Pepper Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University		Click photo to enlarge in new window.
VARIETIES Aladdin, Jupiter, Capistrano, Supersweet 860, Valiant, Camelot X 3R, Valiant, Taurus, Summersweet 840, Early Sunsation
SOIL PREFERENCE Well drained, fine sandy loam, pH 6.0 - 7.5; will tolerate heavier soils.
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS Warm season crop, hot days (80 - 90oF) with cool nights (65 - 70oF). Bloom drop can occur above 95oF. Excessively high temperatures will reduce fruit size.
ESTABLISHMENT METHODS Normal method- Direct seeded- Open pollinated varieties Transplanted- Hybrid varieties Optimum time- Spring- direct seed when soil temperature exceeds 60 - 65 oF or transplant after last average frost date Fall- direct seed approximately 120 days prior to average first frost date or transplant approximately 90 - 100 days prior to first frost date. Seedling spacing- 1 - 2 rows on 30 - 40" raised beds with in-row spacing of 6 - 12". If needed, thin seedlings to stand, approximately 30,000 plants / A, 35 - 40 days after emergence. Seeding rate lbs/A- 2 - 4; precision planting = 0.25 - 0.5. Seeding depth- 0.25 - 0.5" Approx seed/oz- 4,500
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION Rates presented as actual lbs/Acre N2, P2O5 and K2O (base actual application rates on soil test results). General rate: 140 - 60 - 100. N= 60 - 70 lbs pre-plant broadcast incorporated + 30 - 50 N lbs at thinning (4 - 6" height) or at transplanting + 20 - 30 lbs after the 2nd harvest. On light soil a total of 200-250 lbs/N may be required. (Calcium nitrate induces quicker plant response than most other N forms). P= 50 - 80 lbs banded 2" below seed at planting. K= 80 - 100 lbs applied with N where indicated by soil analysis.
*NOTE- Apply high phosphate starter solution to transplants (Example- 2pts liquid 10-34-0 / 50 gallons water (8oz/plt).
WATER/IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS High water demand, 25 - 35"; uniform moisture supply throughout growing season; critical stages during establishment and bloom set.
PEST MANAGEMENT Major Diseases Control Alternaria or anthracnose Cabrio, Endura, Flint, maneb, Quadris Phytophythora blight High beds, good aeration, Ridomil Gold, Ridomil Gold Copper Bacterial Leaf Spot fixed copper, Agri-mycin (transplants prior to field planting), resistant varieties Southern blight PCNB Virus Resistant varieties Nematode Furadan F (24c), K- Pam, Telone II, Telone C-17, Vydate Major Insects Control Flea beetle Asana, Capture, endosulfan, Guthion, permethrin, Sevin Leafminer Agri-mek, Spintor, Trigard, Vydate Aphid acephate, Actara/Platinum, Admire, Assail, diazinon, Di-Syston, Fulfill, Knack, Metasystox-R, Provado Mite (spider or broad) Agri-mek, Capture, Kelthane, sulfur Thrip Baytheroid, Spintor Corn earworm Asana, B.t.'s, Baythroid, Capture, Fury/Mustang Beet armyworm Avaunt, B.t.'s, Intrepid, Lannate, Spintor Pepper Weevil Baythroid, cryolite, Lorsban WP(24c), permethrin, Vydate Weeds Control Preplant incorporated Devrinol, Prefar, Treflan (24c) Preemergence Command (pretransplant), Dacthal, Dual Magnum (24c), Prefar Postemergence Poast, Sandea (shielded layby application), Select
*NOTE- The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer for product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
HARVEST Hand harvested. Days after planting= 110 - 120 days (75 - 85 days for transplants). Optimum stage= Fully mature green, firm, solid pods 3 - 3.5" in diameter and 3.5 - 4" in length. Field containers= Burlap bags. Handling= 5-gallon buckets, bulk loaded, graded and boxed. Grades= U.S. Fancy (> 3" diam); U.S. #1 (2.5 - 3 "diam); U.S. #2 (< 2 " diam). Packaging= Packed in 20 lb cardboard crtns. Anticipated yield/A= 400 - 450 crtns.
STORAGE/TRANSIT/CONDITIONS 45 - 55oF at 90 - 95% RH; shelf-life 2 - 3 weeks. Shipped refrigerated, keep temperature above 45oF to avoid chilling injury.
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS Harvest every 7 - 10 days, initiating when first fruit set are dark green and firm walled. Moisture stressing seedling 25 - 30 days after establishment may enhance root development and yield (practice may not be successful in drier areas). Do not root prune. Most roots run north and south and can root to depths of 36 - 48". Deep cultivate bottom of water furrows only. Avoid moisture stress during bloom and fruit swell. Deficits after fruit load can result in sun scalding. Peak ET (evapotranspiration) for peppers is 0.2"/day. Responds well to windbreaks, plastic mulch, drip irrigation and fertigation. Weevil control dictates starting spray applications at fruit bud initiation. Tobacco etch, Pepper mottle, Tobacco ringspot, Cucumber mosaic and spotted wilt viruses have been reported to act alone or in a complex to cause significant pepper losses. Use resistant varieties whenever possible. Unfortunately no one variety at present has resistance to all viruses.
Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series Revised November, 2003 http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/pepper.html Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger