This does sound suspicious of either a nutrient deficiency or a fertilizer overload. It would be helpful to know how much osmocote you used. I don't know how much temp. affects its release but it might be possible in a warm place like Texas that it could release more quickly. You might try flooding the soil for an hour or two and then letting it drain. Repeat that again when the soil begins to dry out (2-3 days?). That should help flush out excess nutrients. If you suspect there's too much osmocote though you may have to transplant the peppers into fresh soil as the osmocote could continue to release for several months. It may be wise to invest in some new starts or seeds though...

I planted a bunch of "Snow Fancy Pickling" cucumbers and had a racoon or something dig up all but 3 plants. So I bought two "burpless" plants at the home center as that was all they had left so late in the season. They're all growing and producing and I've picked a couple of each variety at only about 4-5 inches long. The Snows seem to be short and fatter than the burpless. But my question is this - this is my first time growing them and both varieties, especially the Snow, have spines coming right out of the cucumbers!! I never saw a cucumber with spines before! So I can't see how I can get away with NOT peeling them! How do I get rid of the spines? I planted the Snows specifically to grow for pickling (which is another thing I've never done before!) and I didn't plan on peeling them before pickling so what do I do? Lisa

Hi mima, Boron (B) is slow moving inside the plant, so symptoms of deficiency show up first in the older leaves. B is much involved in cell membranes & the transport of Potassium which maintains the water equilibrium of tissue (ie: your plump varicose midrib). B uptake is less efficient in situations of: drought (many pepper growers keep 'em dry), low Nitrogen (N provides the vigorous growth that can move micro-nutrients), high Calcium & also when pH is high (may be pH rose over winter). B is very mobile in the soil & prone to leaching. It merits thorough mixing of fertilizer blend for ideal bio-availability. Deficiency symptoms for certain crops vary & most think of B problems on flower/fruit/tips of growth. As regards leaves, Boron deficiency can cause them to: distort, cup, curl at margin, pucker, deform, shrivel, crinkle, thicken, brittle, dry & appear wilted (when on young leaves begin to see yellowing &/or central leaf vein chlorosis the B deficiency is already long standing & crop yield will be less)

Hahahaha!!!!! I think my pepper must have "psychically" heard me fussin' about it 'cause yesterday I went out and just for the heck of it I checked it again and it has just the slightest blush on a small spot!! You know how some ppl talk to plants? Well, if my neighbors had heard this convo the jacket that ties in the back would have been on its way to my place..." Oh, so NOW you're starting to turn?! WHAT?! Just because everyone on the forum knows how you are now? Don't think you are getting in on my good side NOW~you have already had your chances....!!!!" LMBO Dennis ~ I think I am going to try your way as well. I am going to take one off of the plant and see what happens with that! I am going to leave the "old man" on and see how long it takes for him to turn !! I let y'all know!