The vigorous growth of pepper plants can lead to delayed and reduced flowering and fruiting of peppers, and it is also prone to pests and diseases and plant lodging. In order to control the growth of pepper plants, we can start with fertilizer and water.
1.1. Control the amount of fertilizer and avoid excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer. Excess nitrogen fertilizer can cause peppers to grow too vigorously and produce fewer flowers and fruits. Especially at the seedling stage, it is necessary to reduce the amount of fertilizer to avoid excess nutrients and poor root development.
Expansion: Pepper has a low demand for nitrogen fertilizer, and excessive fertilization will cause the green leaves of the plant to grow too luxuriantly, resulting in poor flower bud differentiation and affecting flowering and fruiting. In the fertilization process, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be appropriately reduced, and moderate organic fertilizers, such as animal manure and well-rotted farmhouse fertilizer, should be selected to provide the nutrients needed by peppers, but not excessively stimulate growth. In addition, you can also choose a compound fertilizer with the right ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to maintain the balanced growth of the plant.
1.2. Control the amount of watering to prevent overnutrient overgrowth and stunted root development. Overwatering can lead to over-growth of peppers and poor root development, which in turn affects flowering and fruiting.
Expansion: The amount of watering should be reasonably controlled according to the growth stage of the pepper and the humidity of the environment. At the seedling stage, the frequency and amount of watering should be moderately reduced, and moderate soil moisture should be maintained to promote the growth and development of the root system. During the fruit development period, avoid drought, but also take care to avoid excessive humidity to prevent the occurrence of root diseases.
1.3. Use pruning to control the vigorous growth of plants. For large-fruited peppers, 3 or 4 fruiting main branches can be retained, and the others can be cut off, thus promoting flowering and fruiting.
Pruning: Pruning is a commonly used method to control the growth of pepper plants. By cutting off unnecessary shoots, the lush growth of the plant can be adjusted, so that the nutrients and water of the pepper plant are more concentrated** on the trunk and fruit, thus promoting flowering and fruiting. The best time for pruning is in the early years after the pepper begins to bear fruit, and by cutting off side branches, leaves, and flower buds, etc., the burden on the pepper plant can be reduced, and the development and growth of the fruit can be promoted.
1.4. Appropriate application of urea fertilizer in late autumn. Experienced farmers also mentioned that an additional 10 kg of urea per mu can be applied during the summer season, which can effectively promote the later fruiting of peppers and greatly increase the yield.
Urea is an important nitrogen source in the growth and development of peppers, and appropriate application of urea fertilizer can provide the nitrogen required by peppers, promote the growth, flowering and fruiting of plants. When fertilizing in late autumn, an appropriate amount of urea fertilizer can increase the later fruiting of peppers and improve the yield. However, it should be noted that the amount of urea fertilizer should be moderate, and excessive application will cause excess nutrients and affect the quality of fruits.
Peppers have a long fruiting period, and the peak fruiting period should be as long as possible so that the yield can be higher. In order to prevent premature senescence of pepper plants, reasonable fertilization and foliar fertilizer spraying can be considered.
2.1. Apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer. Applying potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer to pepper plants at the peak fruiting period can promote root development and effectively resist the risk of premature aging, thereby increasing yield.
Expansion: Potassium dihydrogen phosphate is a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium that can promote the fruit development and growth of peppers. In the peak fruiting period, the spraying of potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer can provide the phosphorus and potassium required by peppers, promote the root development of plants, and increase the absorption capacity of the root system, so as to effectively resist the risk of premature aging and prolong the peak fruiting period.
2.2. Top-apply ternary compound fertilizer. In the young fruit stage, pepper has a greater demand for water and nutrients, and if it is insufficient, it is easy to lead to flower and fruit drop. Therefore, timely watering and topdressing of ternary compound fertilizer can meet the growth needs of peppers, so as to maintain the good development of flowers and fruits.
Expansion: Pepper has a greater demand for water and nutrients in the young fruit stage, and if it is insufficient, it will easily lead to the phenomenon of falling flowers and fruits. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen watering in the young fruit stage, and combine it with topdressing ternary compound fertilizer. The ternary compound fertilizer contains an appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients, which can meet the growth needs of peppers and promote the normal development and growth of flowers and fruits.
