24-8-16 sounds like Miracle Gro, which is a proper 3-1-2 ratio. Looks like some sort of herbicide drift to me.

There is another post on this forum which claims 'research' found 3-1.3-3 is the ratio tomatoes use throughout their lifespan. No source was provided, just the claim.

I doubt if it is happening to both peppers and tomatoes it's the fertilizer. One drawback of MG AP is it lacks calcium, unless your soil has it you might need to supplement later in the season.

Anecdote: I've used FP (9-3-6) and MG AP (24-8-16) successfully on peppers and tomatoes.

It looks like herbicide drift to me as well. Have you or any of your neighbors sprayed weed killer? Have there been landscapers working in your neighborhood?

Also, where are you located?

I would have also suspected something like 2,4-D toxicity but that herbicide has been banned for home owners and landscapers for a few years now. I would double check that the fertilizer you are using is not a lawn “Weed & feed” material.

There are a few viruses that can cause those signs and that is a death sentence for the plants. I would suggest that you trace the treatment history and recheck material labels, then if nothing is evident submit a plant tissue sample to a plant disease laboratory for analysis.

I can buy a number of weed killers for lawns with 2,4-D in them right now at Lowe's. When was it banned?

I mean, it really would be great if it were banned or highly restricted, as it destroys so many ornamental and edible plants due to carelessness and ignorance around its use. I think it's banned in CA. The EU bans it, IIRC, and Canada has stricter regulations on it than the USA. But I think it's still in many home products in the US.

I should have clarified that it’s been banned for all uses except agricultural in many northeast states including PA. I believe Kerry Richards, Pesticide Education Specialist, reported that 2 years ago. So it should no longer be available to homeowners or landscapers. You might want to recheck Lowe’s. I was surprised that they do have bags of lawn fertilizer with Sevin insecticide added. I have no idea what they are trying to remedy.

I can go to a Lowe's nearby and purchase a 2,4-D product for home lawn use tomorrow.

I stand corrected. Even when EPA sets a rule special interest groups petition to overturn it and rules change constantly . In reference to your earlier comment about this material being distructive, etc., the real problem is that it is showing up in water sources at unbelievable levels (and despite a very short half-life). It’s cheap and effective.

Well, that's A major problem with it. I don't know that that's the only REAL problem with it. It's problematic on many levels.

Such herbicides are a tool and are sometimes very needed. However, it needs to be a precision tool wielded with great care, not something that lazy homeowners and landscapers trying to save on labor costs pull out as a first option.

But I would think that agricultural use also contributes an enormous amount to the environmental contamination, not just home use. Of course, a farmer is less likely to spray it in the middle of May or June when gardens are in full swing and ruin their neighbors' plantings. Then again, contamination of manures and mulches due to agricultural use still kill people's plants year-round.

They need to be more tightly regulated.

Agree with the diagnosis of herbicide damage.