Growing capsicum and chilli
Common questions
Jerry Lovatt, Ross Wright and Des McGrath, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland.
(This information was extracted from the Agrilink Capsicum and Chilli Information Kit, which provides information on aspects of growing and marketing capsicum and chilli in Queensland.)
On this page:
Introduction
This section contains the most commonly asked questions about growing capsicum and chilli. The answers are as brief as possible. Where more detail is important we refer you to other sections in the Agrilink Capsicum and Chilli Information Kit.
Varieties
What variety do I plant?
The main capsicum varieties grown are Warlock and Target in the Bundaberg district and Warlock and Merlin in the Dry Tropics. Chilli varieties commonly grown include Caysan, Inferno and Long Cayenne.
Transplants
What do seedlings cost?
Container-grown seedlings from commercial nurseries cost about $90 per thousand plus the cost of the seed, which for new hybrid varieties may be up to $9000 per kilogram.
Where can I buy transplants?
Numerous seedling nurseries grow transplants for sale.
Why aren't my transplants growing properly?
The most common reasons for poor transplant growth in the nursery are poor water management and over fertilising.
Over watering is the most common cause of poor seedling growth. Irrigate until water just starts to drip out of the cell. Over watering leaches out fertiliser and also induces poor root health. If this occurs, increase the fertiliser and reduce the amount of water applied.
Over fertilising could occur:
- if too much fertiliser is added to the mix used to produce the seedlings;
- if too much foliar fertiliser is applied in cool weather (for example, if growers are trying to push their seedlings);
- from a combination of too much fertiliser in the seedling mix and too much foliar fertiliser sprayed over the plants.
You must be careful about how much fertiliser, particularly nitrogen, goes into the seedling mix and how much is applied thereafter. One way of finding out what is happening is to have a conductivity measurement done on the seedling mix to measure salt content (from water or fertiliser). Very often, when seedling growth is poor, the conductivity of the mix is too high.
Poor quality water will produce similar symptoms, for example necrosis (death) of the leaf margins and leaf drop. Water used on seedlings should have a conductivity of less than 1.2 deciSiemens per centimetre (dS/cm).
Planting
What time of year can capsicums be grown?
In north Queensland plant capsicums from February to September to harvest from May to December. In south Queensland there are two main seasons-planting from January to April gives a March to early August harvest and planting from July to September gives a late October to early January harvest.
How many plants do I need?
About 30 000 to 40 000 plants per hectare is the optimum density.
Should I use plastic mulch?
Almost all commercial crops of capsicums are grown on plastic mulch, which will significantly increase yields and make crop management a lot easier. Plastic mulch helps control weeds, aids in maintaining soil moisture and reduces nutrient leaching, so fertiliser stays in the raised bed. It can also be used to modify soil temperatures.
Better root and plant growth can be achieved by using reflective or white plastic mulch during summer to reduce soil temperature and black plastic mulch in winter to warm the soil. Disposal of plastic mulch at the end of its use may be a major problem.
Pests, diseases and disorders
What is this brown blotch on the side of the fruit?
A brown blotch can be either:
- blossom-end rot, a dry papery blotch on the side or the lower end of the fruit;
- sunburn, a bleached softer area on the side or the top of the fruit.
Blossom-end rot usually has a firm ridge around the outside of the blotch where it meets the healthy fruit.
What causes holes in the fruit?
The most common cause of holes is heliothis attack, but eggfruit caterpillar and potato tuber moth can also cause them. Low temperatures when fruit set occurs can cause splitting in the end of the fruit.
Why are my leaves going yellow and falling off?
Leaf yellowing and falling is usually caused by either powdery mildew or bacterial spot. Powdery mildew is a fungus and can be a big problem in northern Queensland. Bacterial spot is caused by bacterial infection resulting in black spots on the leaves, which then go yellow and drop.
Powdery mildew is generally a dry weather problem whereas bacterial spot can become very prevalent in wet windy weather.
Why are my leaves puckered and sticky?
The sticky secretion (honeydew) is caused by aphids (usually green peach aphid), which are small black or green insects that suck sap from the plant. A black sooty mould may grow on the sticky secretion, giving the fruit a dirty, sticky, black appearance. Green peach aphid is resistant to some insecticides.
Leaves may also become sticky from the secretions of silverleaf whitefly. Spray with a suitable chemical that is registered or has a Permit for that use.
What causes plants to wilt suddenly?
Plant collapse soon after planting out can be due to damping-off organisms such as Pythium, Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia or from attack by crickets, cutworms or wireworms. High temperatures heat the plastic mulch which can burn the plant stem at the level of the plastic, causing it to collapse.
Once the plants have become established, collapse can be caused by sclerotium base rot (Sclerotium rolfsii ). This fungus appears around the base of the plant as a thick white growth with small radish-seed-like resting bodies at the advanced stage of the infection. Drenching around the base of the plants with a suitable registered chemical may be worthwhile if heavy losses are expected.
Plant collapse can also be due to sudden wilt or bacterial wilt.
Do capsicums get nematodes?
