Our Plablano peppers were too hot this year, as hot as our jalepeno peppers. Any ida why? Thanks

Hi Shannon – It sounds to me like they are not getting enough water. Plants planted in pots need more water than when grown directly in the ground. The soil in pots drains much faster and dries out quicker. I would recommend when the temperatures get 85 and above you should water twice a day – once in the morning and once mid-afternoon.

If temps are in the mid-80′s then once a day should be fine. One way to check to see if they need water is to stick your finger a couple inches in the soil. Feel moist? Don’t water and re-check the next day. Feel dry? Then water the plant well thoroughly soaking the soil.

Hi. I bought a bundle (2 poblano’s) from Home Depot, and put them in a very large plant with Scott’s organic soil. I live in South Florida, where the temp is currently averaging upper 80′s. Based on your above comments, you would think my Poblano plants would be thriving. Well, they’re not.

One of the three Poblano plants I planted had it’s leaves shrivel up once planted, and the leaves droop and look pathetic. Is it dead? The other two were doing great, until I left for a business trip (gone 3 days) and when I returned they were both falling for a simlar fate as their brother.

I need help, I love Poblano’s, I live in South Florida, I almost feel like the heat is too much for them. (or possibly I don’t water enough?) The woman at Home Depot that helped me told me if they droop like they’re doing, it could actually mean that they’re getting too much water, instead of not enough. As such, I’ve tried to taper how much water I give them. I water them once every other day. But with the Florida Heat (and they are in direct sun light all day) is this too little?

PLEASE HELP!!!!

Hi Karen – I’m really surprised to hear you say they were hot. Poblanos have always been very mild in my experience, but everyone has a different tolerance for heat. I don’t know of anything you could do to lessen the heat of them. Perhaps harvest them when they are young and green. They can get a little spicier once they have matured to a red color.

That’s really the only thing I know to try.

I have been so looking forward to the wonderful flavor of publano peppers. However, after cooking my first batch I discovered that they are way too hot for my taste. I was hoping for the mild peppers I was given by a friend. Is there something I can do to affect the flavor of the plants so they will not be so hot. Is this a crazy question?

Hi Joan – Yes, you can pinch the ends off if you need to. It should help concentrate more energy to the fruit.

Would you recommend pinching off the growth ends? Each of the pepper plants has over 50 growth ends that have branched out of the main stalk. There are also over 50 flowers on each plant. Each plant has at least 50 (maybe even 100!) of those tiny pea-sized fruits.

Im thinking so much energy is going to the growth ends and current flowers, as these plants are massive, and nothng seems to be happening with the tiny fruits. Im thinking that the number of these little fruits might also be a limiting factor.

Thanks!

Hi Joan – That is pretty odd. It could be temperature related as poblanos like warm weather. You need temperatures in the mid to upper 80′s for good production of almost any pepper.

My poblano peppers are growing profusely, I have 3 per very large pot, and they are well over 3 feet tall. They have been flowering just as well, and setting fruit. There are over 50 flowers and peppers per plant. The problem is the peppers havent grown more than the size of a pea. Some of the early pea-sized fruits have turned almost black, and when I squish them, they are full of juice and seeds. Is it the weather? Im in Tacoma, WA, and we’ve had a very cool, wet spring and summer (only 1 day over 80 so far!). Should I pinch off the flowers and/or the growing tips? Any other ideas? Thanks!

Hi Bill. Yes, it has been hot here in the east. That could be a definite reason for the lack of fruit production.

The leaves cut be eaten by a pest. The only one that can do that kind of damage is a hornworm. Usually they will eat the leaves, but leave the veins of the leaf intact, in most cases.