Worm castings and pepper plants?

Question

I planted three pepper plants real close together and put some worm castings on soil of raised bed then put newspaper and grass clips to keep weeds down about a week and half ago. Went out this morning and looks like peppers are dying, leaves turning yellow and one had a small pepper on it and it has fallen off. Only thing I can think is going on is the worm castings; any idea what is happening?

Answer 1

Worm castings are good for the soil so that likely is not the problem. Is the newspaper layered too close to plants and preventing rain or watering to get through? Ideally, newspaper should be used between planting rows. Yellowing can be a sign of under or over watering.

Here are the common problems of green peppers:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/pepper-problems.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/common-pepper-plant-problems.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/problems-growing-vegetables.htm