Pepper Brief guide by Dahlia Shumba
Classification Family Solanaceae
Genus Capsicum
Species annuum
Soil requirements Soils Sandy loam or well drained soils
pH 5.6-6.8
Climatic
requirements Temperature 18-35ᵒC (not below 12ᵒC, not above 36ᵒC)
Time of planting Summer crop November
Winter irrigated crop February- April
Spring irrigated crop Late July – Early August
Seed requirement Seeds/g 150-175
Seeds/ha 150-200g
Single line (80cm), Tramline (50-60cm between tramlines,
Spacing Interrow 100cm between rows)
Inrow 30-50cm
Plant population Minimum 20k
Maximum 40k
Varieties Red (Ganga, California wonder, Commandant, Jupiter, Hercules, Serenade, Duke
Yellow (Admiral, Solanor, Springbok, Diva, Golden dawn)
Fertilisation
Rate
Application Fertiliser Composition g/plant N P K Remarks
All at
Basal Compound C 6:15:12 30 1.8 4.5 3.6 planting
Split
Top dressing Calcium Nitrate 15.5%N, 20%Ca 8 1.24 application
Split
Potassium nitrate 13%N, 46%K 10 1.3 4.6 application
4.34 4.5 8.2
*Split apply Calcium nitrate at 2g/application at week 2, 4, 6 & 8
* Split apply Potassium nitrate at 2g/application at week 6, 8, 10 & 12
*Total fertiliser application = Rate/plant * Plant population (Divide by 1000 to convert to Kgs)
*Indeterminate varieties will need continuous and frequent feeding
Promoting Farming Excellence
PESTS, DISEASES, WEEDS CONTROL
Herbicides
Pre-emergence Metolachlor
Post-emergence Propaquizafop, Fluazifop-p-Butyl
Pests
Nematodes Oxamyl, Velum, Fenamiphos
Aphids Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Dimethoate
Stink bug Methomyl, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos Deltamethrin
Whitefly Thiamethoxam, Methomyl, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Dichlorvos
Pepper maggot Malathion, Dichlorvos, Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Methomyl,
American leafminer Acetamiprid, Abamectin, Cyromazine, Novaluron, Indoxacarb, Deltamethrin
Redspider Amitraz, Dicofol, Abamectin, Diazinon, Profenofos
Tuta, Semi looper, B. thrungiensis, Acephate, Cartap hydrochloride, Deltamethrin, Emamectin
African bollworm benzoate, Lufenuron, Indoxacarb, Fipronil, Flubendiamide, Chlorantraniliprole,
Mercaptothion, Abamectin, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Methomyl, Diazinon,
Chlorpyrifos
Thrips Abamectin, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Deltamethrin
Cutworms Chlorpyrifos, Lambda cyhalothrin, Carbaryl, Deltamethrin
Diseases
Damping off Captan, Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Thiram
Downey mildew Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil
Phytophtora blight Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chlorothalonil, Propineb, Chemlaxyl
Powdery mildew Tebuconazole, Triadimenole, Benomyl, Sulphur
Alternaria blight Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Tebuconazole, Chlorothalonil, Difenoconazole,
Trifloxystrobin, Azoxystrobin
Fusarium wilt Drench Benomyl, Copper based fungicides. But the best way to control the disease is
crop rotation
Anthracnose Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil
Bacterial complex Acibenzolar-S-Methyl
**Always read the labels on chemicals for rates and post-harvest intervals
**Chemicals listed in active ingredients, trade names may differ
**Chemical colour codes do not illustrate the effectiveness in pest control, but the toxicity to the
operator
Physiological Disorders
Blossom endrot *Calcium deficiency, Calcium supplement will help together with regular watering to
increase calcium absorption from the soil
Sunscald *Caused by exposure of fruits to direct sunlight. Normally common when pruning has
been done lately and fruits have suddenly been exposed to sunlight
Leaf roll *Caused by copper deficiency but most commonly by environmental stress, thus very
low or high temperatures. This however has no significant effect on growth and yield
Failure to set fruits *Caused by lack of pollination, too much or little nitrogen, moisture stress, extreme
temperatures and humidity, heavy fruit set and application of MOP at fruit set stage
Promoting Farming Excellence
