Key Technical Points for the Cultivation and Field Management of Three-Cherry Pepper

I. Seedling Raising

Three-Cherry Pepper can be raised in sunken hotbeds or small arch sheds, with small arch sheds being the main method. The specific practices are as follows.

1. Construction of the small arch shed The small arch shed is generally 1.5-2 m wide and 1 m high, and straw mats are added at night depending on the climate.

2. Preparation of the growing soil Use 7-8 parts fertile garden soil and 2-3 parts decomposed barnyard manure, mix well; if the soil is heavy and clayey, also mix in sandy soil.

3. Sowing time Spring-sown seedlings are generally arranged in mid-to-late February, and no later than March 5. Summer sowing is generally in mid-March, and no later than March 25.

4. Sowing Before sowing, irrigate enough bottom moisture, and sow once there is no standing water on the bed surface. Sowing can be done by broadcasting or drilling, but generally the seeds are first evenly scattered in the seedling bed, then immediately covered with sieved fine soil, with a covering thickness of 1 cm as appropriate. After sowing and covering with soil, add a layer of plastic film (remove it promptly after the cotyledons emerge), then cover the arch shed with plastic film of good light transmittance, and add straw mats at night. To plant 667 sq m of land, 10-15 sq m of seedlings are needed.

5. Seedling-stage management Grasp three links well, namely, doing a good job of heat preservation and freeze protection in the early stage to promote early and complete emergence of seedlings; in the middle stage, reasonably adjusting temperature and humidity to prevent seedling scorching, seedling flash and seedling damping-off.

Thinning, pulling out seedlings and covering with soil When the seedlings emerge and the cotyledons fully unfold, carry out the first thinning with a seedling spacing of 1.5 cm; when the 2nd-3rd true leaves unfold, carry out the second thinning with a seedling spacing of 3-5 cm.

Ventilation management After the seedlings grow to 4-6 true leaves, the seedling bed should be gradually ventilated, and ventilation is carried out at noon on sunny days when the temperature is relatively high.

Water and fertilizer management When the surface soil of the seedling bed is dry and the seedlings wilt at noon, water them promptly. Starting from the 2nd true leaf, spray foliar fertilizer once every 7-10 days.

II. Cultivation Techniques

1. Rational fertilization and fine land preparation

① Selection of previous crop. Three-Cherry Pepper prefers fresh ground and is not suitable for continuous cropping; continuous cropping reduces yield, and low-lying waterlogged land is not suitable for planting; ② Apply enough base fertilizer and heavily apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Generally, per 667 sq m, apply 75 kg calcium superphosphate, 25 kg potassium chloride or 20 kg potassium sulfate. For high-yield plots, apply 75-100 kg calcium superphosphate, 20-30 kg potassium sulfate, and 25 kg urea per 667 sq m; ③ Fine land preparation, ridging and film mulching. During land preparation, deep plow and harrow finely until the soil is fine and free of clods. A plowing depth of about 25 cm is appropriate. Then ridge and cover with film; when covering, pull the film tight and cover well, and press and seal the edges tightly with soil.

2. Early transplanting of strong seedlings and rational close planting

① Transplanting time of Three-Cherry Pepper. Generally, transplant as early as possible after the late frost, when the temperature steadily rises back to 15°C. Spring sowing requires completion around May 1; summer sowing requires timely transplanting after wheat harvest, completed no later than June 20, and the earlier the better; ② Transplanting method. The day before transplanting, water the seedling bed thoroughly so that when lifting seedlings, more soil is carried and fewer roots are damaged, reducing seedling injury. Because Three-Cherry Pepper is not tolerant of waterlogging, when transplanting, plant the seedlings on the ridge, with 2 rows per ridge, and the planting position should be such that watering can wet the roots. According to the required plant and row spacing, first dig planting holes one by one in the plastic film, then plant the seedlings into the planting holes, and firm the soil around the seedlings. Water immediately after planting; ③ Rational close planting. Because Three-Cherry Pepper has a small plant type and compact plants, field cultivation should be dense. Row spacing 40-50 cm, hole spacing 20-25 cm, planting 6500-7000 holes per 667 sq m.

3. Field management

① Fertilizer and water management. Use a one-time fertilization method, with no topdressing during the growth period. However, for pepper fields with poor fertilizer retention, apply quick-acting fertilizer after the Three-Cherry Pepper sets fruit. During the growth period, the soil should be kept in a state of alternating dry and wet. If drought occurs, water promptly, and preferably in the evening on sunny days. Never water under the scorching sun; ② Intertillage and weeding. After transplanting and seedling recovery, carry out timely intertillage, and intertillage 2-3 times before flowering. If rain occurs, carry out timely intertillage after the rain. Accelerate soil moisture evaporation and raise soil temperature. Weeding can be combined with intertillage, but do not damage the plastic film; ③ Topping. Carry out timely topping 5-7 days after transplanting and seedling recovery, thereby limiting main stem growth and promoting lateral branches to achieve high yield. Summer sowing generally does not require topping.

4. Pest and disease control

The main pests harming Three-Cherry Pepper include aphids, cotton bollworms, cabbage caterpillars, etc. For control, spray the leaves with 1000-fold aphid-killing solution or 2000-fold Green Kung Fu solution.

The main diseases harming Three-Cherry Pepper include: fusarium wilt, phytophthora blight, anthracnose and soft rot, etc. The above diseases are easily contracted during high-temperature and rainy periods. In affected plots, mancozeb, chlorothalonil and sandofan can be used for control, and for soft rot, agricultural streptomycin can be selected for control.

5. Timely harvesting, and doing a good job of drying and grading

Because Three-Cherry Pepper grows in clusters and ripens concentratedly, generally at the Frost's Descent solar term or when the fruits are all ripe, pull up the whole plant and harvest all at once, then dry and grade.