How to grow horn pepper seeds? Detailed planting method explained

Horn pepper refers to Ninghua horn pepper, which is the best horn pepper variety on the market, a specialty of Ninghua County, Fujian Province, and ranks among China's eight famous peppers. So, how do you grow horn pepper seeds?

1. Choosing the site

The plot for planting horn pepper must be fertile dry land or rotation land, with neutral soil. After choosing the plot, prepare the land: first apply organic fertilizer, then plow and make beds. Make the beds running east-west, with a bed width of 1 m and a bed depth of 15 cm, spread nutrient soil on top, and cover with plastic film. The nutrient soil can be prepared from sandy mud or pond mud + decomposed organic fertilizer at a ratio of 6:4, and 0.1-0.2% superphosphate or compound fertilizer may be added as appropriate.

2. Sowing

Generally sow after the Beginning of Spring. First soak the horn pepper seeds in 55°C warm water, stirring constantly until the water temperature drops to 30°C, then stop; after soaking for another 8-10 hours, drain the water, wrap the seeds in gauze, and place them in a 30°C environment to promote germination. Rinse them with warm water 1-2 times a day. After about 4 to 5 days, when about 70% of the seeds have sprouted, they can be sown. Sow the horn pepper seeds on the surface of the bed, and after sowing, bend bamboo strips into arches 40-50 cm high to grow seedlings under film.

3. Growing seedlings

During the seedling-growing period, maintain an appropriate temperature. When the nighttime temperature is below 5°C, promptly add another layer of agricultural film or cover with straw curtains to keep warm. Do a good job with water management; if the seedbed is too dry, water it with a watering can. Do not water too much, to avoid excessive humidity. If humidity is too high, it will cause damping-off in the seedlings, so ventilate to reduce moisture.

4. Transplanting

When the pepper seedlings have grown to a suitable size, they can be transplanted. Before transplanting, open furrows in the plot running east-west, with a furrow spacing of 80-100 cm and a furrow depth of 25-30 cm. When transplanting, plant two rows per bed, with a row spacing of 33-40 cm and a hole spacing of 26-35 cm, planting two plants per hole. After planting, water promptly to settle the roots; after 8-10 days, water a second time, and at the same time carry out intertillage and loosening of the soil. Later, just do a good job with management tasks such as fertilizing, watering, and pest and disease control.