Question
I have about 15 peppers on my jalapeno plant, but the tops of the peppers have gone black?  I assume this means they are no good, please can you advise?

Answer
Emma, first make sure they are black, and not a dark purple. The tops of jalapenos turn purple before the rest of the pepper turns red as part of their natural maturation process.

If they have turned black and you suspect they are beginning to rot, this is usually a sign that the soil is now depleted of nutrients, specifically phosphorus and calcium. In this case, I would harvest the peppers immediately and cut the top portion off. The rest of the pepper should be just fine. You can either prepare them now for salsa or salads, or jar the edible portion.

Next year, be sure to supplement the bed with ample organic matter such as shredded leaves, compost, manure, and peat moss. This should restore the vitality of the soil for next year's crop.

I hope this answered your question. Have a great weekend.

Regards,

Mike