Maybe a little bit overfed/fertilized would be my best educated guess. I'm doing green bell & orange bell this year and have not fed them much at all (a little Miracle Grow water once, maybe twice the whole lifespan). I keep them watered once a day, sometimes once every other day, but they are container plants, so they need more water. The only soil I use is regular potting mix with no additives (manure & such). I doubt pests are your problem. Did you start them from seed? Any pictures? I wouldn't worry too much for the time being until someone on here more knowledgeable gives you advice after posting pictures of them or whatever since you have new green growth. Watch the new growth well to see if it assumes any of the rust spots or the leaves start to discolor. Only other thing I can think of is to back off the Safer 3 in 1 on those plants only & see if that helps.

With all the rain cedar rust is a problem for many this year. It is a fungus so your spray should control it - won't cure it but just control it - until the weather dries out some. Once it dries out and warms up the pepper plants should pick up.

However, I have to agree that it sure sounds like you are awfully heavy on the fertilizers - especially in a manured bed. Too much causes far more problems than too little fertilizer so I'd back off on it if I were you. ;)

Good luck.

Dave

I have, what seems to be, the same problem. I took some leaves to a local knowledgable nursery for identification. She said it appears to be fungal in nature but couldn't identify it for sur. probably rust. She recommended I send samples to the State entomology lab here in Maine for free identification, which I have done. Suggest you do the same in your state before applying haphazardly.