How to Grow Cayenne Peppers: A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Key Techniques
Cayenne pepper is a type of chili with small fruits and a strong spicy taste. It is very popular in the market and is mostly used to make pickles, small hot chilies, and so on. It is grown in many regions of our country, and some people even grow it specifically on balconies. So what are the cayenne pepper planting methods?
1. Seed selection
There are many varieties of cayenne pepper, which can be divided into many varieties according to quality, yield, and capsaicin content. In general, when selecting seeds, it is best to choose varieties with high quality, strong resistance, strong spiciness, and a high fruiting rate.
2. Land selection and soil preparation
Cayenne pepper is suitable for growing in soil with good drainage and sufficient fertility, so when selecting land, try to choose soil with good drainage for planting. After selecting the land, plow the soil deeply and apply about 3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, then level it and wait for sowing.
3. Sowing and raising seedlings
(1) Sowing time: generally sow in mid-March. If in North China, sow on sunny days around Grain Rain.
(2) Sowing method: direct sowing
(3) Seed treatment: select some healthy, plump seeds with no damage on the surface, then put them in the sun to dry for a few days, finally soak them in warm water at 50-55 degrees for a period of time, then soak them in water at 30 degrees for about 24 hours, and finally remove and drain them.
(4) Sowing: evenly sow the treated seeds on the seedbed, then cover with a thin layer of soil, water lightly, and cover with a layer of rice straw.
4. Transplanting
When the seedlings grow to about 10 cm, transplant them with soil and roots into the field. When transplanting, plant at a row spacing of 45*35 cm, and a planting depth of 5-8 cm is appropriate.
5. Field management techniques
(1) Water requirements: immediately water once after transplanting so that the plants can adapt to the new environment faster, grow new roots, and increase the survival rate.
(2) Thinning and replanting: 5-10 days after transplanting, some plants in the field may not survive, so timely replanting is needed to ensure a complete stand of seedlings in the field.
(3) Fertilizer requirements: because their growth and speed of adapting to the environment differ, after transplanting and survival we need to carry out the first fertilization, applying urea and compound fertilizer according to different growth levels, so that slower-growing plants can catch up with the general growth pace. When the peppers flower and set fruit, the soil moisture needs to be maintained, and 50 kg of boron fertilizer and potassium fertilizer should be applied as a top dressing. Finally, after each harvest of cayenne peppers, the field needs one top dressing.
(4) Cultivation and weeding: when cayenne pepper seedlings grow to 20-25 cm, carry out the first cultivation and weeding, and carry out the second top dressing, to improve the soil's absorption capacity and permeability and increase its growth speed. If the weather is relatively dry and there is no rain, artificial irrigation is also needed.
(5) Disease and pest control: during the growth period, cayenne pepper suffers from anthracnose, viral diseases, leaf roller insects, and some vegetable worms that feed on pepper fruits. There are two control methods. One is an environmentally friendly method, which is control through daily management, that is, controlling field moisture well and removing insects manually. The second is chemical control, which is using agents targeting specific diseases for control. At the same time, when choosing agents, try to choose pesticides with lower toxicity to reduce the degree of harm to the human body as much as possible.