Even if the pepper plant has a lot of flowers and fruits, if the flower and fruit drop is severe, the yield will still be affected. In order to maintain the flowers and fruits of peppers, we can start by controlling the cultivation density and fertilizing reasonably.
3.1. Control the cultivation density. Avoid cultivating pepper at too high density, and the row spacing should be controlled at 40 50 cm, and the plant spacing should be controlled at 30 40 cm. If cultivated too closely, pepper plants will be too closed, which can easily lead to flower and fruit drops.
Expansion: The cultivation density of peppers is very important for the maintenance of flowers and fruits. If the cultivation density of pepper is set too high, the competition between plants will cause the pepper plant to be too closed, and the light cannot fully irradiate the base and inside, which will affect the differentiation of flower buds and the development of fruits, thus increasing the risk of flower and fruit drop. Therefore, reasonable control of cultivation density and adjustment of the distance between plants can provide sufficient light and ventilation conditions, reduce the competition between plants, and be conducive to the maintenance and growth of flowers and fruits.
3.2. Reasonable fertilization. In the young fruit stage, pepper has a greater demand for water and nutrients, and if it is insufficient, it is easy to lead to flower and fruit drop. Therefore, during the fruit development period, ternary compound fertilizer should be applied in a timely manner to meet the water and nutrient needs of pepper.
Expansion: In order to maintain the flowers and fruits of peppers, it is necessary to fertilize reasonably. During the fruit development period, pepper has a greater demand for water and nutrients, and if it is insufficient, it will easily lead to flower and fruit drop. Therefore, timely application of ternary compound fertilizer can supplement the nutrients required by pepper and promote the development and growth of fruits. The best time to top dressing is in the early years after the fruit begins to form, by spreading the fertilizer evenly on the soil surface around the plant and then gently ploughing into the soil for the plant to absorb and utilize.
4.1. Avoid heavy stubble cultivation. Pepper belongs to the Solanaceae family, and heavy cultivation can easily lead to the accumulation of pathogens in the soil and increase the risk of diseases. Plots that have not been planted with Solanaceae vegetables for 2 to 3 years should be selected for planting.
Expansion: Heavy cropping will lead to a gradual increase in the number of pathogens and insect pests in the soil, increasing the risk of disease in pepper plants. Therefore, it is best to choose land that has not been planted with Solanaceae vegetables for 2 to 3 years to reduce the accumulation of pathogens and pests in the soil.
4.2. Avoid excessive fertilization. Although chili peppers need the right amount of fertilizer to provide nutrients, excessive fertilization can lead to overgrowth of chili peppers, which can easily lead to pests and diseases and plant lodging. Therefore, it is necessary to control the amount of fertilizer used in the fertilization process and avoid excessive amount.
Expansion: Peppers have a low demand for fertilizer and only need the right amount of nutrients**. Excessive fertilization stimulates overgrowth, increases the risk of pests and diseases, and increases the likelihood of lodging. Therefore, in the process of fertilization, it is necessary to pay attention to controlling the amount of fertilizer, and apply fertilizer reasonably according to the growth stage and environmental conditions of pepper to avoid excessive amount.
4.3. Avoid overwatering. Excessive watering can lead to poor root development of peppers, affecting the healthy growth of the plant. Therefore, it is important to control the amount of water during the watering process and maintain a moderate amount of soil moisture.
Expansion: Peppers have a moderate need for water, and too much watering can lead to stunted root development and root disease. At the same time, too much water can easily lead to oxygen deficiency, which affects the respiration and nutrient absorption of plants. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to controlling the amount of water during the watering process, watering reasonably according to the growth stage of peppers and environmental humidity, and maintaining moderate soil moisture.
4.4. Do not apply plant ash. Chili peppers prefer weakly acidic soils, and the application of plant ash will increase the alkalinity of the soil and affect the growth and development of chili peppers. Therefore, the application of plant ash should be avoided when planting peppers.
Expansion: Pepper has high requirements for soil, and prefers soil with rich organic matter, good drainage, and moderate pH value. The application of plant ash will increase the alkalinity of the soil and affect the pH balance of the soil, thus affecting the growth and development of peppers. Therefore, the application of plant ash should be avoided when planting peppers. If the soil has acidic problems, it can be adjusted with other acidifiers to meet the growth needs of the peppers.