifested by rotting of the fruit, which turns into a slimy, odorless mass. Remove infected plants and disinfect the greenhouse.
Dry rot of fruit tips- is a physiological disease that presents with brown and watery discoloration on the tip of the fruit, which over time spreads over the entire surface. The spots darken, collapse and dry. Most often it is caused by a deficiency of calcium, excess or deficiency of water in the substrate, too high humidity and air temperature.It is worth noting that in the case of low humidity, the lesions on the fruit are dry, and in the case of high humidity, they take on a loose form. Infected fruit is unfit for consumption and should be removed.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
