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FARMER'S BOOKSHELF MAIN PAGE
| 1. Abbot & Cobb, Inc. P. O. Box 65 Feasterville, PA 19047 |
5. Otis S. Twilley Seed Co. Trevose, PA 19047 |
|---|---|
| 2. A. R. C. O. Seed Co., Inc. P. O. Box 181 El Centro, CA 92243 |
6. Petoseed Co., Inc. P. O. Box 4206 Saticoy, CA 93004-0206 |
| 3. Asgrow Seed Co P. O. Box 1087 Tracy, CA 95376 |
7. Walter Baxter Seed Co. Box 75 Weslaco, TX 78596 |
| 4. Harris-Moran Seed Co 1155 Harkins Road Salinis, CA 93901 |
8. Local growers, county extension agents, etc. |
Mulching
Black or aluminum colored reflective polyethylene mulch can provide benefits for blocky type pepper production. The mulch help control weeds, reduce leaching of soluble nutrients during heavy rains and maintain a more uniform soil moisture between irrigations. Aluminum colored reflective maulch provides added benefit by discouraging early insect infestation (particularly aphids which ddelays virus infection).
Irrigation
Generally, pepper plants require more water after fruiting than before fruiting. Light sandy soils require more frequent irrigations than heavier soils. Long dry periods may cause flower and young fruits to drop, more matured fruits may be affected by b lossom-end rot. Most of the roots will develop and function in the upper 12 inches of the soil, therefore, the frequency and volume of irrigation should be managed so as to maintain good soil moisture in this upper zone.
Pruning
Normally, pepper plants are not pruned. Occasionally the local Filipino/Japanese type is pruned to shorten the prostrate branches.
Pepper branch crotch are very brittle and may be easily broken by wind or careless harvesting of fruits. Effort should be made to treat plants carefully when cultivating between plants, spraying, harvesting, etc.
Windbreaks
For sweeping winds across flat areas, a wiliwili windbreak spaced every 75 - 100 feet, perpendicular or diagonal to the wind direction is sufficient. For winds that sweep down from hills, a windbreak every 50 feet should be installed.
Capsicum frutescens Solanaceae
Usually occurs when night temperature drops below 60 degrees F or day temperature rises above 88 degrees F. For blocky type peppers, fruits that set at high temperatures may be small or mishapened. The small fruited varieties are much more tolerant of h ot weather.
All blocky type peppers tend to drop many of the flowers that form after several fruits have started to develop on a plant.
Soil pH
Best between 5.8 - 6.8.
Soil Amendment and Fertilization
Test soil for lime and fertilizer requirements. If the soil pH is below 5.5 and the available soil calcium is less than 2,000 lbs./acre, apply 2,000 lbs./acre (4.5 lbs./100 sq. ft.) of agricultural lime 2-3 months before planting (soil should be irrigate d regularly to allow for the chemical reaction to begin neutralizing the acidity in the soil).
For an average crop with moderate levels of available phosphorus and potassium in the soil, 2,000 lbs. of 10-20-20 or 2,500 lbs. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per acre of crop may be sufficient. Apply at least half of this total at planting and the remainder (at 200 - 300 lbs./acre) every 3 weeks as a side dress. Continue side dressing at this rate for as long as crop is being harvested.
For soils very low in available phosphate, 1,000 lbs./acre (2.25 lbs./100 sq. ft.) of treble superphosphate (0-47-0) should be applied at preplant broadcast in 12 - 15 inch bands and worked into the soil 6 - 12 inches deep.
On soils low in magnesium, 150 - 200 lbs./acre of magnesium sulfate (9.8% Mg.) or its equivalent should be applied preplant similar to superphosphate.
For nitrogen, urea (47-0-0) at the rate of 100 lbs./acre or sulfate of ammonia (21-0-0) should be applied once every month once harvesting begins.
