pepper with hole in it

TightenUp · July 11, 2012

This is my first season growing peppers and my 2nd growing tomatoes. basically what i'm saying is im a newbe. i have a giant marconi plant in a 12 gallon pot. plant is growing nicely and loaded with peppers. i have noticed recently a couple peppers have fallen off. upon further inspection there is a hole usually low on the pepper away from the stem. the inside of the pepper is kinda rotted but it looks like poop maybe and maybe eggs.

i cant find any bugs, slugs, caterpillars or anything else in the pepper or on or around the plant. any idea whats going on?

Mudman · July 11, 2012

I've had slugs do that. They really seem to like peppers and pepper leaves.

lakelady · July 11, 2012

Nothing is eating my peppers, but mine are mostly hot ones. Eggplant, on the other hand, was another story. chewed leaves to shreds until the plants got big enough to defend themselves (a little dusting of DE helped!)

tjg911 · July 11, 2012

i've had peppers attacked this way too. it wasn't slugs but some bug. they get inside and can ruin the pepper. not sure what does it.

tom

Wi-sunflower · July 12, 2012

With the peppers the worm (maggot) that is usually called "corn root worm" will enter thru the ★★★★★★★★ between the cap and the fruit. The worm turns into the yellow and black "cucumber beetle".

Early in the season they will kill young just emerged squash plants if not taken care of. I don't know of any organic method so we use Sevin dust. Later in the season they will eat the silks off young corn ears.They usually don't bother the peppers much unless they don't have either of their more preferred crops around.

As far as the eggplant with stripped leaves -- most likely Colorado Potato Beetles and their larva. They like Eggplant even more than potatoes. Good luck killing them. Most are immune to just about everything except squishing.
pics here http://www.google.com/search?q=color...w=1024&bih=653

Carol

roper2008 · July 12, 2012

Could be the pepper maggot. I have that problem on my scotch bonnets. I throw
away the ones with little holes in it.

Here is one I pulled out of a ghost pepper last year. There are brown one's too.

TightenUp · July 12, 2012

thanks. i will keep looking. this doesnt appear to be a devastating problem but a problem none the less

July 11, 2012	#1
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	pepper with hole in it This is my first season growing peppers and my 2nd growing tomatoes. basically what i'm saying is im a newbe. i have a giant marconi plant in a 12 gallon pot. plant is growing nicely and loaded with peppers. i have noticed recently a couple peppers have fallen off. upon further inspection there is a hole usually low on the pepper away from the stem. the inside of the pepper is kinda rotted but it looks like poop maybe and maybe eggs. i cant find any bugs, slugs, caterpillars or anything else in the pepper or on or around the plant. any idea whats going on?

July 11, 2012	#2
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	I've had slugs do that. They really seem to like peppers and pepper leaves. __________________ Mike

July 11, 2012	#3
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Nothing is eating my peppers, but mine are mostly hot ones. Eggplant, on the other hand, was another story. chewed leaves to shreds until the plants got big enough to defend themselves (a little dusting of DE helped!) __________________ Antoniette

July 11, 2012	#4
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i've had peppers attacked this way too. it wasn't slugs but some bug. they get inside and can ruin the pepper. not sure what does it. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

July 12, 2012	#6
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	Could be the pepper maggot. I have that problem on my scotch bonnets. I throw away the ones with little holes in it. Here is one I pulled out of a ghost pepper last year. There are brown one's too. Last edited by roper2008; July 12, 2012 at 09:36 AM. Reason: Pic

July 12, 2012	#5
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	With the peppers the worm (maggot) that is usually called "corn root worm" will enter thru the ★★★★★★★★ between the cap and the fruit. The worm turns into the yellow and black "cucumber beetle". Early in the season they will kill young just emerged squash plants if not taken care of. I don't know of any organic method so we use Sevin dust. Later in the season they will eat the silks off young corn ears.They usually don't bother the peppers much unless they don't have either of their more preferred crops around. As far as the eggplant with stripped leaves -- most likely Colorado Potato Beetles and their larva. They like Eggplant even more than potatoes. Good luck killing them. Most are immune to just about everything except squishing. pics here http://www.google.com/search?q=color...w=1024&bih=653 Carol