Bell Peppers

Question from Dee:
This is my first garden and IAm getting these black spots on my bellpeppers. What is the cause of this.

Answer from Pat:
Black spots on peppers sounds like a bacterial spot disease. I would try spraying with Serenade. It might control the problem but won’t cure it. Wet weather and moist air are not conducive to healthy peppers. They prefer dryer conditions.
Keeping a clean garden and rotating crops can help control it. In future make sure compost in the soil was hot, don’t dig unrotted debris into soil since diseases can proliferate there, and don’t work in the garden when it’s wet since this can spread disease from plant to plant. Next time also grow disease-resistant varieties.

If I were you I would bag a specimen of black spot on peppers and take it to your County Extension office for identification.

Another thing I would do is learn from other gardeners in your area about what crops are most successful for them and when they plant them. Local gardeners often have many tips and hints specific to your region. For example, sometimes a disease problem can be avoided altogether simply by earlier planting before the weather gets too hot and moist.