How to grow peppers to get high yield?

Chili pepper originated in South America and was introduced to my country during the Ming Dynasty. Nowadays, pepper has become an indispensable condiment and vegetable on the dining table and is widely used in various food processing. For those who love chili, it is the soul of food. Food without chili seems bland. So how do you grow peppers to get a high yield?

1. Pepper planting conditions

Temperature: The suitable temperature during the germination period is 25℃-30℃. Temperatures below 15℃ or above 35℃ will affect germination. The suitable temperature during the seedling stage is 23℃-30℃ during the day and not lower than 15℃ at night. The suitable temperature before flowering is 25℃-30℃ during the day and 15℃-22℃ at night. The suitable temperature during the fruiting period is 26-32℃ during the day and 16℃-20℃ at night. Different varieties have different adaptability to temperature, and the suitable temperature range for growth is 13℃-35℃.

Water: Peppers are drought-tolerant and have well-developed root systems. The air humidity requirement during the entire growth period is not high, and the soil moisture content should be 55%-80%. The water demand is relatively small during the seedling stage, while the water demand increases during the middle and fruiting stages. Drought during the fruiting period will lead to reduced yield and fruit deformity, while excessive water will cause flower drop, fruit drop and fruit rot.

Light: Peppers are not very demanding on light, medium light is sufficient. Adequate light and good ventilation help the root system to develop, the plants to be strong, and increase yield. Insufficient light will result in weak plants and poor fruit development.

Soil nutrients: Peppers are not very demanding on soil, but deep, fertile, loose, well-drained soil is preferred. Peppers are resistant to fertilizers. Nitrogen fertilizer should be used as the main fertilizer in the seedling stage, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be added appropriately during the flowering and fruiting period.

2. Planting Method

1. Planting time

Peppers are usually sown in the field in spring. In the warm climate of the south, it is suitable for planting almost all year round. The most suitable sowing time is from mid-to-late January to February, and transplanting is from mid-to-late March to April. In the colder north, seedlings are usually grown in greenhouses and transplanted after the Qingming Festival when the temperature rises.

2. Seed treatment and seedling cultivation

Spread the pepper seeds out and dry them in the sun for a few hours to sterilize them, then soak them in 50°C warm water for half an hour, stirring them several times. Then disinfect them with 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for half an hour, and finally rinse them clean. Then soak the seeds in clean water at 30℃ for 8 hours, you can add carbendazim, then wrap them with a wet towel, germinate at 25℃-30℃, rinse with warm water once a day, they will germinate after about 4 days, and sow them immediately after germination. Choose a seedbed or sunny bed for seedling cultivation. It is recommended to use a seedling pot. Put the substrate soil into the pot, sow 2 seeds in each hole, cover with 1 cm thick soil, water with a watering can, cover with film, and keep the temperature at 20℃-30℃. Seedlings will emerge after about a week. The water requirement during the seedling cultivation period is less, and the seedlings can be transplanted when they are about 60 days old.

3. Land preparation

Choose a plot of land where peppers have not been planted before, and plow the land 35 cm deep in advance. It is best to use soil that has been exposed to sunlight to sterilize and loosen the soil and increase fertility. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting, apply more than 2,000 kilograms of decomposed organic fertilizer , 50 kilograms of superphosphate and 50 kilograms of ammonium bicarbonate per mu, turn the soil evenly, and make it into a 90-centimeter-wide arched bed with a 25-centimeter-deep and 50-centimeter-wide ditch to facilitate drainage and irrigation.

4. Colonization

About 2,000 pepper plants are planted per acre. Planting is done in holes, with one pepper plant in each hole. The spacing between plants is 30 cm and the spacing between rows is 50 cm. It is best to plant at 5 pm. When transplanting, keep the plants with roots and soil, and handle them with care to avoid damaging the root system. After planting, water thoroughly to keep the soil moist. After a few days, the peppers will grow steadily and enter the management stage.

5. Field management

Intertillage and weeding: Intertillage should be carried out two weeks after the growth stabilizes to avoid root damage and appropriate soiling should be carried out to 3 cm. Removing weeds during intertillage and combining it with watering will help loosen the soil and promote microbial activity, thereby enhancing the growth of peppers.

Water and fertilizer management: Water once a week, and in the rainy season, decide based on soil moisture. Apply sufficient base fertilizer during the seedling stage, and apply top dressing once before flowering, using 10 kg each of urea and ammonium sulfate, and add phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. During the second peak period of flowering and fruiting, increase the frequency of fertilization and watering to once every 5 days, using 25 kg of ammonium sulfate. After the fruit is ripe, extend the watering interval to increase yield.

Pest and disease prevention: With careful management, peppers rarely suffer from pests and diseases. The main diseases include blight, anthracnose, damping-off, sclerotinia, powdery mildew, etc.; the main pests include red spider mites, aphids, tobacco moths, whiteflies, etc. Use 70% methyl thiophanate, 50% carbendazim or 75% chlorothalonil to spray to prevent diseases. For insect pests, use trichlorfon or dichlorvos, spray once a week for 2 to 3 times. Use pesticides strictly according to the instructions to avoid adverse consequences.

6. Harvest

It takes about 120 to 150 days from sowing to harvesting peppers, and different varieties and climatic conditions will affect the harvest time. Harvest according to market demand and quality standards. Green peppers are harvested earlier, while red peppers need to be harvested after they turn red. Harvest in batches to avoid overripening. If you want to make dried chili peppers , you need to wait until the fruits are fully ripe before harvesting.

In short, to obtain a good harvest, it is necessary to provide peppers with a good growing environment and meticulous management. Hopefully this content will be helpful to chili farmers.