Regular, constant moisture is the best prevention of BER. Research from Cornell Vegetable Program has showed that increased levels of calcium in the soil are not correlated with increased calcium levels in the plant. In most cases, there is no need to apply additional calcium as a foliar spray or through fertigation. The problem is getting the calcium from the roots to all parts of the plant. Therefore, water management to keep the soil moisture consistent is the best strategy to reduce BER. Removing fruit with BER can reduce further losses as even damaged fruit will continue to mature and compete for the plant’s nutrients. The same is true for pepper crops.

Be on the lookout for pepper maggots as they are currently active and laying eggs across the northeast (oviposition pinhole marks seen on crops in MA, VT, and NH). Cherry peppers are a good indicator crop. Females insert their eggs directly into the pepper fruit and leave a small dimple or scar. Yellow sticky traps baited with a vial of 28% ammonium hydroxide may be used to capture adult flies if hung in nearby trees. Traps are most reliable when hung about 20' high, within the canopy of maple trees bordering the field. Make 2 to 3 applications at 5 to 10 day intervals beginning 1 week after oviposition scars are detected or when the first fly is captured.

From 200From 2006 to 2023, the UV Index rating in July has averaged 9 (on a scale of 1-11+), the most intense month of the year. Charting of the UV Index in 2025.png shows that both June and July have had daily ratings between 8-10+. Categorically this indicates “very high” exposure, just one rating below the highest, "extreme". While pepper crops like the heat, intense sunlight and UV radiation, especially on fruit that isn’t protected by the plant’s leaf canopy, can put the fruit at risk of sunscald. Sunscald is not only damaging to the affected fruit, but it also opens the door to pathogens making the entire plant vulnerable to infection. Additional fruiting crops particularly susceptible to sunscald include tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, pumpkins, and squash. Leaves may also be impacted by intense sun. The damage can be identified by foliage bleaching or browning.

Shading is the best protection against sunscald. Be mindful of plants that may have fallen over and add trellising so the fruit can benefit from foliar shade. When selecting varieties, seek out cultivars with thicker plant canopies.