How to Grow Xiaomila Peppers? Planting Methods and Key Technical Points

Xiaomila is a type of chili pepper, generally referring to the facing-heaven chili (cluster chili), small in size but high in pungency. It is cultivated in many areas of our country, and below we will introduce how it is grown.

How to grow xiaomila?

1. Seed selection and soaking

Select varieties that are high quality, early maturing, disease resistant and high yielding, place them in hot water at 55-60°C and stir for 10-15 minutes, then soak them in warm water at 25-30°C for 4-6 hours, rub off the mucus on the seed coat, and then begin germination. During the first 2 days of germination, keep them dry rather than wet; from the 3rd day onward, rinse them once a day with warm water and turn them once every 4-5 hours. After 5-6 days, when 85% of the seeds have sprouted white, they are ready for sowing.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Sow the treated seeds in seedling trays from mid-to-late November to early-to-mid December. Before sowing, water thoroughly to moisten the bottom soil; after the water has seeped down, sow the germinated seeds into nutrient pots or plug trays, cover with 1cm of nutrient soil, and cover with plastic film after sowing, removing it promptly after the seedlings emerge.

3. Transplanting

When the young seedlings have 9-12 true leaves and begin to branch, they can be transplanted. Early March is the best time for transplanting. When transplanting, try to keep the soil, fertilizer and pesticide with the seedlings, cover with plastic film, and plant shallowly at a suitable plant spacing and row spacing. After transplanting, water to settle the roots, then cover with a small arched shed.

4. Field management

Use dark irrigation under the film and appropriately control seedling growth. In late October, when the first eggplant “opens its eyes”, begin watering and applying topdressing; from December to mid-March of the following year, apply biogas slurry with water. In winter and spring, temperature and humidity should be well regulated inside the facility, light should be improved, and the balance between reproductive growth and vegetative growth should be promoted. In addition, diseases and pests such as early blight, anthracnose and aphids should also be controlled.