Growing Sweet Peppers Successfully

central area on the lower surface of the leaves.
These can
be prevented with good soil drainage at land preparation,
but infected plants have to be removed and destroyed
away from the plot.
Thrips, Aphids, White fly, leafhoppers, cutworms and mole

cricket are some of the insect pests that affect sweet pep-
pers. GROWING
Mites also prove to be a significant pest in fields that are
affected by weed build up and other poor sanitation prac-
tices.
SWEET PEPPERS
WEED CONTROL SUCCESSFULLY
Weed control is important from the beginning at land
preparation. All efforts should be made to keep the fields
weed-free, chemically or manually. Mulching can be used
in the dry season
HARVESTING AND YIELDS

Sweet peppers are ready for harvesting 4½ - 5 months after
planting. They are harvested when large but still immature.
treated for damping off (drench with 1tsp banrot per weeks after germination. Transplant in the early mornings
gallon water) or late afternoons.
4. Take a dibble and mark rows of ¼inch depth into which
the seeds are sown. Cover the seeds lightly with soil. 1. If in seedling trays, transplant the seedlings to the
5. Water as often as possible but not to drown the seeds. planting site
2. Wet the trays or the seed beds with water to moisten
The seeds will germinate within 6 days to 2 weeks. When soil and prevent damage to the plant.
they attain the 3 leaf stage, thin them out 3 - 4 inches apart. 3. Hold the seedlings gently by the stem and pry out with
Place the excess thinned-out seedlings into individual cells of a dibble. Ensure the roots are intact with soil around.
the seedling trays or on another bed prepared for this. En- 4. Place the seedling in holes prepared (BR 3ft, WR 2ft)
sure the soil in the seedlings trays is treated for damping-off and firm up with soil now more than half way up the
etc. stem of the seedling to allow the plant to stand up-
right.
Sweet Peppers are hot weather vegetables that can be Water daily but not too heavily. A foliar fertilizer can be 5. Water the field, but not too heavily.
grown any time of the year with a minimum of pests used to enhance the performance of the seedlings. They are
and disease problems. ready for transplanting within 4-5 weeks. Flowering begins within 6 weeks.
Sweet Peppers can be sown directly into the fields, but Peppers can also be planted directly into the field. CARE AND MANAGEMENT
this is a crop that does best when it is first propagated
and the seedlings planted out. Locally, peppers SOILS AND LAND PREPARATION FERTILIZING
planted around June give the best results. Sweet Pep- 1. at 1week after transplanting or planting, add NPK at
per takes about 4½ - 5 months from direct planting or Peppers can be grown in all types of soil but do poorly if 1oz per plant in a band about 2 inches away from the
from transplant t to maturity. their roots are flooded. Sweet Peppers are planted on ridges stem.
in the wet season and in the furrows in the drier months. 2. 2 weeks later, add 2oz per plant
Prepare the site no more than 1 week before planting Direct 3. At 4 weeks later, add 2 oz per plant
SEEDLINGS planting often results in higher , earlier yields. 4. At 9 weeks after and onwards, add 1oz per plant.
Pepper seedlings can be prepared using either seed
boxes or seed beds. 1. Plough the soil at depth 25-30 cm (10-12 inches). A foliar fertilizer, eg Miracle Gro or Calmax can be used at
2. If planting direct, see that all dirt clods are finely broken 3 weeks interval.
1. If the seeds are not treated, dust them with Sevin up and the surface is smooth.
to prevent destruction by ants and other soil 3. Prepare ridges 3ft apart. PEST AND DISEASES
pests. 4. Add fertilizer before planting at 1oz NPK per plant. Viruses are the most serious diseases of peppers. Symp-
2. Choose a site that is protected from the direct 5. Make holes 2ft apart and plant 2 –3 seeds per hole, ½ toms include twisting and stunted growth of the plant
rain, sun for the entire day, and not too windy. inch deep cover lightly with soil.
3. Mix well rotted pen manure in the soil and pre-
Bacterial wilt is also common. The lower leaves of the
pare a cambered Germination will begin within 6 days –2 weeks. plant turn yellow and wilt.
bed. For the seed
boxes, mix the soil
TRANSPLANTING Bacterial leafspot also affects peppers. In the wet season,
and place in the box.
severe infections can drastically reduce quality and mar-
The soil can also be
The seedlings will be ready for transplanting within 4-5 ketable yields. This shows up as small spots with sunken

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central area on the lower surface of the leaves.

Thrips, Aphids, White fly, leafhoppers, cutworms and mole

HARVESTING AND YIELDS

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