The pepper, fruit of the species Capsicum annuum L. is a vegetable widely consumed in Brazil, being considered one of the richest in Vitamin C and, when mature, is an excellent source of Vitamin A. It is a source of calcium, phosphorus and iron, as well as having few calories.
In cooking, it has a lot of versatility. It is a widely used ingredient in salads, soups and even the traditional and much appreciated “stuffed peppers” with ground beef.
In addition to being a tasty option for meals, it can be a good business opportunity for those who want to plant this vegetable, especially in small properties or in family farming.
In this article, we are going to show you techniques on how to plant and also cultivate peppers, obtaining good harvest yields.
Cultivation of bell peppers
Peppers are widely planted in Brazil and other parts of the world, as they are a kind of pepper without the components that cause the usual burning sensation in this type of plant.
Peppers come in different colors and are widely used in cooking: a tasty option in meals and planting guarantees a good income for the producer.
Therefore, this fruit can be found in various colors and stages of ripening, the most common colors being: red, yellow and green, in addition to brown.
However, like other crops, growing peppers requires special care and personalized attention in order to ensure good foot development.
In this sense, the place, time and way of planting, as well as the cultivation, directly influence the quality of the vegetable. That’s what we’re going to show you next.
Where and when to plant?
First, we need to mention that the pepper plant needs warm temperatures in order to develop. Therefore, the ideal is to plant in regions with a temperature between 20 and 25 degrees, and can reach 30 degrees. If it exceeds this temperature, development will be compromised, with a decrease in quality and quantity.
When planting peppers, it is ideal to do so in greenhouses because, in this way, you will be able to control the temperature.
Very low temperatures are also not favorable for those thinking of planting this vegetable. With this, if the place where you live is not hot, the ideal is to plant in greenhouses so that there can be optimal temperature control.
In addition to temperature, humidity is also essential, ideally between 50 and 70%, which is another reason for planting in greenhouses if the environment is not suitable.
potted planting
To plant peppers in a pot, you must follow the same recommendations below, being able to plant the seeds directly in the pot where the plant will be or making seedlings to transplant when they are 10 to 15 cm high. Another option is to use a pet bottle.
It is a good option for planting at home or apartment, taking advantage of a space in the window or balcony with solar lighting.
Steps on how to plant bell peppers
Despite being resistant, the pepper plant must be subjected to appropriate conditions, taking into account from the choice of location to the harvesting process. In this way, planting requires more than one step. This is what we will show next:
Seedling formation
The ideal, to plant the pepper, is the formation of seedlings that will later be transplanted. In this case, use trays with individual compartments for substrate placement and planting.
It is possible to take advantage of the seeds of the mature pepper when starting the formation of seedlings that will later be transplanted to the area where you intend to grow.
Sowing in seeds can be done in a container and then the seedlings must be transplanted.
In addition, the soil needs to be well drained, with adequate aeration and disinfected. The use of insecticides and fungicides is essential because, in this way, you will avoid pests and guarantee the development of this vegetable.
This planting method with seedling formation is ideal for obtaining strong plants with abundant root systems.
how to plant
After the creation of the seedlings, the planting must be homogeneous, without excessive hardening. In this case, use short internodes and a healthy root system.
The ideal is not to exceed three plants per square meter, and to use spacing between 100 and 120 cm in the lines. Also, 40 and 50 cm between plants is the best recommended distance.
When planting peppers, care must be taken with the spacing between the seedlings, as well as care with the soil and moisture.
Tutors
The use of tutors may be necessary in order to guarantee the support of the foot due to the weight of the peppers. In this sense, you can use stakes in the ground, along the planting line, every 2 or 4 meters.
However, if the cultivation is of large proportions, the use of tutors is not feasible. In this case, the solution is to choose to plant a variety of peppers that grows with balance.
Care when growing peppers
Of the care when growing this vegetable, it is necessary to pay attention to the use of water that must be supplied in a uniform way, without excess or lack.
In addition, it is important to use fertilizers, but it must be done according to each need, which varies from region to region.
In general, when growing peppers, it is possible to use mineral or organic matter fertilizers, as long as they provide excellent nutrition with potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen.
During cultivation, it is possible that agents appear that harm the development of plants, such as weeds, pests and woodlice.
The ideal is to remove it manually, without using chemicals directly on the plants, because they can change the flavor of the peppers, causing damage.
Harvest
Harvesting peppers is a very simple process. Typically, peppers are harvested from the stem 12 to 16 weeks after sowing.
They should be removed from the plant when they are large and have a more intense color, which can be green, yellow or red.
The pepper harvest takes place 12 to 16 weeks after sowing, when the fruits are large and ripe.
When harvesting, just cut the fruit by the handle, leaving a space of two centimeters to preserve the quality of the peppers.
In this way, with the care mentioned here, you will be able to have a crop with greater chances of success and good harvest results.
Want to see more tips on how to plant colored peppers at home? See in the video below:
Source: Channel “enjoying nature”
Did you like our article on how to plant and grow bell peppers? Do you want to know more about vegetable crops and related topics? Check out our article on how to plant lettuce in different locations.
