What is causing discoloration of pepper leaves? - Ask Extension
I purchased two sets of three pepper plants online from a gardening & seed company. In one three-pack, the leaves of the peppers were distinctly ...
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What is causing discoloration of pepper leaves? #657805
Asked June 29, 2020, 6:00 PM EDT
I purchased two sets of three pepper plants online from a gardening & seed company. In one three-pack, the leaves of the peppers were distinctly yellowed and had some holes, not just lower leaves or upper leaves, but thoughout the plants, which are seedlings. Two were Jalapeño and one was Boss Man. Looks like maybe bacterial leaf spot? Or could it be blight in earliest stages? Or something else?
Depending on the cause, would I then do: discard the plants to avoid introducing a pathogen into my small garden. OR calm down, remove all affected leaves and go ahead and plant. Something else?
How about the other three-pack of peppers? The leaves were less discolored, but still had splotches of yellow.
How about the other three-pack of peppers? The leaves were less discolored, but still had splotches of yellow.
District of Columbia County District of Columbia
Expert Response
Hi- the photos are out of focus. Nevertheless, this is not bacterial leaf spot and is more likely a stress response. Go ahead and plant (don't remove the affected leaves unless they start to yellow and die. Feed the plants with a complete fertilizer (has nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), keep the root system moist and pull off flowers and small fruits for the first few weeks to help get a large root system established (will give higher yields in late summer. You are kind of late getting planted but should have a good crop of late peppers.
Jon
Jon