Sweet Pepper problem

Hi all,
I have 5 small peppers growing low down on my sweet pepper plant with a good few flowers above these.
The problem is when the flowers come off of the small forming peppers( not sure of the correct name ), the stem that the small peppers are on starts to turn a lighter shade off green, goes nearly yellow, then falls off along with the forming pepper. Its happened to a good few of them now .
Anyone any ideas as to what is happening?
Thanks
John

 

The flowers are not "setting", or the plant has too many fruits on it already (and can't support more).

Are these in a greenhouse?

What are they planted in - Ground?, bag?, Pot - what size?

 

Hi Kristen,
The plant is in a 7" pot in a small plastic greenhouse.

 

"The plant is in a 7" pot in a small plastic greenhouse."

Sounds pretty much ideal. Blast! can't score any quick-wins with "Why did you do that" then

Might are crowded with fruit, and I haven't noticed more than one or two dropping off. Cuecumbers do the "turn yellow and drop off" trick to self-manage the number of Cues they are holding per-plant, and I suppose it could be that - the 5 fruits are all it can handle, so once you've picked those more will form.

Misting (with a hand sprayer or somesuch) is often recommended to assist pollination (not sure if that specifically applies to Peppers); if the atmosphere very dry in your greenhouse, or does it feel humid and muggy?

I suppose you could hand-pollinate the flowers (using a small paintbrush) in case they are not getting pollinated (but I haven't had to do any of that with the ones in my greenhouse)

 

I read this in another forum:

In the latest copy of Amateur Gardening it says that you "should remove the first fruits that sweet peppers set, because this soaks up all the plants nutrients and prevents other fruit from setting".

 

Hi Kristen,
"The plant is in a 7" pot in a small plastic greenhouse." Sounds pretty much ideal.
That was total luck on my part kristen as I don't seem to get much right with this gardening lark!
It seems to be happening to all of the new fruits now.
The greenhouse does seem kind of clamy as the weather hasn't been that great up here lately.
Do you think this would make a difference?
Thanks
John

 

"The greenhouse does seem kind of clamy as the weather hasn't been that great up here lately."

That's OK. Too hot, or possibly too dry, would prevent the fruit setting. If you have had mediocre weather that won't be the problem.

Not sure after that ... hopefully someone else will have some suggestions.

 

I had the same problem but the pollinating beasties have now found my plants and I have a profusion of fruit on all my greenhouse plants

Maybe place some nector rich flowers close to your peppers to encourage the pollinating insects?

 

Kristen, when do I know that the peppers are ready to pick?
Will they turn red like they are on the picture?
Thanks
John

 

I pick mine when they are a "decent size". You have to then leave them on the pant another week or too if you want them to turn red. I normally don't bother, but if I want some red ones I pick some green and leave one decent sized one in each plant to turn red.

If you pick, then more should form, hence why I tend to pick them green.

 

Thanks for that Kristen.
I think I'll pick the ones I've got and see if more come

John