Black mould peppers and tomatoes - safe?

dilby

Hi all - I’ve been ripening off the last of my tomatoes and peppers in my greenhouse. Unfortunately black mould has spread throughout really quickly. It’s a shame because some larger peppers such as my Romano’s are finally ready after a slow summer and they’ve got the mould on. It does wipe off but is it unsafe to eat? Also I was planning on over wintering the pepper plants in the greenhouse to get a better start next year rather than from seedlings; but are they infected beyond repair now and have to be destroyed?

bertrand-mabel

When we harvest apples and pears we do cut out the areas that are damaged.

You could possibly do this with the toms and peppers but I don't think overwintering them will work especially being infected.

You need to remove all the plants and clean the area as best you can and start again next Spring.

BobTheGardener

Is the black mould only on the surface and can be wiped off, or is the flesh beneath damaged?  I ask because aphids or scale insects will drop sticky 'honeydew' and this is then covered by a fungus which feeds on the sugars in the honeydew.  This type of black mould looks unsightly, but doesn't penetrate the plant tiissues.

tui34

Hi.  I wouldn't overwinter summer plants.  They have a life span.  But you could get an early start and sow the seeds in February and pot them on until they are ready to go outside (or not).

Nanny Beach

I was going to overwinter my sweet peppers having just read in my garden mag you can do this. I went in their green house yesterday,first time in 3 days,they were absolutely alive with white fly,so I've picked the last 3 peppers,and put the rest in the council bin. No way am I introducing any pests into the conservatory.

Dovefromabove

That’s why I don’t overwinter them @Nanny Beach … they always get covered with whitefly by the end of the season.