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06 Sep 13, Cherie (Australia - temperate climate)

Can Capsicums and Tomatoes be planted in the same garden next too each other?

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15 Sep 13, ej (Australia - temperate climate)

Probably not. Capsicum are susceptible to viruses & will contract Tomato spotted wilt virus. Ripening tomatoes also give off ethylene gas which will affect the capsicum fruit.

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05 Sep 13, ros (australia temperate climate) (Australia - temperate climate)

My Capcicums never grow to full size before they rot and fall off why ?

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15 Sep 13, ej (Australia - temperate climate)

Could be a number of reasons ... A common ailment with capsicum is blossom-end rot. This condition just effects the fruit and not the plant blossom or flower. The condition gets its name because the symptoms appear at the ‘blossom end’ of the fruit. The first sign of blossom-end rot is that the end of the fruit becomes off-whitish to brown in colour and takes on a ‘sunken in’ appearance. As the fruit matures, these symptoms become more pronounced and the colour of the rot becomes dark brown to almost black. Blossom-end rot is caused by insufficient calcium supply. However, the most common cause is from irregular watering during the critical growing period of the young fruit. Even when calcium levels in the soil are sufficient, a plant receiving insufficient or irregular water will have difficulty absorbing and delivering calcium to the fruit. To control blossom-end rot. Boost the soil with calcium by adding lime, dolomite, gypsum or composted animal manures before planting the seedlings. Water regularly. Most capsicum crops continue to flower and bear fruit for prolonged periods of time, so ensure the soil around their roots is kept moist. Avoid fertilisers with a high nitrogen content. Nitrogen fertilisers will promote leaf growth at the expense of fruit, allocating calcium to the leaves instead of to the fruit.

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02 Sep 13, Madeleine (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

My capsicums have only grown about 10 cm in about 8 or 9 weeks. all other plants in same bed doing well. can anyone help?

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15 Sep 13, ej (Australia - temperate climate)

That last cold snap may be the cause. Plants retarded by cool weather tend to harden and seldom regain the vigorous growth necessary for high yields. Then again, you may be over fertilising them. Capsicum do not respond well to nitrogen (which most fertilisers have a lot of)...The only nitrogen capsicum need is obtained from a good compost added when planting. Do not continue fertilising (feeding) these plants. When you see first signs of blooms fertilise with a high phosphrous fertiliser, but one with very little nitrogen. The most common mistake made is planting capsicums in the same bed as leaf crops like silver beet, Asian greens, lettuce, broccoli, peas/beans, all of whuich need high nitrogen.

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15 Sep 13, ej (Australia - temperate climate)

That last cold snap may be the cause. Plants retarded by cool weather tend to harden and seldom regain the vigorous growth necessary for high yields.

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18 Aug 13, Ash White (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

My capsicums have half of the skin covered in a brown scaly rough texture. it is also on the leaves aswell. Do you know what it is and how I can treat it? Cheers.

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16 Aug 13, J. Cosham (Australia - temperate climate)

Do Capicums like mostly shade, or should they be planted in full sun?

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15 Sep 13, ej (Australia - temperate climate)

Minimum of 6 hours of full sun per day.

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