Sweet Pepper Crop Management
Vegetable Farming in South Africa
Crop Rotation
Rotate peppers with any non solanaceous crops (non nightshade crops) that are not prone to the same pests and diseases.
Yield (tonnes per hectare)
Conservative: 10 tonnes
Average: 15 tonnes
Good: 20+ tonnes
Harvesting
Harvesting of sweet pepper fruit is done by hand with sheers to make a clean cut of stem leaving about 2 cm of the stem on the pepper.
Harvesting of the green peppers are done first and a few weeks later the mature coloured peppers can be harvested. Peppers for processing are harvested mechanically.
Storage
For storage purposes, once peppers have been harvested they must immediately be put under cooling at temperatures of 8 to 10 °C and at a relative humidity of over 90%. Peppers should ideally not be stored for more than 14 days, under even these favourable conditions.
Pests
Nematodes in the soil, Cutworm, American Bollworm, Red Spider, Aphids and Thrips Mite
Diseases
Powdery Mildew, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Viral Wilt, Phytophthora, Bacterial Wilt, Botrytis Bacterial Rot and Bacterial Spot. It is advisable to consult your local chemical advisor and extension officer for a complete plant protection program.
By
Louise Brodie