what is wrong with my peppers - Ask Extension
Is this a disease or a bug and how to correct
Knowledgebase
what is wrong with my peppers #807277
Asked August 21, 2022, 10:33 AM EDT
Is this a disease or a bug and how to correct
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi, Corinne,
This looks like anthracnose. Our expert, Jon, says "Biggest issue appears to be anthracnose, a common fruit rot fungal disease. Bacterial soft rot may also be present. These diseases are encouraged by insect feeding, warm, wet, humid weather, overhead watering, crowding of plants, and overripe fruit. Prevent the problem by harvesting fruits once they first start to
change color and finish ripening indoors. Remove and discard all
affected fruits. Don't leave them in the garden."
Leaving the fruit in the garden allows the fungus or bacteria to overwinter and infect crops in future years.
Thank you for your question.
Barbara
This looks like anthracnose. Our expert, Jon, says "Biggest issue appears to be anthracnose, a common fruit rot fungal disease. Bacterial soft rot may also be present. These diseases are encouraged by insect feeding, warm, wet, humid weather, overhead watering, crowding of plants, and overripe fruit. Prevent the problem by harvesting fruits once they first start to
change color and finish ripening indoors. Remove and discard all
affected fruits. Don't leave them in the garden."
Leaving the fruit in the garden allows the fungus or bacteria to overwinter and infect crops in future years.
Thank you for your question.
Barbara
is there a spray that can help also?
This is what the University of Wisconsin recommends for vegetable garden fungicides. This is what the University of Maryland Extensions says about fungicides for fruits, but we have no recommendations for vegetable fungicides.
