Piper longum
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HI
where are you located???
Climatic and soil requirements
Pepper is a tropical plant and cannot tolerate frost. It will not grow where the temperature drops below 12 °C. A moderate winter climate is essential.
Pepper plants need about 2 000 mm rain annually. In South Africa the rainfall must be supplemented by irrigation.
The soil should have a good structure and water-holding capacity. Drainage must be good to prevent root rot.
The pH should be 5,5 to 6,0.
The red dolerite soils of KwaZulu-Natal and the red andesite soils of the Soutpansberg are best for growing pepper plants.
A high humus content is advantageous.
Propagation
Propagation is usually by means of cuttings.
One or two-leaf cuttings are taken only from secondary runners during September.
Cuttings are rooted in mistbeds and transplanted into the land after
9 months.
Spacing
Spacing between the rows is 3 m and between the plants 2 m, which gives
1 666 plants/ha.
Trellising
Because pepper is a climbing vine, provision must be made for supports. Treated poles must be used, because the expected lifetime of the plants is 20 years. No shade is needed when planting pepper, because too much shade will result in yield reduction.
Fertilisation
Pepper plants react very well to organic fertilisation. Kraal manure can, therefore, be used at about 5 kg/plant/year. If kraal manure is applied or if the soil pH is slightly high (6,5), ammonium sulphate can be used as nitrogen source. About 600 g per mature plant per year at a rate of
100 g per application is required. Plants only respond well to nitrogen when the soil has a high level of potassium.
Magnesium must be applied in the form of magnesium sulphate at about 750 g per plant. If the soil is too acid 500 to 1 000 g dolomitic lime can be applied every 2 years.
A general directive for the fertilisation of pepper is:
- 700 g LAN per year per plant, divided into 7 applications
- 500 g superphosphate in a single application
- 450 g potassium chloride, divided into 2 or 3 applications.
Mulching
Pepper plants have a shallow root system. The use of an organic soil cover is therefore very beneficial. It keeps the soil damp for longer periods and dramatically reduces temperature fluctuations between day and night.
Irrigation
Overhead irrigation is preferred to flood irrigation.
The most effective irrigation system consists of permanent plastic microjets.
The rainfall must be supplemented by irrigation to about 2 000 mm/year.
Pruning and maintenance
Pepper plants are pruned to
- get stronger plants
- reduce wild growth of the runners
- keep the plants at a certain height
- stimulate the growth of lateral fruit-bearing branches.
When the plants are not pruned, the secondary runners will show dense growth and suppress the tertiary runners, with a resultant loss in yield. Young plants are only allowed to retain 3 main runners. To strengthen these runners, they must be pruned back to 7 internodes. The long secondary runners hanging from the top must be pruned every year.
Yield
After flowering, it takes about 9 months before the ripe berries can be picked.
They ripen over a period of 2 to 3 months.
The berries are green at first, turning yellow and then red when fully ripe. The berries are harvested evry 7 to 14 days
Regards
Ashwini
where are you located???
Climatic and soil requirements
Pepper is a tropical plant and cannot tolerate frost. It will not grow where the temperature drops below 12 °C. A moderate winter climate is essential.
Pepper plants need about 2 000 mm rain annually. In South Africa the rainfall must be supplemented by irrigation.
The soil should have a good structure and water-holding capacity. Drainage must be good to prevent root rot.
The pH should be 5,5 to 6,0.
The red dolerite soils of KwaZulu-Natal and the red andesite soils of the Soutpansberg are best for growing pepper plants.
A high humus content is advantageous.
Propagation
Propagation is usually by means of cuttings.
One or two-leaf cuttings are taken only from secondary runners during September.
Cuttings are rooted in mistbeds and transplanted into the land after
9 months.
Spacing
Spacing between the rows is 3 m and between the plants 2 m, which gives
1 666 plants/ha.
Trellising
Because pepper is a climbing vine, provision must be made for supports. Treated poles must be used, because the expected lifetime of the plants is 20 years. No shade is needed when planting pepper, because too much shade will result in yield reduction.
Fertilisation
Pepper plants react very well to organic fertilisation. Kraal manure can, therefore, be used at about 5 kg/plant/year. If kraal manure is applied or if the soil pH is slightly high (6,5), ammonium sulphate can be used as nitrogen source. About 600 g per mature plant per year at a rate of
100 g per application is required. Plants only respond well to nitrogen when the soil has a high level of potassium.
Magnesium must be applied in the form of magnesium sulphate at about 750 g per plant. If the soil is too acid 500 to 1 000 g dolomitic lime can be applied every 2 years.
A general directive for the fertilisation of pepper is:
- 700 g LAN per year per plant, divided into 7 applications
- 500 g superphosphate in a single application
- 450 g potassium chloride, divided into 2 or 3 applications.
Mulching
Pepper plants have a shallow root system. The use of an organic soil cover is therefore very beneficial. It keeps the soil damp for longer periods and dramatically reduces temperature fluctuations between day and night.
Irrigation
Overhead irrigation is preferred to flood irrigation.
The most effective irrigation system consists of permanent plastic microjets.
The rainfall must be supplemented by irrigation to about 2 000 mm/year.
Pruning and maintenance
Pepper plants are pruned to
- get stronger plants
- reduce wild growth of the runners
- keep the plants at a certain height
- stimulate the growth of lateral fruit-bearing branches.
When the plants are not pruned, the secondary runners will show dense growth and suppress the tertiary runners, with a resultant loss in yield. Young plants are only allowed to retain 3 main runners. To strengthen these runners, they must be pruned back to 7 internodes. The long secondary runners hanging from the top must be pruned every year.
Yield
After flowering, it takes about 9 months before the ripe berries can be picked.
They ripen over a period of 2 to 3 months.
The berries are green at first, turning yellow and then red when fully ripe. The berries are harvested evry 7 to 14 days
Regards
Ashwini