Yes. Capsicums can be affected by nematodes but treatment is rarely necessary. The effect of nematodes on the plant is much less severe than on many plants, for example tomatoes.
What causes misshapen fruit on my bush?
Fruit may be misshapen because there is insufficient seed in part or all of the fruit. This is the result of poor pollination and is commonly caused by extremes of temperature, either too high (above 32°C) or too low (below 15°C). To be well-shaped, fruit requires the development of seeds evenly throughout the fruit.
Wind damage and thrips in the flowers can also cause misshapen fruit. Plants infected with potato virus Y (PVY) may produced deformed, flattened fruit.
How do I adopt an integrated pest management approach to capsicums?
Crop monitoring consultants are generally very good at integrated pest management (IPM), so in areas that have monitoring consultants we suggest you employ them to monitor your crops and make IPM decisions. Better results will be achieved if integrated pest management programs are carried out on a 'whole district' basis.
Using spray chemicals
What is the best spray equipment to use?
There is no one best type of spray equipment to use in capsicums, so buy equipment that suits your situation. Select equipment based on its ability to give good coverage; droplet size is very important, as is the volume of active ingredient per hectare to be applied. Boom sprays are commonly used and some growers use droppers down between the rows. In north Queensland, aerial spraying is still used. Boom-mounted Micronair sprayers and standard boom sprays are also used.
Do I need training in the safe use of chemicals?
In some states you cannot buy certain pesticides unless you have a current ChemCert or SMARTtrain accreditation and in Australia, endosulfan can now only be supplied to or used by an accredited person.
How do I get spray accreditation?
You must attend a ChemCert or SMARTtrain Farm Chemical User Training course in your state. Course participants complete an open book assessment at the end of the course and successful candidates are then issued with a statement of accreditation by their state ChemCert or SMARTtrain organisation. This accreditation is valid for five years so participants are kept up to date with changes and developments.
ChemCert or SMARTtrain accreditation will assist in the documentation of a quality assurance (QA) program. It is highly desirable for growers to be able to demonstrate safe, responsible use of chemicals. One of the best ways to demonstrate this is to obtain ChemCert or SMARTtrain accreditation.
How do I store my chemicals?
Chemicals need to be stored in accordance with the AS2507-1998 standard. This does not mean you will have to spend a fortune on elaborate storage facilities. You do, however, need to be aware of several safety, environmental and food safety factors whenever you deal with chemicals. Further information on correct storage of chemicals is covered in the chemical user course.
How do I calibrate my spray equipment?
To work efficiently equipment needs to be calibrated. Document the results of this calibration as part of your quality management system. You will learn the correct method of calibration at the spray accreditation course.
Do I need to keep a diary of spraying records?
Yes you do! Records of chemical application are now one of the most important pieces of documentation you will need to be able to prove what you have done with chemicals. Most merchants and agents supplying the retail sector now expect you to keep spray records showing at least what was applied, how much, by whom, and when the application took place. This information is an essential part of a QA system.
What is an MRL?
MRL stands for Maximum Residue Limit, which is the maximum level of a chemical permitted to be present in a food. It is expressed as milligrams of active ingredient per kilogram (mg/kg) of the food.
Produce at the markets is randomly tested for chemical residue. Farmers have been prosecuted when chemical residues were above the MRL, or residues of non-registered chemicals were found.
What is a withholding period (WHP)?
The withholding period is the number of days that must pass between the last chemical application and harvest for human consumption, grazing by livestock and cutting for stock feed. For postharvest treatments it is the number of days from the postharvest treatment to consumption. The WHP will be on the pesticide label.
Some chemicals do not have withholding periods for livestock, if these chemicals are used, the crop must not be fed to livestock. The withholding period for livestock consumption may be greater than that for human consumption.
Residues should be below the MRL if the chemicals are used at the registered rate and frequency, and the withholding period is observed.
Environmental management
What is an EMS?
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a systematic approach to managing the impacts that a business has on the environment. An EMS does not dictate levels of environmental performance, however it should enable a business to comply with legislative requirements concerning the environment. It should also build on existing activities such as industry best management practices, industry codes of practice and quality assurance schemes.
What type of EMS do I need?
We do not know when or what type of EMS will be required in the horticulture industry in the next few years. It will depend in part on the markets you are aiming to supply. As a minimum, you should become familiar with the Growcom Farmcare Code of Practice for fruit and vegetables. It was developed by Growcom to assist growers meet their general environmental duty of care under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
The most widely recognised auditable international EMS standard is ISO 14001. This process standard requires a business to have an implemented, documented environmental policy in place which is available to the public. It also requires the business to have a documented environmental management system in place that is capable of being audited by an accredited third party. ISO 14001 does not prescribe specific levels of environmental performance but it does require a business to be able to identify and have access to all relevant environmental legislation.
In Europe, a protocol based on good agricultural practice called EurepGAP has been operating since the late 1990's. A significant number of Australian horticultural businesses are working towards EurepGAP in order to meet compliance deadlines stipulated by UK/European retailers and importers.
What is Enviroveg?
