Recognizing signs of shrivel early can save your pepper plants (Capsicum annuum) from an unseasonable demise. Pepper plants are perennials from the tropics grown as annuals in temperate climates. They love the heat. When healthy, pepper plants stand tall on straight stocks and unfurl smooth dark green leaves. Whether you grow sweet bells or hot jalapenos, pepper plants can shrivel from different stressors. Take steps to preserve your plants.
Pests, wilts, viruses and environment are all stressors that can cause pepper plants to shrivel. Minute insects, such as aphids and mites cause leaves to curl. Some wilts begin with the yellowing of upper or lower leaves; others occur with no visible yellowing. Mosaic viruses crinkle and pucker the leaves. Sun-scorch, windburn, too little or too much water can shrivel pepper plants. Identify which stressor is the culprit.
Once you have identified the plausible stressor, reduce the stress on your pepper plant. Learn the life cycles of pests and disease. Aphids are more active May through June and again in the fall. You can apply an insecticidal soap if plants seem stressed. If wilts or diseases are widespread, pull the afflicted plants to save the others, and do not plant peppers in the same spot the next year. Reduce or increase water as necessary.
If you have had prior problems with pepper plants shriveling, acquire disease-resistant varieties. You can grow or purchase varieties resistant to mosaic virus. Know that viruses that attack tomatoes can do so to pepper plants. Therefore, do not plant pepper plants where you had tomatoes if you had a disease problem the prior year. Healthy plants need three to five square feet of growing space which will help reduce disease issues.
Floating Row Cover
A floating row cover is like a gauze sun porch for your pepper plants. You can use it to conquer most causes of shrivel in pepper plants. As an easy-to-install cover, it can eliminate pests and prevent windburn and sun-scorch. An added benefit of installing inexpensive floating row cover over pepper plants is that it increases the temperature under the cover. This will encourage your pepper plants to grow.
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