How to Grow Chili Peppers? Start by Learning About Seed Prices and Planting Methods

Chili peppers are one of the must-have vegetables for the home, and many people want to try growing chili peppers themselves, but they just don't know how to grow them well. Don't worry, let's start by learning about seed prices and planting methods!

1. How much do chili pepper seeds cost?

There are many cultivated varieties of chili peppers, and their seed prices vary depending on the variety. When buying, be sure to look at the variety first, mainly at the variety's characteristics, yield, and so on, and then look at the price.

Generally, chili pepper seeds are sold by the packet, mostly around 10 grams per packet, with a price range of roughly 10-50 yuan per packet.

2. What are the planting methods for chili peppers?

1. Variety selection and treatment of seedling soil

Choose disease-resistant varieties, and soak them in copper sulfate solution for disinfection before sprouting; choose fertile plots that have not grown solanaceous vegetables for three years for the seedling bed, and spray them evenly with carbendazim for disinfection before sowing.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Before sowing, treat the seeds first. First put the seeds in the sun to dry for two days. This not only improves the germination rate, but also kills the pathogens carried by the seeds. Alternatively, soak them in diluted potassium permanganate to sterilize them, then soak them in warm water for about 12 hours. Sprinkle the seeds evenly on the seedling bed, cover with about 1 cm of soil, spray water to moisten the soil, and keep the temperature between 25-28 degrees. They will germinate and emerge in about a week, and when the seedlings grow to 5 cm, they can be transplanted.

3. Transplanting management

Chili peppers have a weak root system, so when transplanting, furrow planting or flat planting is suitable. At the initial transplanting stage, do not bury them deeply; cover with shallow soil and gradually earth them up as they grow. Chili pepper plants are compact and can be planted densely, generally with a spacing of 30-45 cm between plants and 50-60 cm between rows. The growth of chili peppers cannot be separated from water. With sufficient water, the fruits grow thick and juicy, so frequent watering is needed to keep the soil moist at all times, but it must not be overly wet, otherwise it easily causes root rot. When watering, a fungicide can be added regularly.

The transplanting time is determined by the local climate. For example, in the Guangdong area, temperatures are relatively high all year round, so they can be planted at any time, while in other regions the planting time is generally from March to July, when the temperature and light are suitable for chili pepper growth. Early sowing allows them to grow more fully and harvest more fruit.

4. Field management

After transplanting, if the weather is dry, promptly water again to help the seedlings recover. After they recover, apply 1 topdressing of seedling-promoting fertilizer, with 7 to 10 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu, to encourage early plant development, but the amount of topdressing must not be large, as too much easily causes excessive vegetative growth. After the seedlings recover, carry out 1 intertillage in time to break up soil compaction, increase root oxygen uptake, promote strong seedlings, and prevent excessive vegetative growth. In summer, when the temperature is relatively high and it does not rain, sandy loam soil should be watered about once every 7 days, preferably with cool well water in the evening. Watering with cool well water can lower the field temperature from high heat to a suitable level, and it will still have a cooling effect for several days afterward.

It is not advisable to water during the day when the temperature is high, because when watering at high temperatures, the field temperature quickly rises again.

During the full fruit stage, 3~4 topdressings can be applied together with watering, each time applying 10 to 15 kg of urea or diammonium phosphate per mu.

In the early and middle stages of growth, promptly carry out intertillage, weeding, and earthing up. After fruit set, intertillage is not advisable to avoid disease. After the Autumn Equinox, the temperature gradually decreases and fruit growth slows down. Pay attention to applying quick-acting fertilizer. Together with watering, apply 15 kg of diammonium phosphate or 10 kg of urea per mu, and also pay attention to spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate and trace element fertilizers on the leaves to ensure the later fruits fully develop and grow large.

In midsummer, the temperature is relatively high, the air humidity is low, and soil evaporation is high. To prevent excessive evaporation of soil moisture, it is advisable, before the rows close and before high temperature and drought arrive, to use rice straw or crop stalks, etc., to cover the surface of the chili pepper beds with 1 layer. The main effects of doing this are:

First, it lowers soil temperature, reduces ground moisture evaporation, and plays a role in preserving water and fertilizer;

Second, it prevents weeds from growing densely;

Third, it reduces the impact of heavy rain on the surface soil of the beds and prevents surface soil compaction.

When the chili pepper fruits are dark green, firm, and glossy, they can be harvested and brought to market.