Chilli pepper is a widespread plant all over the world and does not tolerate waterlogging or too much high temperatures. How to best to cultivate and water our seedlings? Let’s discover why to choose drip irrigation on chilli peppers.

A culture of chilli peppers

An explosion of flavours in your mouth. The chilli plant, from the Solanacea family, genus Capsicum, is often associated with fire because of its predominant character: its spiciness.

There are many species, including the genus Capsicum, which is cultivated as an annual crop and can grow up to 80 cm and has light green leaves. The fruit is bright red once ripe.

Pungency (spiciness or “heat”) of chilli peppers is summed up in the Scoville Heat Units (SHU), which indicates the amount of capsaicin contained in each fruit (placenta, filaments and seeds in particular).

The most common species of chilli peppers are 5:

• Capsicum Annuum, is characterised by a dry aroma, fast growth and ripening. This variety includes Jalapenos, Cayenne and many others;
• Capsicum Frutescens, peppers are not that big but are very productive plants as the Tabasco pepper;
• Capsicum Chinense, whose cultivation is widespread throughout the world is native from the Caribbean and it has a reputation of being quite hot. Habaneros and super hot chilis are part of this species, the flavour is ranging from citrus to smoky;
• Capsicum Pubescens, with deep purple flowers, large black seeds and stems and leaves covered with hairs. This is the most cold-tolerant pepper plant. Locato and Rocoto belong to this family.
• Capsicum Baccatum: mainly popular in South America (Peru and Brazil) and with a citrus or fruity flavour, they have a medium to high pungency. Amarillo belongs to this variety.

Plant requirements

Chillies can be grown in pots or directly on the field. What are the necessities?

The plant needs a soft substrate rich in organic matter as well as a bright location. Watering is important and should be carried out when the soil is dry in the upper layers, but beware of waterlogging, which is not particularly compatible with chilli plants.

Chilli pepper: a simple cultivation

Growing chilli peppers is not difficult.  Its development is vertical and can be done either in the open field or in a vase, the important thing is that it is well exposed to the sun. The fruit should be picked when it is not yet fully ripe, the colour will change later.

For better and longer storage, it is advisable to keep a piece of the stalk when harvesting.

Watering chilli peppers: useful tips

The watering of chilli peppers depends on where they are grown. If the chilli is grown indoors, daily watering is recommended, whereas if it is outdoors, it may not need to be watered often given the rainfall that may fall. If temperatures rise above 25° it is recommended to water at least twice a day.

Drip irrigation is an excellent irrigation method that can be used on chilli peppers to avoid the risk of underwatering as well as stagnation. Over-watering chilli peppers could kill our plants while modest watering helps the plant to develop quality products, in large quantity.

Less water results in a lower dilution of capsaicin and therefore a greater spiciness of the fruit, but this does not mean leaving the plant dry. It is advisable to reduce the water intake only 4-5 days before harvesting.

Drip irrigation on chillies

Drip irrigation will allow us to irrigate our chilli plants in a qualitative manner, avoiding stagnation and waste due to incorrect use of water resources.

This type of irrigation allows us to manage the timing and quantity of irrigation efficiently and effectively. The tape also allows us to irrigate precisely and punctually into the roots, guaranteeing improved yields on the plant itself.

Valducci has been committed for decades to providing its customers the best irrigation tools to improve farmers’ lives. On our website, tapes are available with different characteristics and ready for dispatch.

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