[hasbeans]

I have a serrano that is doing well with maybe a dozen fully formed, but not ripe fruit.  Most of the new fruits that form seem to be just dying off.  I've noticed this in the past with other peppers and wondered if this is just a capacity/underfeeding issue or down to the less than perfect weather conditions (or both).  At a couple of feet tall and bushy I feel the plant should be capable of supporting more fruit...
Any suggestions?

[Subversive_plot]

If the fruit is turning brown when small, or not developing at all, it could be insufficient light. This would also be my guess if you have a few fruits develop, but not many.

If the fruits seem to grow to a couple inches long or so, either green or red, but then shrivel, it may be a water issue. Could be not watering enough, or if you have more rain than needed, the roots could be rotting.

Finally, if no fruits ever develop, and the plant seems unhealthy, it could be a disease issue.

I wouldn't think it's a soil nutrient issue unless you never have tended to soil fertility in the past. Chili peppers are usually very forgiving of that.

[hasbeans]

Thanks Sub.  The peppers are in 2 gallon buckets with commercial compost that will not be spent yet as they've only been in the buckets for a month.  It might be that the roots haven't grown enough yet to take in the required water, I'll have a poke around to make sure they are spreading since repotting.  The fruit are getting to pea size and turning darker and softer, very little flower drop.  Perhaps I need to reduce the Nitrogen even more now too.  I'd say light is not the issue now as they are outside in full sun during the day, coming indoors and taking over the entire kitchen floor once the humans have finished in there!

[Subversive_plot]

Thanks Sub.  The peppers are in 2 gallon buckets with commercial compost that will not be spent yet as they've only been in the buckets for a month.  It might be that the roots haven't grown enough yet to take in the required water, I'll have a poke around to make sure they are spreading since repotting.  The fruit are getting to pea size and turning darker and softer, very little flower drop.  Perhaps I need to reduce the Nitrogen even more now too.  I'd say light is not the issue now as they are outside in full sun during the day, coming indoors and taking over the entire kitchen floor once the humans have finished in there!

Hasbeans, I think with night temperatures hovering near 10 °C give or take a few degrees, you can leave them safely outdoors. My chili peppers and other peppers have been in the ground outdoors during those temperatures.

My serranos  from a couple years ago were pretty cold tolerant once they were outdoors.

[hasbeans]

The Cayenne I'm growing is now wider than the door so that certainly isn't coming back in!  Temps were down as low as 6c last week but they are improving fast.  The Habaneros and Jolokia might come inside for a few more weeks yet but everything else will be left out from this coming week.