Many e-mails that I'm receiving lately ask about the buds or tiny peppers and stems turning yellow and dropping off of the plants. Relax! This is normal and typical. The plant is still too small to handle a load of peppers. So the initial peppers on many varieties drop off until the plant is sturdy enough to support a large crop of peppers. It's a healthy, natural process so be patient and all will be fine.
One of the things I love about gardening is the challenge of beating pests, varmints and weather issues. One of the things I hate about gardening is the challenge of beating pests, varmints and weather issues...If I'm LOSING! I was winning my yearly battle with the oversized deer population by using a tip from a subscriber last year in my occasional "Tell Pepper Joe" column when I asked for help. The tip was to put Dial soap in a nylon stocking tied on stakes spread throughout the entry points of the garden. This did work until last week. The deer moved in and mowed down the Swiss Chard, Beets and Chicoria. All 3 will rebound...just sets me back weeks. Fortunately, deer won't touch the Chiles. Anyway, have any new tips on keeping the deer away?
Ask Pepper Joe ============ Dear Joe, > As an avid pepper fan I was pleased to find this sight. The recipes and > tips on gardening are awesome. I'm fairly new to the state of Virginia, but > have a bunch of peppers sprouting in the old garden. I wanted to write to let > you know that I have some peppers that I brought back from Guam in the South > Pacific and I think they rank up there with the good old habanero. If you are > interest let me know and I will gladly send some of these seeds to you.
