| I have grown peppers for the last three years but even though there are many peppers, only few grow to full growth and are very lateto ripen. All the different colors I've grown behave the same way, and I can't figure out why. |
| It sounds like you're dealing with a soil nutrient imbalance. If your plants are strong and vigorous, set few blooms or late blooms, and are late to mature, you may be overfeeding the nitrogen. A healthy feeding routine follows: enrich garden soil with a general, slow-release fertilizer and compost in spring. Side-dress or spray plants with a foliar fertilizer 3 weeks after transplant and after first fruit sets. If you've been following a schedule like this, have your soil tested to see if the pHor nutrient levels need adjustment - your extension service (ph# 516/454-0900) can help you with a soil test. If they're growing to full size, but don't color up, they may just need more time to ripen. Most peppers are green when mature insize, but need a couple extra weeks on the plant to change color. For instance, Burpee Early Crisp Hybrid is ready to harvest green 60 days after transplant in the garden, but you need to leave them on the plant for a few more weeks for them to mature totheir red color. You can hasten the process by using fabric row covers, which will increase the temperature around the plants. Hope this helps! |
