Detailed Explanation of Key Cultivation Techniques for Small Hot Peppers in High Mountain Areas

I. Variety Selection

Select pepper varieties with good yield performance and strong resistance according to market demand.

II. Raising Strong Seedlings

1. Seed Treatment

Before sowing, sun-dry the seeds for 4-6 hours, then soak them in 55°C warm water for 15 minutes, stirring continuously until the water temperature drops to 30°C, then let them soak undisturbed for 8-10 hours, wash off the sticky liquid on the seed coat, float away the shriveled seeds, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and dry in the shade.

2. Seedbed Preparation and Sowing

Sowing in late March to early April is preferable. Choose fertile, well-drained soil that has not grown potatoes, solanaceous vegetables, or other Solanaceae crops for at least 3 years as the seedbed. Sow at a rate of 1.2 grams of seed per square meter, and prepare the seedbed promptly on a sunny day. Before sowing, treat the seedbed with a 1000-fold dilution of Lilujing, water thoroughly, mix the seeds with fine burnt mud ash and sow, then cover with a 1-1.5 cm layer of sifted burnt mud ash, cover with rice straw, and build a small arched shed covered with plastic film.

3. Seedling Stage Management

Seedling management: During the early growth stage, thin the seedlings 1-2 times, removing overly dense or weak seedlings. The suitable temperature during the seedling stage is 22-30°C; 7-8°C makes them susceptible to cold damage. Daytime temperatures of 24-25°C and nighttime temperatures of 19-20°C promote root growth. Therefore, when the temperature rises to 30°C, remove the film promptly, generally starting at 9-10 AM, and cover the film again at 3 PM to retain heat. The seedbed should alternate between dry and wet states, with soil moisture generally around 60%. The seedling-raising period often has rainy weather and high humidity, so pay special attention to water management to avoid rotten or leggy seedlings. When the seedbed surface turns white, water thoroughly promptly; insufficient watering affects growth. Pricking out and transplanting: When seedlings reach the two-true-leaf-one-heart stage, prick out and transplant at a spacing of 8×10 cm. Before transplanting, apply a 5% diluted manure water once and spray a 4000-8000-fold dilution of Lüheng Biduoshou foliar fertilizer once to improve seedling quality; also use a 500-fold dilution of 20% Virus A to prevent viral diseases during the seedling stage.

III. Timely Transplanting

1. Land Preparation and Fertilization

Choose a plot with convenient drainage and irrigation, deep and fertile soil, and no previous solanaceous crops as the planting site. Apply 100-150 jin of quicklime per mu, then plow and prepare the land into beds. The bed width including ditches is 1.3 m. Before transplanting, the beds should be finely and evenly prepared, with deep ditches and high beds shaped like a turtle shell, and a 10 cm deep furrow opened in the middle of the bed. Apply sufficient basal fertilizer: 2000 kg of decomposed barn manure and 30-40 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, then cover with soil and wait for transplanting.

2. Reasonable Close Planting

When seedlings have 8-10 true leaves and are about 55 days old, transplant on a sunny afternoon after 3 PM or on a cloudy day. Plant two rows per bed with a plant spacing of 33 cm, at 3000-3300 plants per mu. When transplanting, try to keep soil around the roots, apply pesticide, and water with transplanting water immediately. At the same time, add Dexon and phoxim to the transplanting water to kill soil pathogens and underground pests.

IV. Field Management

1. Reasonable Fertilization and Watering

After seedlings recover, apply 5-10 kg of compound fertilizer per mu to promote seedling growth. When the first fruit begins to swell, apply a fruit-promoting fertilizer once, watering 15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. After that, after picking 1-2 batches of fruit, supplement fertilizer promptly once, watering 5-10 kg of compound fertilizer per mu to meet nutritional needs. During the early and middle fruiting stages, spray Lüheng Biduoshou 2-3 times to increase yield and efficiency and improve quality. The fertilization principle for small hot peppers is "eat small meals frequently"; do not apply heavy fertilizer to prevent fertilizer damage. Small hot peppers are drought-tolerant but afraid of moisture. During rainy seasons, be sure to clear ditches and drain water, keeping drainage unobstructed. During prolonged drought, pay attention to replenishing water.

2. Pruning, Straw Mulching, and Staking

For vigorously growing plants, remove side branches below the first fruit to improve ventilation and light penetration at the base. Before the plants close the rows, spread straw on the bed surface. Mountain grass mulch can prevent weed growth, help retain fertilizer and moisture, reduce humidity, and prevent drought. When the plants begin to flower, insert stakes to fix the plants and prevent lodging.

3. Pest and Disease Control

After transplanting and seedling recovery, water each plant with 0.25 kg of a 1000-fold dilution of Dexon to help control various root diseases. Use a 900-1200-fold dilution of Lüheng virus pesticide to control viral diseases, a 600-fold dilution of Lusunqing or a 1000-1500-fold dilution of Lüheng Shajunwang to control bacterial and fungal diseases, a 250-fold dilution of phoxim to control underground pests, and a 2000-2500-fold dilution of Lüheng Wenjing to control tobacco budworms and other pests. Strictly prohibit the use of highly toxic and high-residue pesticides such as methamidophos and omethoate.

4. Timely Harvesting

According to market demand, small hot peppers are generally harvested when they reach 7-9 cm in length, 0.5-1.0 cm in diameter, and are bright green. Small hot peppers grow quickly and should be picked daily, generally in the early morning or morning. Diseased and deformed fruits should be removed promptly. Under normal management, the harvest period is generally about 3 months.