Plant red peppers are easy and does not require much work. Peppers can be a good source of income because of their perennial nature. Also, red peppers are rich in essential vitamins like A, C, and K.
Red Pepper is made from red chillies that grow on a plant in the Capsicum family. Most of the hot, red spices are referred to as red pepper and are used in various recipes to add flavour and spice to the dish.
Plant Red Peppers
Planting red pepper is easy, but it is essential to remember that the growth takes time. Red peppers must be planted in warm weather, cool evenings or tender freezes can cause them harm. Plant them on sunny beds. Using mulch to cover the plants is recommended if the temperature drops.
To prepare the perfect soil for pepper growth, add a well-balanced fertilizer, and work it well into a sandy loam that can be drained well. Avoid adding a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Start to prepare pepper seeds inside at least one month before the first frost and shift outside when the days and night are warm. To start indoors, use a pot that is almost 1 to 1⁄2 wide, and once leaves start to grow thin, the seedlings so that they are 2 to 3 inches apart. You can also transplant them into different pots. You can transplant them outside after frost has passed. When transplanted, the soil temperature must be at 55-60 Fahrenheit.
Plant red peppers outdoors in rows almost 2 feet apart with around 12 inches space between each plant. Fertilize and water well after planting.
Red Peppers Plant Care
Hill up the soil around the stem of the plants to give extra support to the branch and make sure to moisture the ground frequently. Use a strong wooden stick to keep the plant upright if needed. Use shallow cultivation to avoid weeds and remove if any grow.
Harvest
Peppers are harvested at an immature stage, i.e., not fully ripened, but in some cases, they are left on the plants for a sweeter flavour, depending on the type of pepper. They should be ready to be harvested after 70-80 days. When ready, the peppers feel crispy and firm. Please do not pull the fruit to pick but instead use a sharp knife or clipper to cut it off from the stem. Make sure to harvest more frequently as it increases yield.
Storage
Peppers are storable in the refrigerator for almost up to 2 weeks. Other ways to keep peppers include prickling and drying.
Problems faced
Even though generally, peppers do not face any problems, but like any other crop, pepper plants can catch various diseases and pests that can cause serious harm to the fruit.
Red Peppers Pests
Amongst the many pepper pests, here is a list of few most common ones:
- Aphids
- Slug
- Plant bug
- Spider mite
- Aphids are small and soft-bodied insects that can; cause a decrease in growth rate, turn the plants yellow, cause wilting, and eventually cause death. To avoid this issue, check out for early spread and remove any infected plant or fruit. Use a hose with a high pressure to spray off the insects.
- Slugs can be small or big; they lay eggs in the moist soil; hence they spread fast under ideal conditions. Slugs chew on the plants and fruits and leave holes in them; they are most active at night time. Slugs have to be removed by handpicking or delay mulching during rainy weather, as these two are favourable to the pest.
- Plant bugs are small and slender insects that have four black stripes down their backs. These bugs have sucking mouthparts that leave small spots on the leaves after feeding. Natural plant bug predators like birds are allowed to eat them to control the issue.
- Spider mite usually occurs when the plants are stressed under high temperatures and dry conditions. They use their strong sucker mouthparts to suck out plant juices and cause the plants to become weak. Keeping the plants well-watered and cold can help prevent this problem. Remove any infected plants and make sure to spray the underside of the leaves.
Red Peppers Diseases
Here is a list of few most common diseases a red pepper plant can catch
- Parasitic diseases
- Seedling diseases
- Leaf diseases
- Fruit rots
- Viruses
Red Peppers Tips
Few tips for a larger yield:
- Use a grow light while planting indoors.
- Use the ideal soil for growth.
- Prune the pepper plants, i.e., remove extra stems or leaves for plant to focus growth on fruits
- Use sharp scissors for pruning.
- Use disease-resistant seedlings.
Types of red peppers
- Bell peppers, also are known as sweet pepper, come in many different colours, including red.
- Cherry peppers are sweet and aromatic with succulent flesh.
- Fresno peppers are similar to jalapeno pepper but not the same.
- Serrano peppers are a mountain region pepper and are also identical to a jalapeno pepper.
- Thai peppers are scorching and also called bird’s chilli.
Importance of Red Peppers
Peppers are used in almost every home for various dishes multiple times a day. Not only do peppers add a great flavour to our recipes, but they also act beneficial to our health. They are enriched with antioxidant vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin C, which help in supporting the immune system, prevent cancer and other such diseases. It’s easy to plant red pepper and always high in demand. They grow all around the year in favourable conditions and environments. One seed grows into a plant that gives life to 1000s of fruits.
Conclusion
Planting pepper is not only beneficial for our health and economy, but it could also be a domestic benefit as we all use spices in our daily requirements. Peppers are economically affordable to plant and do not require any extra care or cost; hence the crop income is profitable.
