A Detailed Guide to Greenhouse Pepper Planting Time and Cultivation Techniques

Since greenhouse technology has been promoted and popularized, many growers have chosen to switch to growing greenhouse peppers, with obvious economic benefits. So when is it suitable to plant greenhouse peppers? What are the cultivation techniques?

1. When is it suitable to plant greenhouse peppers?

Many people believe that as long as vegetables are grown in a greenhouse, they can be sown at any time. In fact, this statement is rather one-sided, because although it can be done in terms of operation, it still has some impact on quality and yield.

As far as peppers are concerned, if greenhouse cultivation is chosen, the planting time still needs to take regional factors into consideration.

1. Northern plains regions

Due to differences in climate and topography between the north and the south, northern plains regions can generally choose spring sowing (planting in January-February) and autumn sowing (early to mid-August), which not only allows for an earlier market launch but also allows the peppers to sell at a higher price.

2. Southern hilly and mountainous regions

In the mountainous and hilly areas of southern China (Hunan, Hubei, and the Jiangsu-Zhejiang area), pepper sowing is usually carried out from March to July each year.

Generally speaking, temperature is the biggest factor affecting pepper sowing time. No matter when planting is carried out, the greenhouse temperature needs to be well regulated and should be adjusted to above 20°C.

2. What are the cultivation techniques for greenhouse peppers?

1. Seedlings should be sturdy

Whether you choose to sow and raise seedlings yourself or directly buy pepper seedlings, you should choose relatively sturdy pepper seedlings of about 35-40 days for planting. This is more conducive to later flower bud differentiation and fruiting.

2. Heat preservation should be moderate

Although the importance of heat preservation for greenhouse peppers was mentioned above, excessive heat preservation should also be avoided. Too high a temperature will instead inhibit pepper growth and may also cause excessive vegetative growth, affecting pepper quality. Therefore, the temperature inside the greenhouse should preferably not exceed 30°C.

3. Do not control water excessively

Some growers also worry about excessive vegetative growth of peppers and therefore do not water for a long time in the early stage of pepper growth, resulting in excessive water control, poor pepper pollination, and unsatisfactory yield. Therefore, it is best to install drip irrigation equipment in the greenhouse, which can both supplement appropriate moisture for the peppers and avoid excessive watering.

4. Control the amount of fertilizer and pesticide

In greenhouse pepper cultivation, there has always been a misunderstanding, namely that only by applying more fertilizer can peppers grow well and quickly. But the truth may be exactly the opposite. Excessive fertilization will not only cause fertilizer damage but also increase soil salinity and alkalinity. Whether considering short-term returns or long-term planting benefits, it is not a good choice.

Similarly, when spraying peppers with pesticide, the dosage should also be controlled. Applying too much pesticide can easily damage the seedlings on the one hand, and on the other hand it can also reduce the disease resistance of peppers, causing large-scale pest and disease problems.