Growing Green Chillies using Simplified Hydroponics

Growing Green Chillies using Simplified Hydroponics by Pritham 'MetalFarmer' D'Souza

• Green Chillies (Capsicum annuum) is one of the select few crops to be grown in almost all states of India and is largely exported worldwide.
• A green chilli is referred to as ' Hot' due to the presence of 'capsiacin' which is extracted and used in pepper sprays as a non lethal but effect irritant.
• excellent source of Vitamin A and also Iron, Potassium and Magnesium

• since the seeds are small, i sowed them in a plastic tub and watered using the Hydroponic Nutrient 'grow' which quickened the germination.
• as you can see the pics above, i managed to achieve 99 percent germination, which is not even possible in the field (just around 70 percent)

• for this post, i chose 1 plant and transplanted the same to a black colored pot which was made for hydroponics.
• i continued to give it "GROW" nutrient till flowering stage.
• the lush green look is due to the nutrients present in 'GROW'.

Flowering

• once flower buds were seen, i stopped giving it 'GROW' nutrient and switched over to "BLOOM" nutrient.
• BLOOM helps in fruit formation and prevents immature fruit drop and flower shedding.

• chillies take up to 60 days to flower , from the first day of transplanting and take another 30 to 40 days to produce yield in the field.
• here flowering was observed in less than 50 days and the first chillies were produced 3 weeks later.

• to prevent the incidence of pests, i regularly sprayed the plant using neem sprays.
• every morning, one must check the leaves for insect droppings and eggs and if seen must be removed immediately. fortunately i never encountered such problems after switching over to Simplified Hydroponics.

• now i get a regular supply of fresh, pesticide free tasty green chillies every alternate day. since my parents dont like spicy food, i just pluck one or two green chillies whenever required and add while cooking.
• this has stopped us from buying green chillies from the market, and storing them in the fridge for several days before using them. refrigeration dehydrates vegetables (makes them all wrinkled) and now thanks to SH we have a continuous supply of green chillies everyday.

Interculture Operations in Chilli

Interculture Operations in Chilli by Pritham 'MetalFarmer' D'Souza

I have covered Chilli (Capsicum annuum) in my previous posts and here i would like to show you how to perform simple inter culture operations like manuring and weeding in the Chilli plot.

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

WEEDING

• The single most important threat to a successful chilli garden
• since this post shows chilli grown in the monsoon season, weeds can be seen more regularly
• i do not suggest chemical methods of controlling, as the residue will leave a toxic effect on the standing crops.
• manual weeding is the best method to control this and the best time for weeding is during manure application

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

• the weeds growing on the bunds or raised platforms must be removed as shown in the pic above

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

• then the bunds are broken and the soil is made loose. this is done for aeration and also to increase the porosity of the soils

FERTILIZER AND MANURE APPLICATIONS

• freshly decomposed farm yard manure is mixed with neem cake and applied to the soil as shown in the pic below

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

• after completing the manure application, the soil is once again covered and this gives strength and support to the plant

From Interculture Operations in Chilli

• spraying the crop with plant hormones can be done to increase the number of female flowers.
  
• since there are several plant hormones in the market i suggest you carefully select the best one. i use BIOVITA which is an organically prepared solution comprising of seed weed algae fortified with trace minerals and plant growth regulators, sprayed @ 2 ml per litre of water

all images and data by Pritham D'Souza aka MetalFarmer

Green Chilli

Chilli (Capsicum annum) is highly regarded for its wide commercial use. India is a chief exporter, producer, & consumer of chilli. States like Andhra Pradesh & Punjab rank as the top producers in india as it is totally cultivated under irrigated systems unlike other parts where it is mostly cultivated under rainfall irrigation.

Climate and Soil

Chilli prefers warm and humid climate. Higher temperatures will result in shedding of flowers & fruit buds. Also too much rainfall is not suited for its cultivation as it will result in rotting of the plants. Prolonged rainfall in November will result in the powdery mildew & the growth and yield are greatly affected.

Soils which are basically light & well drained are best suited. It does not grow well in heavy soils. Poor and medium quality soils will result in early & good yield in the initial stages provided its managed properly. It thrives well around pH of 6 to 7. In higher acid soils, reclamation with lime is done. It cannot tolerate water stagnation for more than 24 hours, and hence choosing soils with good drainage & pore space is a priority.

Raising seedlings

Since the seeds of chilli are very small it has to be first sown in raised nursery beds. The soil of the beds prepared are mixed well with decomposed farm yard manure & weed free condition is done. The seeds are then mixed with sand & directly sown or broadcast. Paddy straw, coconut palms & other green materials are used to cover the beds. This is done mainly to preserve the moisture level. The selection of the nursery bed is an important factor determining germination. Direct sunlight places must be avoided. Partial shade plots are suitable. Very light irrigation must be given immediately after broadcast. In many cases, copper oxy chloride is also sprayed at timely intervals to prevent damping off. 1 percent urea as foliar spray ensures quick & robust growth of the seedlings. Germination takes place within a week, & it is ready to transplant only after 40 days.

Transplanting, irrigation & fertilizer management.

transplanted seedlings

Transplanting has to be done when the plant reaches a height of 15 to 20 cm. transplanting is always done in pairs, to maintain plant population & density. During transplantation the soil must be ploughed repeatedly to achieve fine tilth. Adding fresh decomposed manures & mixing the soil well is done.

maintaining spacing between rows

Shade should be provided after transplanting as the intense heat may damage the soft plant tissues & cause wilting.

Spacing of 45 * 45 cm is generally practiced in many places. Also 75*75 & 90*90 cm spacing can be maintained. Ridge and furrow method is adopted for its cultivation. While in monsoons, it has to be planted on the ridges. Furrows around 50 cm wide is generally recommended, maintaining up to 75 cm between rows.

weed free condition

Since it is a long duration crop, inter culture operation must be done on a timely basis. Every 30 days, earthing up of the soil is done, to prevent crust formation & also to manage weeds.

45 days after transplant

Plant responds well to foliar sprays & Biovita organic manure must be used @ 1 ml per litre every 20 days.

Irrigation must be provided everyday for up to 15 days after transplantation. Subsequently irrigation can be given on alternate days or twice weekly when the plant has established itself. During monsoons irrigation is not needed but bunds must be formed such that water does not stagnate at the base of the plant or it will cause rotting. Application of complex NPK should also be done every 25 days.

To prevent loss of soil water , mulching with paddy straw, dried leaves & plant residue, etc must be done.

Harvesting

flowering seen

green tender fruits

Flowering starts 45 to 60 days after transplanting & yielding continues for about 3 months depending on cultivar & beneficial conditionsHarvesting tender green fruits for vegetable use should be done at initial stages to allow better flush. Ripe red fruits used mainly as spice can be plucked after 1 to 2 weeks after first harvest. Dried chilli can be stored longer than the tender green ones.

Photos and content by Pritham 'Heavy metal farmer' denzil dsouza