Natural Ways to Prevent Pepper Plant Diseases

Cultural Preferences

• Peppers grow in a range of shapes, sizes and flavors, from long, thin -- and blazing hot -- cayenne peppers to large, juicy, sweet bell peppers that come in shades of red, orange, yellow and green. Many peppers can be eaten raw or cooked, though a few varieties are generally grown for their ornamental value. One of the best pepper disease prevention methods simply involves growing peppers in their preferred cultural conditions. Though each species has its own specific preferences -- including irrigation levels, soil type, fertilizer requirements and sun exposure -- most pepper plants grow best in fertile, consistently moist yet well-draining soil. Peppers also prefer sunny sites with 18 to 24 inches of space in which to spread and grow. Avoid hot, dry or windy sites as well as cool, damp sites, since all of these conditions can lead to disease.

Mosaic Virus

• Pepper plants are prone to tobacco mosaic virus or mosaic virus, a viral infection found around the world. Mosaic virus causes pepper foliage to turn mottled shades of yellow and green, taking on a “mosaic” appearance. While it doesn’t kill the plants, it does stunt their growth and decreases their quality. If you use tobacco products, such as cigarettes or chew, prevent mosaic virus by scrubbing your hands with soap and water before touching pepper plants. Planting resistant varieties also helps prevent mosaic virus. Resistant sweet pepper varieties include Jupiter, Keystone Resistant Giant, Paladin, X3R Aladin, X3R Camelot and X3R Wizard.

Bacterial Diseases

• Peppers are susceptible to a number of bacterial diseases, including bacterial canker and bacterial spot. Canker causes pepper leaves to wilt, turn brown at the edges and curl, and the plant develops brown, open cankers and mottled fruits. Spot manifests itself through wet marks on foliage that cause yellowing and leaf drop. Both of these diseases can be prevented by soaking pepper seeds in 125 F water for 30 minutes before planting. To prevent infections in established pepper plants, don’t use overhead irrigation, avoid disturbing wet soil, sterilize pruning shears with alcohol and use a crop rotation scheme for peppers and other members of the Solanaceae family. Choose disease-resistant varieties, such as hot pepper Super Cayennell and sweet peppers Camelot, Enterprise, Sentinel, X3R Aladin, X3R Camelot and X3R Wizard.

Other Preventive Methods

• North Carolina State University extension suggests watering pepper plants in the mornings to allow them to dry thoroughly during the day, preventing the disease spread often caused by wet foliage. Cultivate no more than every 10 days, and don’t allow any tools to touch pepper plants, as this can spread disease. Avoid planting peppers -- and other Solanaceae vegetables -- in the same spot for more than three years in a row.