Key Technical Points for Seedling Raising and Cultivation Management of Three-Cherry Pepper

I. Seedling Raising

Three-Cherry Pepper can be raised in cold frames 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, with straw mats added at night depending on the climate.

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

3. Sowing time Spring sowing for seedling raising is generally arranged in mid-to-late February, and at the latest should not exceed March 5. Summer sowing is generally in mid-March, and at the latest should not exceed March 25.

4. Sowing Before sowing, irrigate enough to moisten the soil thoroughly, and sow once there is no standing water on the bed surface. Either broadcasting or drilling may be used; generally, first spread the seeds evenly in the seedbed, then immediately cover with sieved fine soil, with a covering thickness of 1 cm being appropriate. After sowing and covering with soil, add a layer of plastic film (remove it promptly once 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 key links, namely, doing well in heat preservation and frost prevention in the early stage to promote early and complete emergence; reasonably adjusting temperature and humidity in the middle stage 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 are fully expanded, carry out the first thinning with a seedling spacing of 1.5 cm; when the 2nd-3rd true leaves are expanded, 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 seedbed should be gradually ventilated, with ventilation carried out at noon on sunny days when the temperature is relatively high.

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

II. Cultivation Techniques

1. Rational fertilization, 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 sufficient base fertilizer, with heavy application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Generally, apply 75 kg superphosphate and 25 kg potassium chloride or 20 kg potassium sulfate per 667 sq m. For high-yield plots, apply 75-100 kg 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, plow deep and harrow fine to achieve fine, clod-free soil. A plowing depth of about 25 cm is appropriate. Then ridge and cover with film; when mulching, pull the film tight and cover well, and press and seal the edges firmly with soil.

2. Early transplanting of strong seedlings, 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 by June 20 at the latest, and the earlier the better; ② Transplanting method. The day before transplanting, water the seedbed thoroughly so that when lifting seedlings more soil is retained and fewer roots are damaged, reducing seedling injury. Because Three-Cherry Pepper is not tolerant of waterlogging, the seedlings should be planted on the ridge when transplanting, 2 rows per ridge, with the planting position such that watering can wet the roots. According to the spacing requirements, first dig planting holes one by one in the plastic film, then plant the seedlings into the 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, dense planting is suitable for field cultivation. Row spacing 40-50 cm, hill spacing 20-25 cm, planting 6500-7000 hills 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 blazing sun; ② Intertillage and weeding. After the transplanted Three-Cherry Pepper has recovered from transplanting, intertill promptly, and intertill 2-3 times before flowering. If rain occurs, intertill promptly after the rain. This accelerates soil moisture evaporation and raises soil temperature. Weeding can be combined with intertillage, but do not damage the plastic film; ③ Topping. Promptly top after 5-7 days of recovery from transplanting, thereby limiting main stem growth, promoting lateral branch development, and achieving 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 liquid or 2000-fold Green Kongfu.

The main diseases harming Three-Cherry Pepper include: fusarium wilt, phytophthora blight, anthracnose and soft rot, etc. These diseases are easily contracted during high-temperature and rainy periods. Affected plots can be controlled with mancozeb, chlorothalonil or dufulin; for soft rot, agricultural streptomycin may be chosen for control.

5. Timely harvesting, good drying and grading

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