My pepper plants are doing horrible this year. My tomatoes are doing great though. My peppers were fine last year except for a few BER problems here and there. I should note that my cucumbers and musk mellons are also doing really bad (probably worse than the peppers). I've been checking several things looking for problems:

1. Soil. Checking seems to indicated that I had a Nitrogen problem initially though it didn't seem to be slowing the tomatoes down much. I've since corrected that as further testing has shown. I don't really see anything outstanding in my soil that might be an issue other than the PH is a bit lower than I'd like in a few spots (I think it drops as low as 5, but mostly hangs around 6.5).

2. Weather. It's been an unsually cold year so far and it seems that maybe peppers don't deal with cold as well as tomatoes. Our nights are still hitting down in the 40's often. Days are normally 60's or low 70's though. I suspect weather is playing a big role in my problems, but I'm not sure.

3. Insects. I didn't notice much at first. A few of the pepper plants have some holes chewed in the leaves, but only a few of them and it's not sever. Mostly new growth from what I can tell. Recently when harvesting some lettuce though I noticed the lettuce had a lot of bugs of some sort on it. I've also notice that a lot of the new growth on my peppers and my lettuce has leaves that are deformed. I think I may have an aphid problem. Not sure it is aphids, or that it's just aphids though. Closer inspection of the pepper plants is showing something. I think several of the spots are dirt splash (I've not properly mulched yet) but some definately are bugs. They tend to small soft bodied black insects with wings. Sap suckers of some sort.

Whatever the problem, it's definately something in the outside environment. I've started most of my peppers inside under grow lights and they're doing great. I'm even keeping most of them there right now because I'm afraid to put them out. Some I have inside right now are close to a foot in height. When I put them out, it all goes to crap though. I can harden them off without a problem, but once they're planted... I should note that some of the plants are purchased, so I've got a mix. Here are some pictures to help:

Pepper that looks fairly good other than holes in the leaves:

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00020.JPG

Pepper that has suffered quite a bit and also has a few holes:

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00021.JPG

Close up of the bugs:

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00022.JPG

Another close up of the bugs - notice the mutated new leaf there as well:

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00023.JPG

More bugs:

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00024.JPG

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/

Leaf spotting which has shown up in the last few days on some of the peppers (thought these were fairly healthy...):

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00026.JPG

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00027.JPG

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00028.JPG

One of the healther plants, obviously still has issues though:

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00029.JPG

A suffering honey dew that's showing no signs of growth:

http://www.smartertek.net/~gblack/garden/2006/problems/DSC00030.JPG

Can anyone help me out here? Are the bugs Aphids? Suggested control? What's the leaf spotting? Is weather a major issue for peppers? Any help appreciated. Thanks!!!