Complete Guide to Pepper Planting Techniques

There are many kinds of food in our life, and their flavors come in many different flavors. For example, the "numbing" taste of spicy food generally comes from the seasoning Sichuan pepper, and there are many users in my country who grow Sichuan pepper. Let’s take a look at the complete pepper planting techniques below.

1. Seed treatment

Before planting peppercorns, seed treatment is essential. The shell of Sichuan pepper seeds is hard, high in oil content, and has strong waterproof and antiseptic capabilities. If the seeds are not shelled, it will be difficult for them to absorb water and germinate. You can put the seeds in warm water, add wood ash and an appropriate amount of sand, and rub the pepper seeds until the seed shell loses its luster and the oil is basically removed. Then you can start sowing. If cow dung is available, the seeds can be mixed with fresh cow dung in winter to allow the seeds to rot. In the spring of the following year, the seeds are sown together with cow dung. This way, the seeds will germinate quickly and the rate of uniform and strong seedlings will be high.

2. Planting

When sowing pepper seeds, two methods can be used: broadcasting and row sowing. Pay attention to controlling the sowing amount when sowing, and the sowing amount per mu should be kept at around 6kg. After sowing, rake the seeds slightly to make them invisible to the naked eye. When sowing in rows, first control the spacing between rows and plants, keeping it at about 20 cm × 30 cm, and then sow and cover the soil. Whether broadcasting or row sowing, pay attention to digging ditches before sowing to ensure the drainage and irrigation capacity of the field. If there is drought after sowing, water should be applied in time to advance the germination time.

3. Transplanting

When the pepper tree seedlings grow to a certain size, they need to be transplanted in time. Transplanting can be done in winter and spring. For fields with continuous planting, dig planting holes according to the plant spacing of 2×2.5 meters about 30 days before transplanting. When transplanting, be sure to water the plants sufficiently and compact the soil all around. Chinese prickly ash trees usually bear fruit about four years after planting, so vegetable crops can be planted in the forest between the time of afforestation and the time of fruiting to improve economic benefits.

4. Daily management

Field management is one of the important measures for scientific cultivation of Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Like planting other crops, field management of Sichuan pepper requires basic work such as tillage and weeding, fertilizer and water management. When managing fertilizer and water, pay attention to controlling the dosage to prevent fertilizer damage and waterlogging, which will affect the growth of pepper. Pest and disease control is particularly important, and prevention should be strengthened to ensure the good growth of Sichuan pepper.

5. Gently pinch the heart

Pinching is one of the main pruning methods for pepper trees in summer. Light pinching is usually carried out in June, removing the tender shoots at the top of the pepper branches , keeping the length at about 5 cm. Light pinching is mainly aimed at fruit-bearing trees to avoid excessive nutritional growth and promote the formation of flower buds on pepper trees. After pinching, the branches will sprout many times, and multiple pinching is needed to achieve the goal.

6. Re-pinching

Heavy pinching is to pinch the branches to the mature part, usually removing a branch length of about 6 leaves. Heavy pinching is mainly used to shape young trees. When the main branch grows to the target length, heavy pinching can be carried out in time to promote the growth of side branches. When re-pinching, pay attention to the growth direction of the side branches to ensure that the growth direction of the second bud below the pinching point is consistent with the growth direction of the side branches to be cultivated. If the growth direction of the third bud is close to the direction of the cultivated side branches, the third bud should be removed in time.

7. Take a branch

To hold a branch, you need to hold it with both hands from the base to the middle of the branch to change the growth direction of the branch. Holding branches is mainly used to open the growth angle of branches, slow down the growth trend and accelerate the formation of flower buds. Compared with methods such as supporting and pulling branches, holding branches is easier to carry out, has better pruning effects, and is less likely to damage the bark. The branch-holding pruning method is mainly suitable for thinner branches. If the branches are too thick, the branch-holding method cannot reach the ideal angle.

8. Cut

Pruning is a pruning method that cuts perennial branches to the branching position, also known as pruning back. Pruning can reduce the growth advantage of the branch tips, change the direction of extension branches, improve the permeability of the tree body, and effectively control the crown. The cut of shortening pruning is generally not large. If the cut branch is thick, shortening pruning can enhance the growth of the cut branch. When pruning the perennial parts of the main branches, be careful to retain the supporting stakes to avoid weakening the cut branches, which will cause the lower branches to become stronger.

9. Mature performance

When the Sichuan peppercorns are ripe, the fruit changes from green to red and finally to reddish brown. The color is deep and some of the grains burst open to reveal black seeds. You can smell the rich fragrance from a distance, and if you look closely you can see plump oil spots on the skin, indicating that it is ripe and ready to be picked.

10. Harvest time

Different varieties of Sichuan pepper have different growth cycles and maturity periods. In Hunan Province, the harvest is usually in September, when there is still enough sunshine for drying. The southwestern provinces are not much different, and most of the harvests are from August to October, which is affected by temperature and light. Some varieties can be harvested in late June.

11. How to harvest

Harvesting should be carried out on a sunny morning without dew, so that the sun can be seen in time. When picking, use scissors, not your hands. Carry a basket and cut the whole ear to avoid picking each grain one by one, which will affect the quality. Don't put too much when picking, and handle it gently to avoid squeezing and damaging the oil cells.

12. Note the following points

Be careful not to cut the main axis of the flower spike to avoid affecting its growth. Generally, you only need to cut off the small spikes of growing peppercorns, and don't cut more. When cutting the ears of pepper, be careful not to cut the leaves or touch the fallen leaves. Protect the leaves to continue supplying nutrients to the tree, which is beneficial to the tree's vigor and the overwintering of the pepper tree. When pruning, cut off the fruit clusters, diseased and insect-infested branches, and dead branches that have been damaged by pests and diseases, take them out together and burn them.

13. Post-harvest processing

After picking, they should be dried in the sun or in an oven as soon as possible and not piled up to avoid mold and deterioration. The fruits can be harvested and dried at the same time. Drying should be done on bamboo mats, and they need to be turned over regularly to ensure even drying. If it is not dried during the day, it can be tumble dried. Be careful not to over-dry the seeds to avoid damaging them.

The above is a complete introduction to Sichuan pepper cultivation techniques. As a common condiment , the demand for Sichuan pepper is still relatively stable, especially in some relatively humid areas where people are more used to eating Sichuan pepper.