Question
Seattle, WA
We have holes in our bell peppers, close to the stem. They appear when the peppers are about 1/2" big. We saw a short, light yellow bug, with a pointed bottom. It had 6 legs and we saw it on the top of a big leaf. It hopped when we touched it. What should we do?

Answer
The three pests that infest pepper plants are aphids, flea beetles, and leaf hoppers. All three will leave small holes in the foliage, which will eventually weaken the plant.

Since I don't prefer spraying harsh chemicals on my vegetable plants, I always start with an organic insecticide. Two of the more popular are rotenone and pyrethrum. They can be purchased separately or in combination. Both are derivatives of plants, which means they are deadly to insects, but non-toxic to humans and pets. They can be safely sprayed right up to the day of harvest.

If all else fails, Sevin is another alternative. It is toxic but usually dissipates within 5-7 days of spraying. It is sold in both a dust and liquid formula.

If you are interested in purchasing the organic insecticides, visit one of the attached links or contact your local garden center to see what they have available.

http://www.gardensalive.com

http://www.planetnatural.com

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike