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Thin peppers

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Fruit & veg
Hello, I’ve grown sweet peppers in the poly tunnel for years and they are always much thinner than the ones in the shops. They are healthy, they grow large, and they ripen. I’ve tried several varieties over the years, but it’s always the same - a couple of millimetres thick. Is it variety, growing conditions or feed? 
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Do you refresh the soil every year and do you feed them?  They like a rich, slightly acidic soil and moisture but not soggy feet.

    Here's what the RHS says about growing them.  Maybe it will help - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=664 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Hello, thanks for replying. I don’t refresh the soil, but I do rotate crops, add manure in the autumn and garden compost in the spring. Other veg (toms, courgettes, aubergines), are doing fine using this system.  Our soil is slightly acidic. I don’t understand why they are growing so big and healthy-looking if the soil and/or feeding is inadequate. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Adding manure and compost is refreshing the soil and its fertility so maybe you need to change variety.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Thank you. I’ll start a new discussion for advice on varieties. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Have a read of this report from the RHS trials and see if that helps - http://apps.rhs.org.uk/planttrials/TrialReports/Pepper%20sweet%202016.pdf 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Having tried lots of bell pepper varieties, I know just what you mean.  Try 'Yellow Bell F1' and 'Rainbow mixed F1' for reliably thick-fleshed sweet peppers which grow well under glass in the UK.  Seeds were from Dobies and/or Mr Fothergills I seem to recall.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Thanks all, that’s really useful. I’m looking forward to trying again next year. That’s funny Obelix, I thought refreshing the soil meant digging it out and replacing it! 😊
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No, it means putting back some of the nutrients and fibrous matter consumed by the previous crop.  Very important for good fruit and veg.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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