Pepper plant leaf curl

We planted our four pepper plants at the end of April(picture below). They really haven't grown except for a few flowers. The leaves are curled and we don't know why. I've looked at the different threads on here but haven't come across one that may be able to help. Can someone help???

Renee

I do not live in your area so I don't know what the temperature has been. Peppers are a warm season crop and don't seem to grow when it is cool.

Good luck with the peppers.

Just like everyone on the east coast we've had a pretty nice spring so far but there were a few cool days not too long ago...highs in 50's for a day or two. I thought it might be too much water(due to mother nature). Is there anyone in the Mid-Atlantic that may have some input?
Thanks,
Renee

AS far as I know, with peppers (chili) if new growth is distorted and stunted, most commonly it is caused by a virus. but I have also hear that lack of calcium can be the culprit... If any one finds a good site with some good info, please post it... I too would like to know for sure

I suspect your Mel's mix has too much wood content. That can make the nitrogen level low. The light green color is an indicator more than the leaf curl. You might side dress with some worm castings, or some other kind of organic fertilizer. Good luck!

I just went out and checked them again and they look worse than yesterday. I don't think they will last through the weekend... Maybe I should just pull them, restart with new ones and add something to help.

I contacted the local extension office in our area and this is their response to my question of the topic at hand.


To: Renee


You recently sent a question to the Home & Garden Information Center.
Your question was as follows:



Pepper plant leaves are curling. They had a few
buds on them that blossomed but that was it. The
plants seem to be shriveling. Can you help?



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Answer to you is :



How are the other plants doing near this one? Are there other pepper plants that are fine?

The pepper plants photo seems to show a damaged area on the stem. That could interfere with water uptake and lead to wilting or leaf curl.

Generally, leaves wilt because of lack of water or too much water. Many things can cause that besides our own watering practices. For example, wind can dry out a plant, disease can interfere with the vascular system, or a plant suddenly is exposed to too much sun or high temps on a blazing hot day when leaves are young and tender.

We think it is probably environmental stress that it will outgrow.



My other pepper plants looked exactly the same, so to help them I did give them some Miracle Grow this past weekend. They seem to be responding to the help. We have had a crazy amount of rain over the past month, I'm surprised none of my veggies floated away. I also think that because we do not have the complete MM in our beds that may be contributing too. I hope this will help others who may experience the same problem as us.
Renee