 |
| Mahlatse Matlakana owner of the 8 hectare green pepper farm in Blouberg |
Green peppers like plenty of sunlight and moist, warm soil. If using
seed, plant under a shelter about 8 weeks before you anticipate the last frost
in your area, then transplant.
Step 1: Loosen the
soil deeply and mix in fertiliser, manure
or compost
thoroughly and evenly using a rake. For best results, add a dressing of organic
fertiliser. Use one handful of fertiliser to every 1m2 or four handfuls
of manure or compost.
Draw the ridges and furrows at least 1m apart. Plant the seedlings
at least 40cm apart along the waterline on the ridges. Stakes will keep the
plants upright.
Step 2: Plant your
seedlings about three weeks after the last frost. Draw the ridges and furrows
at least 1m apart. Plant the seedlings at least 40cm apart along the waterline
on the ridges (not the top).
Step 3: Always water
the roots, never the peppers. You can do this by using flood or drip irrigation.
If the peppers get too wet, they will rot. Also, mulch heavily.
Step 4: Tie the
growing plants to stakes to keep them upright.
Step 5: Fertilise
regularly. If you’re using manure, use chicken manure. When peppers start
flowering, feed them every four weeks with a balanced organic fertiliser. Too
much nitrogen causes the leaves instead of the fruit to grow.
Step 6: Weed
regularly and fight pests with chemical or organic remedies. Green peppers are
relatively pest and disease-free, but fruit flies can be a problem. If the
leaves become wrinkled and distorted by aphids, spray with soapy water.
Step 7: Green peppers
will start bearing fruit about 11 weeks after transplanting. Pick fruit as soon
as it’s big enough by cutting it off with a sharp knife. Don’t leave fruit on
the plants for too long as this will inhibit flower production. Peppers will
produce fruit for many months, until winter begins.
This is where
we will be ending our discussion for today.
Do you have any
questions or other forms of contributions, kindly use the comment section below!!
Comments
Post a Comment