Peppers

[thomasb]

Hi All,
I am growing 2 sweet pepper plants in a grow-bag in a tower-coldframe.  A number of peppers have formed on each plant. However, the larger peppers have all began to go rotten at the base of the pepper (away from the stem). The smaller peppers appear ok, sofar.

Any ideas what this causing this?

Thanks,
Thomas

[thomasb]

[MikeB]

Had a similar thing happen on my squashes, the answer appeared to be that it is due to the fact that they are not pollinated. See BER in squashes (pests & diseases).
Hope this helps

[thomasb]

Mike,
These peppers had grown to full size.

Thomas

[MikeB]

These peppers had grown to full size.

Sorry Thomas didn't realise. Similar thing happen to me last year, the pepper continued to ' rot ' and then burst discharging a somewhat foul liquid. Not that this helps you, sorry I'll have to pass on this one.

[amphibian]

There are many things that can cause peppers to rot, BER being one. BER is caused in peppers by overwatering. I have suffered with BER this year because after a long dry patch the rain is now giving my peppers lots of rain.

However, the mention of a foul smell makes me think of Bacterial Soft Rot. This is a soil born disease and is caused by soil splashing during in warm wet weather. Remove and dispose of any affected fruit and try to prevent soil splashing, cover the soil in a light mulch, put ensure the pots do not become sodden under the mulch.