Advice for chilli and pepper plants

[Dr Pips]

Hi All,

I'm growing some pepper plants (2 bell boy, 2 Cheyenne and 1 Super Fresno). They're all getting quite big, between 18" and 2', and have plenty of flowers and peppers and are doing fairly well for my first attempt (well I think so anyway!)

They are all in their own 16cm pots, next to each other in the conservatory.

Now although the plants seem to be growing well and have plenty of peppers, one of them is getting eaten by something. There are lots are small holes on the leaves. Is there anything I could do to stop this?

Also, when should I start to harvest the Chilli peppers? They are still green at the moment, but some are getting to about 4 or 5" long. Do they need to ripen on the plant? I want to use some of them to make my own Chilli powder.

Thanks,

Dom

[Two_Sheds]

Small holes ~ probably a caterpillar, pick the leaves over. You'll probably find the critter rolled up in a leaf

[Two_Sheds]

Do they need to ripen on the plant?

You can bring them indoors to ripen (but I guess your conservatoire is already 'indoors'?
I picked this one green and it's been inside the house for a fortnight

[Newton]

You might be able to pot them on onto morrisons pots. They will then keep growing til october and you might try to overwinter a healthy plant or two!

[zazen999]

Those little caterpillars - they parachute down if you disturb the leaf....and are the only thing I've used bug spray on [it's organic, don't worry] for years. They ravaged my peppers last year so the first sign this year I had to deal with it.

[Dr Pips]

The holes are very small, I'll see if you can take a pic so you can see what I mean

[Florence Fennel]

I take the peppers off when they're a reasonable size and still green, then I "stitch" them together and hang them up to dry. Very pretty and practical too. Hope you find your critter.

[zazen999]

The holes are very small, I'll see if you can take a pic so you can see what I mean

So are the caterpillars. They are hard to see as they camouflage against the leaves

[Dr Pips]

Here they are, first one is the holy leaf, second is so you can see how big the chillis are getting.

Dom

[Florence Fennel]

Sorry Dom, I meant chilli not peppers. Some of my chilli plants have got the same holey leaves but they've still got plenty of fruit on.

[Dr Pips]

The one with the holes is a pepper, the other photo showed the chillis. The holes are starting to spread to the other plants though. It's contagious!!

[Florence Fennel]

I'd do a thorough search for caterpillars as Zaz has suggested, I'll be out there searching tomorrow.

[zazen999]

If you don't get them now - they WILL eat into your peppers and chillis as well so please - get them now!!!

They can be found under the leaves - pick them up very gently and look carefully.

I've been looking for ages for the exact name of these; and each description varies so I'm hesitant to say what they are....but I do know they will have all your leaves and burrow into the fruits leaving the seeds just sat there on stalks.

[Florence Fennel]

If it wasn't raining and I was dressed (I'm in PJs, I know, too much information) I'd be out there now. Thanks Zaz.

[Florence Fennel]

I could give them a name, but better not.