Chilli problem

[mrbadexample]

Hi all,

My Numex "Big Jim" chillis have some unpleasant looking blotches on them:



The dark patches aren't soft, and seem to be only skin deep. I can't see any evidence of insect damage.

Any ideas what's causing this, and how I can stop it please?

Cheers,
MBE

[Scarlet]

I've never had that on any of my chillies. I've just g@@gled and I think it may be thrips, the leaves usually become misshapen, twisted or puckered first. Has that happened? Get a magnifying glass out, you may have to attack with soapy water!

[mrbadexample]

I don't think it's that - there's no leaf damage at all. The marks on the fruit are unbroken, too.

[rustylady]

Have they been splashed at all when watering?

[chris]

My first thought was that, RL - or perhaps over watering/lack of drainage? Is the compost around the bottom of the pot really wet?

[mrbadexample]

Have they been splashed at all when watering?

No - they've always been watered from underneath.

[mrbadexample]

My first thought was that, RL - or perhaps over watering/lack of drainage? Is the compost around the bottom of the pot really wet?

That's a possibility. Normally I keep chillies pretty dry, but this one has had more than usual because it's in a tray in the greenhouse where I've watered other stuff and it's caught the excess.

I've just checked, and yes, it is really wet. I've moved it and lifted it so it can drain.

Let's hope that sorts it out. So far it's only two fruits that are affected.

Cheers.

[chris]

Cool I had similar brown spots on a tomato with inadequate drainage - my compost at the bottom was like a swamp!

[eirish]

Spots or not, I'm having visions of chiles rellenos now. You are a cruel, cruel person.

[Philthy]

I had identical blotches on the fruit of a Sandia chilli plant last year, the only plant out of 20 odd to be affected in this way. On closer inspection I found a rogue slug under the pot rim, only a small one, but too much of a coincidence for it not to be responsible for the damage.

The only other cause I could fathom was the location of the plant. As a low, spreading variety it was under the canopy of a much bigger plant. Coupled with the gloomy summer, I wondered if maybe it wasn't getting enough light, and therefore it might not have been drying out as quickly as the other plants between waterings.

Excessive damp may have been a factor, but I'm sticking with my slug theory on this one.