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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Biscombe on May 17, 2006, 21:55:08

Title: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 17, 2006, 21:55:08
Hope you can help! I'm growing in Spain and everything is coming along nicely, I'm even fighting the mildew battle on the melons! BUT noticed that my very healthy looking peppers have curled leaves!! what could this be?? any ideas????
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Gadfium on May 17, 2006, 22:16:23
Aphids on the undersides?
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: saddad on May 17, 2006, 22:52:10
Some plants roll their leaves to reduce transpiration, I thought it was just Toms., but not having the benefit of warm weather I could be wrong!
???
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: sandersj89 on May 17, 2006, 22:55:56
Agree, look under neath for aphids or red spider mite.

Jerry
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 18, 2006, 08:24:22
oooer!!!! Do you think I can save them in time?????
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: sandersj89 on May 18, 2006, 10:08:39
Yes indeed. Remove them by what ever means you are happy with and things should be fine.

Jerry
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 19, 2006, 11:44:11
Thanks for the replies eveyone :D Im still none the wiser theres no sight of insects under the leaves, I always water the yongsters from the bottom and I'm hardening them off gradually! Any ideas! I hate to see my plants suffering!!!!! Thanks everyone
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Gadfium on May 19, 2006, 13:15:51
Any possibilities in amongst this thread?

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pepper/msg0510263522380.html?6 (http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pepper/msg0510263522380.html?6)
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: amphibian on May 19, 2006, 18:48:05
In my experience many Baccatum roll their leaves upwards when it is hot or cold. This roll is lengthways like a cigar. If the tips are folding over, or an irregular crinkled folding occurs, then I'd suspect aphids. If folded downwards they may have a virus. Peppers are tough and will tolerate quite a serious infestation, I have yet to lose a pepper plant to aphids, spider mites or even a virus they have brought with them.
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 19, 2006, 19:36:52
Thanks everyone. Good link thanks! like it says could be a virus, over fertilization or lack of mg! what a great site this is! thanks again  :D Hope for my peppers xx
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: jennym on May 19, 2006, 20:02:40
Just picking up on one thing - maybe others will have different views, and don't want to appear stuffy here, but this word virus is used too often in my opinion.
If the plant has a virus, the whole plant is affected, and it will not recover, and it really doesn't happen that plants get viruses that often in my experience.
Most problems with young plants are caused by lack of or too much watering, temperature fluctuation and air movement (incl windburn), lack of light, attacks from fungal diseases exacerbated by poor growing conditions (e.g.damping off) or attacks from creatures like slugs, aphids etc, which eat bits of the plant, or in the case of aphids, suck sap.
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 21, 2006, 12:07:09
I'm very sad!! had to chuck the peppers!! Been in two minds! and confused!!!! My Spanish neighbour said they had insects inside and pointed to the ridged stem! he could have meant a virus, my Spanish is not the best! It's late to plant peppers now but I've risked it and sown a few more seeds! I could go and buy some plants (hate doing this!!)  :( I'm upset) thanks for all your help xx
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: amphibian on May 21, 2006, 13:27:51
I wouldn't have chucked them personally, not unless they actually ded, I would have isolated them from other Solanaceae and have watched what happened to them.

You'll be fine if you sow now, many people only sow in March/April here, and you'll be able to get a lot of extra time on us in the autumn especially if you bring them inside at te end of the season, plus most of the Capsicum genus will fruit on fairly small plants anyway, so you're bound to get something.
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 21, 2006, 13:59:03
still got about 20 plants planted out, but on closer inspection they also have slightly crinkled leaves and the stems are ridged!! but not as bad as the ones that I've thrown  out!! oh god! It's such a shame to see plants not doing well after all the nurturing from seed to
plant over the last few months!
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 25, 2006, 21:06:20
Hi all, sorry to drag this topic on............ but at last heres some pics of the peppers . Any more thoughtsafter seeing the pics? I'm still worried about them!
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g220/Biscombe/pepper_02.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g220/Biscombe/pepper_01.jpg)
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: amphibian on May 25, 2006, 21:33:50
Well they don't look overly happy, however that ridge on the stem is present on many of mine which are happily growing. I also have a few curly tops, on plants which seem to be otherwise happy, the curling often goes away and healthy leaves take over, but yours seem dominated by crunkled leaves... Sorry not actually helpful.
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Biscombe on May 25, 2006, 22:51:59
Well thanks for trying xx
Title: Re: Curly pepper leaf
Post by: Merry Tiller on May 25, 2006, 22:55:05
I wouldn't worry so much, they'll probably be fine once they get going