how are you fertilizing your earthbox? Did you use the fertilizer strip with the cover over it? If so what was the NPK numbers on the fert and how much did you use?

If you used 2 cups or less of 10-10-10 or lower (for the N) you haven't overfertilized unless you aren't using the cover.

Anyway, don't transplant at this stage. If necessary remove the fertilizer (if using the strip of granular fert) and top water for 15 minutes or so and let all the water run out the overflow hole.

Still, if you are ferting according to instructions and using the cover it's extremely unlikely to be an excess fert issue. Zillions of folks grow peppers that way (including me)

I agree, if you followed all the directions on the EB and used a well-balanced fertilizer with adequage phosphorous and not an exceptionally high N rating you should be ok. In my experience peppers do quite well in EB's.

It would be difficult to remove it by hand now unless you can easily get to where you put the fert strip and you could damage the plant roots in the process.

How many plants are in the box? 2 is the ideal I have found. You don't mention the variety? Some are slow to bloom naturally. Or how long the plants have been transplanted? What was your growing mix? Did it contain fertilizer in addition to what you added? Does it drain well or remain wet overly long?

Insufficient sunlight, weather, temps, and excessive watering/rain can also contribute to the lack of fruit development so my best suggestion would be patience. ;)

Flushing some of the fertilizer out may help but I would be inclined to just let it be. If it is too much N, the plant will eventually adjust and begin to fruit. Good luck.

Dave

Lindsay:

Agree with Dave. It would be far to risky at this point to try to transplant or somehow remove excess nitrogen, if there is indeed excess nitrogen. I live in the same area you do, and peppers are as much as 2 weeks behind because of the relatively cool spring we have had. I didn't even set mine out until after mid-May because the nights were too cold, and setting out peppers when it is chilly actually sets them back.

But they are beginning to set little peppers now, and I know they will be ready by mid-August or so. Smaller varieties, like Jalapenos, will be ready sooner, but the big sweet bells take a long time to ripen fully. Again, a little late, but there is plenty of heat right into September.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Thank you all for responding. I forgot to mention that I have planted one cherry tomato plant in the same earth box with the peppers. (The folks at greenhouse thought this was okay to do.) I added a little dolomite that came with the box to the soil, but only in the area where the tomato is.

For the configuration of the earthbox, I planted the tomato on the top left and there is one pepper on the same top row on the right, then two peppers on the right-middle and bottom right of the earthbox. I do use the cover on top of the soil with the silver side facing out.

I have one plant each of red and yellow bell peppers and one California Wonder green pepper (can't remember where they are in the configuration). All were purchased at the same greenhouse where I bought the earthbox. And yes, I have used the fertilizer that came with the earth box which has a 7-7-7 ratio. I put a strip down the middle as directed and did not use two cups--definitely not the whole package, perhaps about a cup.

The pepper plants are super lush and keep growing and adding more and more leaves, but no flowers. (The tomato has been flowering and has some fruit.) The earthbox is on my balcony and gets east and southern light from the morning to about mid-afternoon.

It's very frustrating that the plants are so healthy but not flowering! With this additional information, any new thoughts on what to do?

Thank you!
Lindsay

Sorry--forgot to add that I used container soil that probably did have fertilizer in it. Is that adding to the problem?

Everything is fine, Lindsay.

If you did not use all of the fertilizer supplied with the Earthbox it is virtually impossible the problem is excess fertilizer. The fertilizer in the potting mix is the controlled release type and won't hurt anything, particularly since you are only using 50% of the recommended fertilizer.

Every year many people have an off year for a particular type of plant. 2006 was a bad tomato year for many people and 2007 is shaping up to be a late pepper year due to an unusual cold/cool spell.

I really think you just need to be patient. Your plants sound very healthy and they are just taking awhile to set fruit. It will happen soon.