I just lost three pepper plants (one at a time) from what I think was "bacterial wilt". Everything is fine and then, boom, all the leaves are green, droopy and dying. No spots or blemishes on the leaves, and no yellowing, so I think it wasn't verticillium or fusarium. You can get BW, it seems, from overly moist soil.

In any case, I would remove your plants with care, and throw them in the garbage. DO NOT COMPOST. Wash your hands afterwards, and any implement you touched them with.

Bacterial and viral diseases sure are possibilities but the most common cause is root rot/damage either from excess wet soil or underground soil dwellers. Then there is always the possibility of damp-off depending on how old the plant is.

Dave

It has been raining a lot so that could of caused rot. I have seen ants and earwigs in the garden as far as pests. Is there anyway to tell or what or what to look for to narrow it down? Should I just rip the plant out?

Whether bacteria or fungus (which is pretty much what "root rot" is) that dying plant is a carrier for it. I would rip it out and dispose of securely. Keep it away from other plants. Just about every other kind of vegetable can "catch" it, if the soil is moist enough.

Ants and earwigs aren't normally considered "pests" although earwigs can be in sufficient numbers. But their normal diets are dead and decaying matter and each other. They don't kill plants as a general rule.

I was referring to soil dwelling pests - gophers, nematodes, voles, etc. things that live off the roots of plants.

As to ripping the plant out, that is your choice. You said it was just wilted, not dead so it might recover or it might not. There is lots to learn bynot jumping the gun and just waiting and watching what happens.

Dave

>>Should I just rip the plant out?

It's not like the plant wilted from a lack of water... Not sure why else a healthy plant would wilt in a way that you describe as 'dying'... The answer is clear... Keep it and see if it lives!

Just make sure it's 100 yards away from your other plants, or maybe a quarantined laboratory.

Last year I lost more plants to ants than any other cause. I had 6 plants in close proximity wilt and when i lifted the plastic mulch the ants were everywhere. Look at the base of wilted plants and if the stems are girdled you can probably blame the ants. Not much you can do except replace the plants but first get rid of the ants or the damage will occur on other plants.

I'll check in the morning or this weekend. Another rain storm is coming in now. How do you get rid of ants?

I think ants gobble up the fungus. They can't get enough of it. You should see my compost pile. Veritable ant metropolis. I don't think they are to blame... though they can help carry spores.

I don't think bacterial wilt or fungus root rot is ever going to recover. In the meantime, you're just growing more fungus and bacteria. I mean, you can look at the plant and anticipate the prognosis. If the wilting is serious, and the leaf tips are all pointing downward, you're not going to learn anything by keeping it. It's dead, if not dying. If the leaves are just drooping lightly, sure, why not keep it, but be careful.

I too am skeptical about whether ants are your problem. I guess you could put an aluminum foil collar around the base of the plants if you're worried about them.