Plant guide:ðŦ Bell Pepper
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Light
Sunscald on Bell Pepper Fruit
Commonly affects: Capsicum annuum, Grossum Group (Bell Pepper)
A pale, papery, or blistered patch develops on the sun-facing side of the fruit, sometimes leading to soft rot in that spot.
Potential Causes
- 1Direct, intense sun exposure on fruit not adequately shaded by foliage
- 2Loss of leaf cover from pruning, pest damage, or disease exposing fruit that was previously shaded
- 3Particularly intense heatwaves even on well-foliaged plants
Solution Steps
- 1Avoid over-pruning foliage that shades developing fruit
- 2Provide light shade cloth during the most intense heat if fruit is exposed and heatwaves are expected
- 3Address any underlying cause of leaf loss (pests, disease) that's reducing natural fruit shading
- 4Harvest affected fruit promptly, since the scalded area is prone to secondary rot
Prevention Tip
Bell peppers rely on their own foliage to shade developing fruit â avoid removing more leaves than necessary when pruning.