Blossom-end rot, internal necrosis of fruits and creased stem may be due to excessive soluble ammonium, potassium, magnesium or sodium; or a deficiency of soluble calcium. For correction of calcium deficiency, weekly foliar applications of calcium nitrat e at the rate of 10 lbs./100 gallons or calcium chloride at 5 lbs./100 gallons water per acre should be applied.
For slight deficiencies of magnesium, foliar sprays of magnesium sulfate at the rate of 10 lbs./100 gallons water per acre should be applied as needed.
Approximate Removal of N, P, K (lbs./acre)
| N - 140 | P - 12 | K - 140 |
|---|
Best when stored at 45 degrees to 50 degrees F with 90 - 95% relative humidity. Storage life 2 - 3 weeks.
Estimated Yield
Large blocky type - 13,000 lbs./acre (3 month harvest)
Local Filipino/Japanese type - 18,000 lbs./acre (5 month harvest)
Small pungent types - 6,000 lbs./acre (4 month harvest)
Hawaiian Chili - 2,000 lbs./acre (6 month harvest)
Harvesting
Mild/sweet peppers for fresh use are harvested mature green. The skin of mature green fruits are shiny and waxy and the fruit walls are firm when squeezed. Young immature peppers are rather soft and yield readily to mild pressure of the fingers. Harves ting of immature fruits will reduce potential total yield, shipping and market shelf-life of the peppers. Fresh peppers for specialty markets are to be harvested at their appropriate stage. For example, the yellow blocky peppers are normally harvested a pproximately 10 days after the mature green stage when it turns yellow.
There may be a reduction of 25% of the total yield when the fruits are harvested in the mature color stages rather than in the mature green phase. Another disadvantage that may result from leaving a fruit on the plant the extra days required for it to co lor is referred to as "shrink cracks" or "russeting". This physiological disorder may be caused by rapid evaporation of condensed moisture on the fruit surface.
Anthonomus eugenii Cano, Pepper Weevil
Antianthe expansa (Germar), Solanaceous Treehopper
Aphis fabae Scopoli, Bean Aphid
Aphis gossypii Glover, Melon Aphid
Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Mediterranean Fruit Fly
Contarinia maculipennis Felt, Blossom Midge
Dacus latifrons (Hendel), Solanaceous Fruit Fly
Heliothis zea (Boddie), Corn Earworm, Tomato Fruitworm, Bollworm
Liriomyza sativae Blanchard, Vegetable Leafminer
Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Green Peach Aphid
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus), Southern Green Stink Bug
Phenacoccus gossypii, Mexican Mealybug Townsend and Cockerell
Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), Broad Mite
Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), Beet Armyworm
Steneotarsonemus pallidus (Banks), Cyclamen Mite
Strymon echion (Linnaeus), Larger Lantana Butterfly
Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Hawaiian Flower Thrips
Thrips palmi Karny, Melon Thrips
Propagation Method
Almost always transplanted. Seeding depth 1/8 to 1/3 inch. Seeds germinate best between 75 degrees to 85 degrees F (24 degrees to 29 degrees C). At this temperature, seedlings should emerge in about ten days. Germination conditions may be improved by covering the seeded flats or beds with couple of layers burlap, which must be removed immediately upon emergence.
Amount of Seed
For transplants, 5 ounces per acre. Pepper seeds retains viability about 4 years.
Crop Length
Seeding to transplant - 5 weeks. Transplant to harvest 70 to 85 days, depending on environment and variety. Usually 3 to 4 months of harvest for the large blocky types, longer for smaller types.
Plant Spacing
Basically, double rows 15 to 18 inches apart with plants staggered between the two rows 12 to 15 inches apart. Space between double rows 4 feet apart.
For the local Filipino/Japanese type, use single row spacing of 2 feet between plants and 5 feet between rows.
Planting Schedule
Year round from sea level to 3,500 feet elevation. March to November from 2,600 feet to 4,000 feet elevation. Best growth between 70 degrees to 75 degrees F (21 degrees to 24 degrees C).
