pests Nutes or Bugs?

[eLuke455]

Looking for some expert opinions here.
 
Have gone through all the previously attached guides on identifying problems, but I can't quite pin what my problem is.
 
I have 10 peppers waking up from over-wintering (sheltered by plastic from night frosts) and many of them have distorted leaves. 
 
Quite a few had a problem with Aphids and I sprayed these critters with Neem on the weekend. There could also be mites. However, the leaf color is pale green and suggests there is more than just a critter problem.
 
From what I have learnt, I either have calcium deficiency, or nitrogen, or mite/aphid damage or a combination of all three. I dont think it is a virus like TMV as all plants are impacted. 
 
The plants are growing in raised beds which are lined with root barrier to keep out adjacent trees. Soil moisture is on the dry side for Spring, mainly because they had a sheet of plastic over the beds to protect from frosts, and this also keep rain out.
Last year I had similar problems with light green foliage, and could never really get a deep green leaf, although the plants fruited OK. I used a fair bit of coir making when layering the soil into the beds, and had some concerns about salt, but I suspect the real problem is that the raised beds have nutrients easily washed out like a pot, and my root barrier would prevent the peppers sending deep roots down into the clay below the bed for more nutes. 
 
PH of soil is 7.0. Just wondering what the experts think?
 

 
Thanks
Luke

 

[CMJ]

Just a thought, is it possible that your plant caught a whiff of some type of herbicide? Anyone doing any spraying nearby recently? Other than that, it doesn't really look like any of the things that you mentioned, except maybe aphids. If you are sure there is no possibility of herbicide drift, then I would lean toward cal/mag deficiency or possibly iron judging from the slightly chlorotic leaves. Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on that though with your drainage issues. I have the same problem with my container plants, the nutes just get washed right out. It's very hard to get a deep green foliage because of that, and I have found that the best way to remedy it is to periodically top dress with worm castings and a good organic dry fertilizer.....

By the way, I am no expert, just sharing past experience.

 

[eLuke455]

Thought I would give some feedback. I am now convinced the problem was mostly due to roots that had gone rotten over winter. 
 
I did a good job of protecting the plants from frost, but not so good in keeping the soil dry. My other plants in pots were doing really well, because I had moved the pots to keep a drier soil.
 
I have since pulled some of the plants out and replaced with seedlings, and they are booming along.
 
Next time, I need to make an a-frame plastic sheet protector so that rain falls outside of the raised bed, not into it.
 
Thanks for you help - let see how they are in 3 months.
 
Cheers
Luke