The pepper growing season is definitely here. And Paul Bosland and I have written an article about having a successful one with plenty of pods per plant. Here are the basics:
- The Pros and Cons of Fertilizing: Pepper grower Jeff Campbell of Stonewall, Texas, told us the story of his attempt to fertilize tabasco plants with large amounts of worm casings. The casings were so loaded with nitrogen that his plants grew six feet tall, and not one of them had a single pod.
- Fighting the Weeds: Herbicides need not ever be used in the home garden, although some commercial growers need them.
- Flowering and Pollination: The key factor affecting fruit set is night temperature, which ideally should be between 65 and 80 degrees F. Fruit will not set when the temperature is above 86 degrees at night because of excessive transpiration
- Crossing Possibilities: How the various species will cross-p0llinate.
- Fruiting: We discuss fruit load, pungency, flavor, and improved fruit yield.
- The complete article is here.
A great yield from an African Birdseye plant. Photo by Harald Zoschke.
