I am gardening in zone 8 (I think, or 7) and my small bell pepper plants, planted three weeks ago as seedlings, are yellowing from the bottom leaves up. I have not had this happen in my garden before. I am watering consistently but I do not think I am overwatering, as my soil was powder dry before I planted, and there is no puddling when I water. I used an organic fertilizer per package instructions before planting. Any ideas? No bugs have been visible. thanks.

If you planted three weeks ago, that is enough time for the seedlings to be developing new roots and new leaves. If they are getting new leaves, they might just outgrow the yellowing. If you are overwatering enough to cause yellow leaves, there probably won't be any new leaves and the roots will be rotting. If you tug on a plant and it comes out fairly easily, that is probably your problem.

It doesn't sound like insects or lack of fertilizer. But it might not hurt to spray them with fish emulsion for a little boost in case the organic fertilizer you used is veeeerryy slow release.

Thanks Kaytee for the detailed response! I suspect the fertilizer might be the problem, hadn't thought about that, but I usually wait longer between turning in the fertilizer and planting, but this year I'm running late and got a little impatient. I also recall they were pretty rootbound in their little boxes so they might be a little slow getting going, I guess. I am getting new growth, and one ! blossom and tiny pepper. Now I need to go put out some good Milwaukee beer traps for the slugs I caught eating my spinach.

Sounds like your peppers are going to be fine. When transplants are rootbound and their roots are going around in circles in the little cells or pots, I always try to help them start new roots going outward by either pulling on the circled roots to straighten them out, or else I cut or break (sorry, sometimes the right tool isn't handy) the roots so they have to start growing again.

Sorry if you already know this.