infection on chilli pods!!!

[chilli_grower]

Well, all was going so well, until now

I have loads of unripe chilli pods in the greenhouse, they are ripening up very slowly compared to last year.

Bad news is, within the last week, I have had lots of caterpillar damage, slug damage, and now it seems some sort of bacterial infection has hit the plants.

Could the recent poor weather be to blame?

THe foliage on the plants shows no sign whatsoever of any infection, the 'brown patches' are only on the pods...

Here are a few pics, what do you think?

[Scarlet]

Is the fruit itself going soft?

[chilli_grower]

not yet! but that is what I fear!

Fruit is still firm to the touch.

[skeggijon]

Have you grown this variety before?

[Scarlet]

Are you sure you havent got any bugs hiding away in the leaves. Look in the new growth

[chilli_grower]

The only bugs are caterpillars, but none there today!

This has affected several varieties, and yes I have grown them all before.

[chilli_grower]

well, whatever this is, it has spread, and fast!

I now have lots of pods going spotty brown and soft. They are also being eaten by caterpillars.

THey appear to be literally going fungal and rotting away.

Lots of leaves also being shed now, and or yellowing.

I have managed to rescue 2 unaffected plants, and they are now in the conservatory. I intend to overwinter these.

They are an aji rainforest, and a massive lemon drop plant.

I have a feeling I accidentally caused this apparent 'bacterial infection', as a couple of weeks ago when it suddenly turned freezing cold, I shut the g/h door completely and of course reduced airflow.

It obviously became warm in there during the day, and remained damp.

Not happy!

[Scarlet]

Well some of those holes look like caterpillar and some look like flea beetle damage? Can we have a closer look. What are the worse ones looking like? and can we have some more pics of the fruit, what do the inside look like? I'm interested....

[chilli_grower]

Hi Scarlet, I will take some 'close ups' for you tomorrow.

Definitely caterpillar damage, as I found loads of them in the g/h!

But the main problem is the mould/bacterial brown stuff on the pods.

I have not had this in the past.

As feared, the brown on the pods is spreading and the fruit softening rapidly.

Tomorrow, I will bin all infected pods, and will possibly end up harvesting EVERY green chilli in the g/h and then ripening up in brown paper bags with a banana.

Otherwise I WILL lose the lot, I have no doubt..

Not happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Scarlet]

What a shame .

[chilli_grower]

yeah.....But at least they got this far!

They should ripen up in brown paper bags with a banana no problem.

I actually did this last year with my bengal nagas, as they were still green in October!

[chilli_grower]

Ok, as promised, here are a few close ups of some pods I picked tonight, and have now binned!

Whatever it is, it is definitely spreading.

These pods are from a few different plants.

gutted really, as these pods are huge, as are lots of the others.

I will pick all unaffected green ones tomorrow night after work.

If they don't ripen, it is not the end of the world, maybe I could try a green habanero sauce for a change!

[Scarlet]

It looks like blight? Are some kind of rot...what is the fruit like cut in half? Is it soft ?

[Scarlet]

maybe I could try a green habanero sauce for a change!

I think I'd freeze them as is or cook with them ASAP. I don't think they will ripen or keep

[chilli_grower]

when cut, the inside looks just like normal.

Some are a bit soft around the brown bits, yes.

Got to be some sort of fungal rot......

They do look terrible don't they?!

Never had this before though.....

I have binned these now, I still have a load more that are like this on the plants, I might freeze the 'better' ones.

Ah well!!!!!!!

All in all, the chillies have been a success....