Pepper planting technology and management points

Chili is one of the common side dishes on the table, and choosing chili varieties is an important factor in increasing yield. When growing peppers, priority should be given to varieties with strong resistance, superior quality and good storage stability. At the same time, the selection of pepper varieties should be adapted to local production conditions, which will help significantly increase the economic value of peppers. Let’s learn about pepper planting techniques and management points.

1. Preparation before sowing

Before sowing, the amount of seeds must be precisely controlled, generally using about 50 grams of seeds per acre. Next, soak the seeds in clean water for about 3 hours. Afterwards, disinfect the seeds with agricultural streptomycin or other disinfectants. After disinfection, thoroughly clean the seeds in preparation for sowing.

In addition, you need to prepare seedling soil by mixing garden soil with organic fertilizer , and you can add appropriate amounts of pesticides such as carbendazim. After mixing, water thoroughly, cover with a layer of fine soil, and then sow. After sowing, cover the seeds with a layer of fine soil to enhance the soil's moisture retention.

2. The right time for planting

The planting of pepper seedlings should be determined based on soil temperature, usually when the soil temperature reaches above 15 degrees Celsius. Avoid planting too early because the soil temperature has not yet risen, which may hinder the growth of pepper seedlings and cause problems such as flower and fruit drop.

When planting, it is necessary to reasonably control the planting density and make appropriate adjustments according to the different varieties of peppers. For example, the row spacing of early-maturing varieties can be set at about 45 cm, and the plant spacing at about 30 cm. For late-maturing varieties, the row spacing and plant spacing need to be increased by about 25 cm each. Finally, the best time for transplanting should be chosen in sunny weather, preferably in the afternoon, which is conducive to transplanting seedlings.

3. Water and fertilizer management

1. Irrigation management

Peppers have shallow root systems, concentrated mainly in the top 10-15 cm of soil, so they are not very tolerant of water.

Peppers need adequate warmth, water, and nutrients, but overwatering can cause root damage or even death. Therefore, the amount of water needs to be controlled during irrigation.

The specific approach is: keep the soil moderately moist during the seedling stage, reduce moisture appropriately before flowering, water appropriately during the flowering period to promote pollination, replenish water in time after fruit setting, increase irrigation during the peak fruit-bearing period to keep the soil moist, and stop irrigation before maturity to avoid fruit falling or rotting.

2. Fertilization management

Peppers have different nutrient requirements at different growth stages. The amount of fertilizer required from the seedling stage to bud appearance is relatively small, the amount of fertilizer required from bud appearance to early flowering stage is moderate, and the demand for fertilizer is greatest from early flowering stage to peak flowering stage, especially from fruit setting stage to maturity stage.

According to this demand law, we should apply fertilizer at the right time. During the growing period, peppers have a greater demand for nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, and fertilizers that promote root growth can be used; during the flowering period, more phosphorus and boron fertilizers are needed, and balanced fertilizers can be used for multiple small applications; after entering the fruit setting period, the demand for potassium and various trace elements such as calcium, boron, magnesium, zinc, etc. increases, and high-potassium fertilizers should be used for fertilization at this time.

4. Field Management

1. Pruning management

Choose the appropriate pruning method according to the characteristics of the pepper variety. For varieties with high planting density, large fruits or late maturity, it is usually more appropriate to retain three main branches; while for varieties with sparse planting, small fruits or early maturity, the four-main-branch pruning method is more suitable. In addition, for early-maturing pepper varieties grown in the open field with film covering, irregular pruning can be used to optimize the plant structure.

2. Reasonable fertilization

Peppers require a lot of nutrients during their growth process, so proper fertilization is crucial to increasing the growth rate. Through proper fertilization, peppers can absorb balanced nutrients and promote healthy growth.

3. Proper pruning

Too many branches and leaves will consume the nutrients of the pepper and affect the growth of the fruit. Therefore, during the maintenance process, appropriate pruning should be done to remove dense or aging branches and leaves to save nutrients.

5. Pest and disease control

During the pepper planting process, attention should be paid to preventing and controlling diseases and pests. Disinfect the seeds before sowing, and strengthen water and fertilizer management during the growing period to enhance disease resistance. Once pests and diseases are discovered, appropriate drugs should be used in time for prevention and control in the early stages to protect the health of the plants.

The above is an introduction to the key points of pepper cultivation and management. Pepper is a vegetable variety with particularly large market demand. You can choose suitable varieties to plant according to local environmental conditions.