I have been frustrated season after season because of my inability to raise a decent bell pepper. I have followed all the advice of the experts, but yet my peppers come out thin-skinned and undersized. Now nearing the age of 83, raising a decent bell pepper is at the top of my list (well...second only to mastering the banjo). If you produce a good pepper, I'd appreciate your methods. I live forty-five minutes south of Montgomery, Al.

If your fruits are thinned walled it could be:

You are not leaving them on the bushes long enough. That is the biggest problem for most people as the walls thicken at the very end of maturing. Its hard if you are trying to grow green bells to tell when they are ripe.

Make sure you keep the soil consistently damp. Too little water when the fruits are developing will cause thin walls.

Use fertilizer that has a smaller N number (like 5-10-10) with micronutrients. Too much nitrogen and you will grow pretty plants with thin fruits. Mix some into the soil when you plant your peppers then side dress throughout the season.

Last thought: Heat! Warm nights, warmer days, warm soil. And shade cloth - I add that after the fruits have set. They do sunburn.

Remember to choose a variety that advertises thick flesh.

Yep. Peppers come from some pretty bleak areas. If your soil is too rich you overcook their grits. They can handle the heat but some shade cloth on the fruit keeps from sunburn.

Thanks for the response to my post in regards to raising decent bell peppers. You have given me much to consider when I plant this year's crop, Here's hoping...