Pepper problem

[Newbie gardener]

Hi all i am a newbie to any kind of gardening but this year thought id give it a go read a shedload of info off of internet that has helped a lot but think its time to join a site.

Now i think i have taken on too much as a first time grower but im getting there, i am growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and watermelons all of them are doing really well apart from the pepper plants.

I have 6 in the greenhouse in b&q growbags now they are really tall but the buds seem to be dropping off before and after they flower.

Then i have 4 in pots outside that are no where near as tall but still big enough and are all flowering with some swelling peppers.

Then today the first pepper that started to grow has gone rotten and the flower that was left has gone brown and slimey.

These are bell and sweet peppers and i feed them once a week with tomorite sorry for the long post hope someone can help me as i think i have done good up untill now and am in need of some expert help many thanks

[HotStuff]

Newbie, welcome, sounds like it may be blossom end rot, try searching for that.

[zazen999]

I've separated your problem out to a new thread NG.....

[Newbie gardener]

Hi there thanks for reply i thought that only happened with fully grown peppers theese have literally just started swelling up is it still possible to get it that early

[SarzWix]

Sometimes with peppers, if the petals don't drop off when the flower is pollinated, they stay stuck around the pepper, and (especially if they get damp) start to rot a bit and then the rot spreads to the pepper.
It really depends where on the pepper the rotting bit is, if it's right on the bottom then it's more likely to be blossom end rot. If it's nowhere near the bottom, or the petals, then it may be a drop of condensation has dropped on it from the roof and grey mould (botryris) has got into it.

As for the flowers dropping, make sure that the plants have consistent conditions - moist compost and not getting too hot or cold, feed them with a bit of tomato food, and help the pollination along a bit with a cotton-bud or finger tip gently rubbed in the flowers one after another.

[Newbie gardener]

yes thank you i think you are right with the first one as they are outside and it has been absolutely belting it down for a while now, u say help with pollination i thought peppers were like tomatoes self pollinating thanks

[HotStuff]

Peppers are self polinating, but some growers still like to give Mother Nature a helping hand (or finger)

[Newbie gardener]

Great stuff thanks very much ill give that a go i have been hand pollinating my cucs and water melons anyway so will give this a go