by Judy Evans

Created on: December 19, 2010   Last Updated: December 21, 2010

Bell peppers fresh from a home garden are really delicious and have a great range of uses in recipes and salads.  Whilst they are not hard to grow, they can be affected by a number of pests and diseases. Luckily most of these are not too serious.

Prevention is always to be preferred to cure and there are a number of ways for the home gardener to avoid too many problems when growing bell peppers.

*  Buy disease resistant seeds or plants
*  Sow in well-drained soil
*  Give plants adequate space
*  Have a regular watering regime
*  Keep the surrounding ground tidy and free of debris
*  Inspect your plants frequently and treat problems as soon as possible.

Following these simple steps will ensure elimination of many of the problems associated with growing bell peppers. Early detection and treatment will prevent the spread of disease and ensure any infestations remain small.

Insect problems
*  Aphids are a common problem for the home gardener and a major headache for green pepper growers. The insects cluster under the leaves and on new growth. They then proceed to suck the sap from the foliage, causing leaves to become distorted and wilted. Aphids can spread viruses from plant to plant so remove any diseased plants to prevent spreading any problems.
*  Like aphids, whiteflies also spread viruses.
*  Cutworms can cause major damage to seedlings.
*  Numerous holes in the leaves may indicate the presence of flea beetles. These normally target young plants.

Other diseases which affect the foliage of green peppers are:
*  Cercospora leaf spot – presents as tiny spots that enlarge over time. The fungus growth is enhanced by prolonged moist conditions. Fungicides containing copper can be effective but sometimes leave unsightly marks. Avoid overhead irrigation.
*Alternaria leaf spot – Use resistant varieties. Avoid overhead watering. Clear debris away from the garden beds.
*  Bacterial leaf spot – one of the most common of the bacterial infections.  Use disease resistant strains. Symptoms of this disease are small yellowish spots which become brown and/or enlarged. In time, the leaves drop off.

Most of these can be controlled by commercial preparations which will usually include copper fungicides amongst other ingredients.
*  Viruses such as mosaic (named for the mottled colour of infected leaves) can be somewhat avoided by using resistant strains and by rotating crops.
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