Help: end of season pest disaster!!

[Atom8xPppr]

I'm getting down to the wire here in September and was feeling good about my Reaper and Ghost plants since they finally got huge and are loaded with pods, but now I'm seeing late-season pest pressure that's making me nervous.. I've been checking my plants daily and have spotted several brown marmorated stink bugs hanging out on the actual peppers, and even worse, I've found a few tiny entry holes on some of the largest, unripened pods. The fruit damage is so much more frustrating than the leaf munchers I dealt with earlier in the summer!!

Has anyone had success managing these fruit-targeting pests this late in the season without a heavy pesticide that would make the harvest unusable? I'd hate to lose these pods after all this time and babying them through the heat. Any tips on organic or safe methods for a quick knockout punch this late would be hugely appreciated!!

 

[Alan]

Stink bugs are the worst! Have you tried any physical barriers or traps? Some use pheromone traps or garlic-based sprays to deter them organically. Are you seeing damage mostly on Reapers or Ghosts, or both?

 

[PizzaBoyfriend]

hi @Atom8xPppr for an organic approach that works fast, look for a neem oil or pyrethrin spray labeled for edible plants. Apply it in the evening to minimize impact on beneficial insects, and make sure it doesn't leave heavy residue right before harvest