[suzeking]

hi all

am new to this gardening stuff and am struggling with my peppers/ chillis

Had two lots - one set on the kitchen windowsill - these are about 8 weeks old and no sign of flowers and have developed greenfly - what should i do about this - they keep coming back

The second lot were in greenhouse. I repotted them into bigger pot and over 2 days they all shrivelled up and died - dont know what i did - they were well watered - dont know if greenhouse was too hot??

Can anyone help??

Thanks

susan

[Ice]

Can you post a picture?  As for the greenfly, you can spray them with a weak solution of washing up liquid or use a proprietary bug killer suitable for vegetables.

[abraidwood]

You could buy (or find & transfer) some ladybirds or their larvae to sort out your aphids.

Overwatering is an easy way to kill chilis, and they can get upset (this is a technical term ) if you disturb their roots.

[rich24uk]

Probably overwatering that is hurting them. I leave my chillis until that are visibly wilting before watering again (usually every few days) and they have thus far been very successful. They are incredibly heat resistant.

What variety do you have? 8 weeks is still very early so I wouldnt expect to necessarily see any buds yet.

Aphids can be removed with a dilute of water and washing up liquid, usual bug killer or by dusting them off yourself. Keep treating them until your plants are large enough for them to not have an effect (once they start flowering).

Personally I'd pop them out in the garden whilst the weather is this good.

[suzeking]

thanks for replies

unfortunately dont have means to upload photos to net at moment.

varieties were californian wonder, sweet peppers, jalapeno and cayenne, but all seemed to die pretty much at the same time! possibly was over watering when i re-potted them....

have some i havent repotted yet but am worried they will go the same way!! any hints??



susan

[tam]

What size pots are they in? I've a cayenne fruiting still in a 5' pot.

They'll flower eventually, they are probably just a bit young yet if they are only 8 weeks.

I'd squish the greenfly with your fingers and stand them outside in the day to soak up the sun. I leave mine out 24/7 now but I don't know if it's a bit cooler where you are for that.

[suzeking]

the pots are small - only about 3.5", think i will try and repot this week - have been promised more from friends if i kill mine off - i guess its a learning experience!!!

although it has been nice weather i can see by the other posts that the weather up in 'sunny' scotland isnt nearly as good as down south!!!

thanks

susan

[sunshineband]

Don't worry. As others have said 8 weeks is a bit soon to see flower buds. My cayennes and anaheims both took about 14 weeks  They are main ly in 5 ins pots but a couple of cayennes are stiil in 3 i/2 ins as I forgot them in the corner and they also have flowers. 

[Mitsy]

My peppers keep dropping the buds not 1 opened yet 

[sunshineband]

Too wet IMHO, as other said.

Leave them until the leaves are wilting before watering. I'm really tough on mine and ther are doing well. No food until fruits are setting either 

[FCG]

I've got masses of peppers now - my great success this year. So I can chime in!

Watering routine is a bit hit and miss. Last year I fed lots and watered even more. Total mess with small little ones being made and dropped off. The small handful of large ones i had where really mild and of little flavour.

This year? Patchy on the watering and I haven't fed them once. Plucky blighters are throwing up flowers like mad and as long as I give them a little water while they are massing with flowers (so they don't dry out) to pollinate.... bonanza.

So in conclusion... peppers are the masochists of the plant world.

[sunshineband]

FCG, got it in one