How to Grow Chili Peppers? Detailed Explanation of Planting Methods and Technical Key Points
Although chili peppers were only introduced to China after the Ming Dynasty, they are indeed the most widely consumed spice. Moreover, chili peppers are grown quite extensively in various regions. So how are chili peppers grown? Let's find out below.
How to grow chili peppers?
1. Land selection and preparation
Chili peppers like warmth and light, are sensitive to external conditions, and are intolerant of drought and prone to waterlogging. Choose a plot with good water retention, fertilizer retention, and drainage and irrigation conditions for planting. Therefore, the plot should be selected with a nearby water source, fertile soil, good drainage and irrigation, loose and breathable soil, and where no solanaceous vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, potato, and other crops have been planted in the previous 3~5 years. It is best to use sloping or hilly land that has been autumn-plowed, autumn-ridged, and autumn-fertilized.
2. Seed treatment
Soak the seeds in warm water or with a chemical agent for 18-20 hours, then remove them, air-dry them, and pile them up. Turn them once every three to four hours so that the internal and external temperatures are even, and carry out sweat-induced germination. After about 48 hours, sow when the sprouts just begin to show.
3. Sowing
Before sowing, water the seedbed soil thoroughly and level it finely. The seedbed width is generally 1.5-1.7 m. Generally, seeds are not soaked for germination. Early-maturing varieties are generally sown in January, and late-maturing varieties are generally sown from February to March. Planting one mu requires 75-120 g of seeds. After sowing, cover the seeds with fine soil mixed with old chaff ash or coal ash, water, and after the water is absorbed, cover with plastic film.
4. Transplanting
For chili pepper transplanting, a soil temperature above 15°C is preferable. Transplanting too early results in slow growth due to low soil temperature, as well as flower drop, and fails to achieve the purpose of early maturity. For transplanting spacing, early-maturing varieties have a row spacing of 40-50 cm and a plant spacing of 26-33 cm, with 1-2 plants per hole; late-maturing varieties have a row spacing of 66-73 cm and a plant spacing of 50-60 cm, with 1 plant per hole. Choose a sunny afternoon for transplanting. On the morning of the same day, the seedbed needs to be watered to facilitate pulling up the seedlings.
Finally, do a good job with field management such as intertillage and weeding, and fertilizer and water management. When the fruits mature, harvest them promptly, otherwise it will affect the growth and fruiting of the plants.