<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n13. Prevent Rot <\/h3>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned previously, if your pepper plants touch the ground, you can expect them to start to rot. However, even if you put up a trellis, you will still need to check on your peppers every day during the harvest season. When peppers ripen, they fall from the plant and start to rot. If you leave your pepper plant alone for a few days during harvest season, you may come back to find your garden in a state of decay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing draws disease and pests to your garden faster than the smell of rotting peppers. As any seasoned gardener can tell you, rotting material in your vegetable garden, turns it into a compost heap, resulting in the invasion of diseases such as mold, and pests like rodents and other bugs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, its reasonably easy to remedy this situation. After constructing your trellis, lay drip trays on the ground in between the stems of the plants. The peppers fall onto the dry drip trays, and they don\u2019t rot as quickly as if they touch the ground. You can line the drip tray with the newspaper for best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n14. Storing Bell Peppers <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Most gardeners will recommend that you wait to wash your pepper when you plan to cook it. However, we don\u2019t think that there\u2019s anything wrong with rinsing you pepper before storage. However, you need to ensure that the pepper is completely dry before storage, as any moisture on the surface will start to induce rot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After rinsing and drying your peppers, place them in a mesh produce bag and leave them in the crisper tray of the fridge. Your peppers should keep well in cold conditions for up to three weeks. The mesh bag gives the peppers plenty of room to breathe. Avoid using plastic Ziploc bags, as the contact with the synthetic surface will cause your peppers to rot faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s vital that you don\u2019t keep fruits in the same drawer as your peppers. Fruits release a gas called ethylene, which accelerates the rotting process in your peppers. When the skin of peppers becomes too soft, and you can press it in with your finger \u2013 then it\u2019s time to throw out your peppers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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