Though they don't get much coverage here, I actually grow more peppers than I do tomatoes. Peppers just give more a lot more trouble, and I don't seem to get as much fruit for my effort.
One of the reasons for that is that I like to let most my chilies turn fully red. You may know that while chilies can still be green when mature, a fully ripe pepper is one that has turned its final color (which is usually red). While peppers can be eaten earlier, they are most flavorful (if not quite as crisp) when fully mature and fully ripe (got that?).
Letting a chili turn red takes a long time. That extra time gives bugs extra opportunity to attack the peppers. Probably a third or more of my peppers never get a chance to ripen because of insect damage.
The solution? Hire a guard mantis. You can see how well it works. Just look at how red this pepper it.
(The only problem was, she wouldn't even let me pick it! ;-) )
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