Vanshing Pepper Plants

Kim, who gardens in sunny Southern California just shared the following strange and puzzling experience that sounds like something right out of the X-Files:

“I love your gardening newsletter. I find it very helpful and full of useful information. I have a question about pepper plants.”

The Case of the Missing Peppers

“I live in the high desert of So. Calif. (Victorville). I love growing peppers; Jalapeno, Habanero, Anaheim, etc. I have had successful plants every year but this one… so far. I planted my plants about three weeks ago, (first week of May). Within 10 days all of the pepper plants were dead, gone, not even skeletons.”

“Our daytime temps are in the high 70’s to mid 80’s. Not sure of the night time temps, I would say within the high 50’s. The plants are getting lots of water, and are in full sun. I am also growing beets, green beans, sweat peas, three types of squash and tomatoes.”

“Everything is growing great but the peppers. My soil is very high in nitrogen, as I had chickens (corn fed only) for a while in my gardening area (1000 sq feet). I rototilled about two months before planting to let the soil stabilize.”

“Any ideas? I am at a loss with the exception that the night time temps might still be too cold for the peppers to do well.”

Gardening Forensics 101

Kim, I’m afraid you may have to contact the producers of the Cold Case TV show on this one because I don’t have a clue. It is curious and bizarre that the pepper plants would disappear without a trace in a very short period of time.

I didn’t notice anything obvious that you did wrong and I sure don’t know the cause of death. Did you watch the progression of the pepper plant’s demise? Did they wilt and fail to recover after being transplanted, did they sicken and gradually perish, or did they suddenly go from healthy to dead and missing overnight?

I doubt that it was temperature related because it really wasn’t cold enough to harm the pepper plants and the tender squash and tomato plants were unaffected. Disease, transplant shock, sun scald, and insects all usually take time to kill a plant and will normally leave signs or symptoms that can be diagnosed.

On the Trail of a Garden Assassin

I’ve watched squirrels and birds destroy young seedlings on occasion but they leave behind the remains of a bruised and batterd plant. Even those sneaky, ambushing, little cutworms aren’t smart enough to dispose of the evidence of their assaults.

Plants that mysteriously and suddenly disappear without a trace are usually done in by wildlife such as deer or groundhogs. I’ve experienced cases of rabbits eating seedlings such as beets and green beans down to where there was nothing left of the plant except for a slight nub.

Did you notice any tracks, signs of nibbling, fur fibers, or animal droppings in the vicinity of the offense? I’m investigating a similar crime that occurred in my garden involving a Goji Berry Plant. In my case there’s a stump with Goji Berry leaves scattered about the scene and a not so innocent looking baby bunny sighted nearby.

I’m pretty sure of the culprit in my case, but your vanishing peppers have me stumped. Are there any garden sleuths or eye witnesses to similar occurrences with a clue about what happened to Kim’s peppers? Any leads or tips can be reported in the comment section below but I’m not sure about any rewards.