What do i do wrong?

rubylune · March 7, 2007

The past two years i've grown my own peppers from seed - California Wonder and some mini bell variety.

With the California Wonder for some reason i don't get fruit. I get blossoms and little unripe fruit, but it never grows into full on peppers. It's almost like i need an extra month and a half.

With the Mini Bells i only get a few peppers.

I think i started my seeds at 8 weeks - i'd have to look at the calendar.

Is there anything that i'm doing wrong? Any variety i should try to actually get a pepper during the season?

shelleybean · March 7, 2007

Are you fertilizing them? Peppers don't like much nitrogen. You get nice green foliage but not many peppers. I use a little fish emulsion when I plant and that's it. I never feed the plants the rest of the season and they do great.

rubylune · March 7, 2007

Nope, I only fertilize them at the beginning of the season.

I am going to check my soil this spring, maybe the soil has too much N, but then that would affect my tomatoes, which it hasn't. Right?

feldon30 · March 7, 2007

I've given up on bell peppers based on reports such as yours. Instead I am growing the similar tasting, similar use, but much more productive Italian Frying Peppers. I am growing Jimmy Nardello

Golden Marconi, and Carmen (hybrid).

If you must grow bell peppers, in Michigan, I'd be inclined to look at some of the extra-early pepper varieties that people grow in Canada. Some can be found at TomatoGrowers.com.

Did you give the pepper plants at least 1" of compost or composted cow manure?

montanamato · March 7, 2007

Earlired and Neopolitan ripen for me in Montana. The cherry peppers ripen early too, and can be used much like bells in most recipes or salads. Try starting them in very loose soil and give them lots of root room...They grow much slower than tomatoes and I start my peppers at least 3 weeks before my tomatoes yearly...The tomatoes will still be miles ahead of the peppers at transplant...Also , don't transplant until warm at night too....I have noticed peppers potted up into miracle grow soil, do poorer than regular soil...I don't fertilize either...
Check the past threads for Craig's bells from last summer....Whatever he does works very well....

Jeanne

rubylune · March 9, 2007

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try some short(er) season varieties, along with the Italian peppers.

I think i might also try starting my pepper seeds earlier and see if that helps!

March 7, 2007	#1
rubylune Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: z5b wMI Posts: 13	What do i do wrong? The past two years i've grown my own peppers from seed - California Wonder and some mini bell variety. With the California Wonder for some reason i don't get fruit. I get blossoms and little unripe fruit, but it never grows into full on peppers. It's almost like i need an extra month and a half. With the Mini Bells i only get a few peppers. I think i started my seeds at 8 weeks - i'd have to look at the calendar. Is there anything that i'm doing wrong? Any variety i should try to actually get a pepper during the season?

March 7, 2007	#2
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	Are you fertilizing them? Peppers don't like much nitrogen. You get nice green foliage but not many peppers. I use a little fish emulsion when I plant and that's it. I never feed the plants the rest of the season and they do great. __________________ Michele

March 7, 2007	#4
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	I've given up on bell peppers based on reports such as yours. Instead I am growing the similar tasting, similar use, but much more productive Italian Frying Peppers. I am growing Jimmy Nardello Golden Marconi, and Carmen (hybrid). If you must grow bell peppers, in Michigan, I'd be inclined to look at some of the extra-early pepper varieties that people grow in Canada. Some can be found at TomatoGrowers.com. Did you give the pepper plants at least 1" of compost or composted cow manure? Last edited by feldon30; March 7, 2007 at 12:08 PM.

March 7, 2007	#5
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	Earlired and Neopolitan ripen for me in Montana. The cherry peppers ripen early too, and can be used much like bells in most recipes or salads. Try starting them in very loose soil and give them lots of root room...They grow much slower than tomatoes and I start my peppers at least 3 weeks before my tomatoes yearly...The tomatoes will still be miles ahead of the peppers at transplant...Also , don't transplant until warm at night too....I have noticed peppers potted up into miracle grow soil, do poorer than regular soil...I don't fertilize either... Check the past threads for Craig's bells from last summer....Whatever he does works very well.... Jeanne Last edited by montanamato; March 7, 2007 at 12:26 PM.

March 9, 2007	#6
rubylune Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: z5b wMI Posts: 13	Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try some short(er) season varieties, along with the Italian peppers. I think i might also try starting my pepper seeds earlier and see if that helps!