Bell Pepper Stem Severed

Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:48 pm

Hi,
I'm new to gardening and I'm having trouble keeping my bell pepper plants alive. They're fine for about a week after planting them in the ground but then they fall over from what seems to be a severed stem. The stem is severed just below the soil line so I don't think it's an animal. Could it be an insect of some sort? Please help. I'm on my second batch of plants and would like to keep this new set!

Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:30 pm

Is most likely a cut worm. Place a collar of some type around the stem for protection when the plant is young. Or do like I do, and place a small stick in the ground right beside the stem of the plant. The stick seems to disrupt the cut worm's habit of curling around the stem and severing the plant.

Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:44 pm

Easy, inexpensive "collars" to prevent cutworm damage can be cut from toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes. Just use scissors, cut to the height desired, and insert into the ground.

The collar will disintegrate after several weeks, when your plant no longer is at risk.

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:03 pm

Thanks,
I'll give those things a try!