How to Grow Hot Peppers: The Complete Manual
Guide to growing chili peppers in pots, outdoors and at home with indoor techniques
Growing hot pepper plants is not trivial, because - if on the one hand - they manage to take root quickly, on the other they require constant care. Of course, a lot also depends on the variety of chilli, on the environment in which the plants are located, but it is often the action of those who grow them that makes the difference. Even a home cultivation, started and cared for by a beginner, requires careful care and constant foresight.
Among the factors that most affect the evolution of a pepper cultivation - as also seen in the guide dedicated to the cultivation of tomatoes - we find the temperature, the light, the type of soil and its fertilization and, of course, irrigation. In particular, the presence of light and heat are fundamental elements for obtaining spicy and pleasant-looking peppers.
Before moving on to the actual guide - and face the various stages of chili pepper cultivation live - it is necessary to know the distinction between the Capsicum Annuum family of peppers (which mature in two to three months) and that of Capsicum Chinense (which have of maturation of about 4 months). To this second family belong some of the hottest and best known chillies in the world (here you can find the in-depth study on Wilbur Scoville), such as - for example - all the varieties of Habanero, the Bhut Jolokia, the Naga Morich and Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.
Before purchasing and preparing all the indispensable tools for cultivation, it is therefore necessary to select the variety (or varieties) of peppers that interest most.
The temperature
The temperature of the environment in which the chili pepper is grown is a fundamental element for the growth and good fruiting of the plant; to understand its importance, just remember that the content of capsaicinoids - which determine the level of spiciness of the final fruit - increases with increasing temperature. Specifically, a pepper grown in an area with temperatures of 29-30 ° C will be hotter than one grown at a temperature of 23-25 ° C.
During the germination period of the chilli, the ideal temperature is between 20 ° C and 30 ° C and - in any case - it is good to know that it should never drop below 10-12 ° C (if it were to drop below plants under 4 ° C would suffer irreversible damage) and never exceed 30 ° C.
In addition, it should be remembered that changes in temperature affect the final appearance of the fruit: a reduction in degrees centigrade, in fact, helps to make the chilli more elongated and pointed.
In short, the ideal environment for chillies to grow and ripen is quite hot.
You might also be interested in the guide to learn how to grow goji berries!
The Light: how many hours of sunshine should chillies get?
Like temperature, light also plays a decisive role in the growth of the pepper plant, just as it does for most plants. It is good to know that - in the initial phase of germination - light is not necessary and, indeed, it will be essential to prepare a dark environment to facilitate the process of maturation of the seed. The germination of seeds, in fact, requires only heat and humidity.
The light - be it that of the sun and that emanating from the LED lights - must, on the other hand, be present starting from the growth phase of the plant and of course also during the flowering phase: a reduced brightness will lead to the early fall of the flowers and will reduce them , consequently, productivity.
Generally speaking, we can say that chillies need 18 hours of light per day in the growing period and 12 hours in the flowering period. However, if you grow in an outdoor area, such as a terrace, balcony or outdoor courtyard, you can easily overlook this aspect, because in the summer you will have just the number of hours necessary and ideal for growing your peppers.
The Ideal Soil Type for Chillies
The ideal soil for the cultivation of chillies is that which contains over 50% of sand and a reduced content of clay; in general, the important thing is that the ground is not too compact.
One of the aspects to pay particular attention to is the possible stagnation of water, which must be absolutely avoided in order not to damage the plant.
The soil suitable for the cultivation of chili peppers must have a slightly acidic pH, between 4.5 and 6.5 pH, and must contain a large amount of organic material and nutrients, to increase both fertility and drainage, essential aspects for a healthy cultivation.
Parasites and Diseases of Chillies
Like many other plants, chilli pepper also suffers from the attack of parasites and fungi. Among the bitter enemies of this plant we find, in particular, animal parasites and - specifically - spider mites, aphids and lice, which also tend to damage tomato and eggplant plants.
The red spider - technically called Tetranychus urticae - mainly stings the leaves, which - once attached - take on the typical bronze color and form a sort of spider web. This parasite can cause severe damage to the pepper; to eradicate it it is essential to eliminate the plants already attacked and to treat the cultivation with ad hoc products, or acaricides, to prevent it from reaching other points of cultivation.
Another great enemy of pepper crops is the green aphid, which attacks the leaves by pricking them and stealing their lifeblood; attacked leaves gradually turn yellow and tend to curl.
Ladybugs, which feed on aphids, can be used to combat aphids. To activate the mechanism and make sure that the ladybugs are attracted, it is possible to allocate a small area (adjacent to the peppers) for the cultivation of fennel, or carrots or dandelions, plants that the ladybugs are greedy for.
Alternatively, it is possible to treat the affected plants with Marseille soap, which has a particularly unpleasant scent for aphids: it is necessary to dilute a handful of soap in 10 liters of water and spray it directly on the plants.
Another solution to naturally fight insects, cryptogams and mosquitoes, enemies that commonly attack chilli plants is Neem oil, a very useful, effective, easy to apply repellent and not harmful to humans.
To treat chilli plants with Neem oil it is sufficient to dilute it and spray it in the stagnant water present in the saucers (but also in the gutters, in the water pots with flowers, in the containers that house water, etc.) to prevent the larvae mosquitoes to develop and turn into annoying insects. The ideal amount to dispense is usually 20 grams per 10 liters of water.
Among the critical issues that could create damage, we also remember the Pseudomonas Solanacearum, a bacterium which - once hit the plant - causes yellowing and necrosis on the edges of the leaves and the birth of adventitious roots on the stem of the plant. To fight and eliminate this dangerous bacterium, the cultivation must be treated with copper-based products.
Among the most common fungi on chili plants it is definitely worth mentioning the Phytophtora Capsici (phytophtora or pedal gangrene): it is definitely very dangerous, especially because it can affect any point of the plant (especially the collar and roots) and at any time of its growth. It manifests itself with small light green spots, which tend to grow larger and darken progressively, to the point of resembling mold. To prevent this fungus, it is advisable to pay close attention to water stagnation and correct soil drainage, while - once it has arrived - it must be eradicated with special fungicides.
Another very common fungus is Verticillium Dahliae (verticillosis), which attacks both the roots and the stem, causing occlusion and preventing the passage of vital lymph. This leads to the progressive death of the plant and the infection of the surrounding soil. This fungus, in fact, survives in the soil for several years and to be sure to eradicate it it is essential to sterilize it.
Also in this case, it is essential to avoid water stagnation, ensure correct ventilation for the cultivation (in cases where the plants are indoors or in a greenhouse) and permanently eliminate the plants already affected.
Fusarium vasinfectum and Fusarium solani are very aggressive and dangerous fungi: the attacked plants will develop a weak and small stem, while the main root will develop few and weak rootlets. The leaves of the plant will be subject to necrosis, while the fruits will grow, but they will remain small and with irregular shapes. In these cases, the cures are rather ineffective, therefore it is worth constantly monitoring the cultivation to prevent these enemies from coming.