| I planted Bush beans the end of June and so far they have grown about 6'' plus the stem and leaves are a lime green color. I also have Bell peppers that are not looking good. They are not shaped like bells but like banana peppers. The peppers only get to lime green and if I leave them on for awhile to turn dark green or red the delevop a soft brown spot and die. When I pick the peppers and leave out on the kitchen table they turn red??? What's going here. How do I get plants to grow the right. They are in pots and I feed them Liquid fertilizer once a week. I have noticed Aphids and some nates around just the last week... |
| Your bush beans sound as though they are struggling to grow. Amending the garden soil with organic matter loosens the soil and makes it rich and water retentive, which I think your bean plants will appreciate. You can try feeding the plants (use a general garden fertilizer such as a 5-10-10). Be sure to water deeply when the top inch of soil dries out. Without knowing what variety of peppers you're growing, it's difficult to determine whether the color and shape is typical of that variety or how many days there should be to harvest. Look on the back of the seed packet and you'll have a better idea of when they should be ripe. Some peppers are ripe when they are yellow; some are naturally lime green. All peppers will continue to ripen on the vine, but if they become over-ripe they can develop spots (bacterial rot) from injuries to the flesh. Could be sunscald or other damage causing the rot. I would pick the peppers as soon as they are a size typical of the variety, regardless of color. If you want the color to intensify, leave them on the kitchen counter for a few days. Next year, save the seed package and mark your calendar so you'll know how large the fruits should grow and when you should start harvesting. Aphids and gnats can be controlled with applications of insecticidal soap. Good luck with your garden! |