Enviroveg is a relatively new program from the Australian Vegetable and Potato Growers Federation (AUSVEG). Enviroveg is committed to encouraging vegetable growers throughout Australia to adopt and implement good environmental practices. It includes a self-assessment tool to help growers compare their current farming practices with the environmental best practice activities listed in the Enviroveg guidelines.
Farm safety
What are my workplace health and safety obligations?
Australian Agriculture has one of the highest rates of workplace accidents. Your obligation as an employer and farm manager are based on three principles:
. a concern for people and their well-being, including yourself and your family;
. sound business management;
. compliance with current workplace health and safety legislation.
The best way to meet your obligations is to take part in the Managing Farm Safety program developed by Farmsafe Australia. The Managing Farm Safety program is aimed at developing skills in risk management of farm safety - an approach that is consistent with the way other farm business risks are managed. The training course and resource package are based on real data about the major risks on Australian farms, including specific agricultural industries, and takes into account the requirements of current occupational health and safety legislation.
Fertiliser
What fertilisers do I need?
A fertiliser application schedule should be based on the results of a complete soil analysis taken six to eight weeks before planting. This will also indicate if lime or dolomite is required to raise the pH to the optimum of between 6 and 6.5. These products should be applied at least four weeks before the crop is planted.
If no soil analysis is available and the soil is of average fertility, a basal fertiliser that contains 45 kg/ha of nitrogen, 50 kg/ha of phosphorus and 50 kg/ha of potassium is commonly used. On fertile soils apply 30 kg/ha of nitrogen, 30 kg/ha of phosphorus and 40 kg/ha of potassium.
Once the crop is growing, sap testing can be used to indicate how much nitrogen fertiliser should be applied through the trickle irrigation.
Irrigation
What quantity and quality of irrigation water do I need?
Almost all capsicums are grown with drip irrigation and this requires up to four megalitres (ML) of water per hectare. For seedling growth water up to 1.2 deciSiemens per centimetre (dS/cm) can be used. In the field, water above 2.0 dS/cm will markedly reduce yields and increase the incidence of blossom-end rot.
Harvesting
How long does it take for a capsicum crop to mature?
Capsicums and chillies are in the seedling stage for four to eight weeks, depending on the temperature and the size of the cell in which they are grown. From transplanting to green harvest takes 10 to 12 weeks and you can add another two to three weeks for harvest of red fruit.
What yield can I expect?
Average yield for capsicums is about 4000 to 5000 cartons per hectare. Capsicum yields are usually lower if fruit is left on the plant to colour. Chillies are harvested over a longer period, up to about nine months, and average yields are 6000 to 7000 three-kilogram cartons per hectare.
When is the fruit ready to pick?
The first mature green fruit should be ready about 10 to 12 weeks after transplanting. Mature green fruit will be firm, thick-walled and bright green. Fruit usually takes a further two to three weeks to reach the fully mature colour. For red and green capsicums, the market wants either full green or full red fruit, intermediate colours ranging from stripes of red to chocolate are not wanted.
How many picks do I take?
The variety Merlin is usually harvested from one to four times, while Warlock and most other varieties may be harvested six or more times.
Postharvest treatment
Do capsicums and chillies need to be cooled after harvest?
Yes. The temperature should be reduced as quickly as possible to between 7 and 10°C.
Can I ripen the fruit in a gas room?
No. Colour development is very poor if you try to ripen fruit using ethylene.
Marketing
What are the quarantine restrictions in selling fruit interstate?
The quarantine treatments required for capsicums vary from state to state. No treatments are required for capsicums going into New South Wales, except into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) which includes the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), New South Wales Sunraysia and the mid-Murray region. All other states require that capsicums be treated to control fruit fly, either under DPI&F supervision or under an Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) scheme.
What are the requirements for exporting overseas?
For overseas export of capsicums your packing shed must be registered with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Our main markets are South-East Asia and New Zealand. New Zealand is very restrictive in what they will accept, whereas South-East Asia has comparatively easy access. Information on the requirements of overseas countries is available from AQIS officers.
What level of quality assurance (QA) do I need?
You will need different levels of quality assurance (QA) depending on who you supply. If you supply direct to a retailer, in some instances you may need a full quality management system which is accredited by a third party, for example Freshcare or HACCP plans.
General
Do I need bees for pollination?
No. Bees are not important for pollination. Although you may see plenty of bees in the patch capsicums are self-pollinated. Bush movement due to wind is sufficient for pollination.
Further information
The complete Agrilink Capsicum and Chilli Information Kit, produced by the Agrilink Information Unit of the DPI&F, provides information on all aspects of growing and marketing capsicum and chilli in Queensland.
The kit includes the following sections:
- Before you start
A checklist of things you need to know before you start growing the crop.
- Common questions
The twenty or so most commonly asked questions about growing the crop.
- Growing the crop
Our guide for establishing, producing and marketing the crop.
- Key issues
Detailed information on the key decisions affecting the crop.
- Problem solver
A picture series of the common problems and how to solve them.
- Contacts and references
A list of industry organisations, product suppliers, and further reading.
- Index
An A to Z index to help you find information quickly.
- Your information
A place to store your special information.
For further information on the Agrilink series, see the list of contacts on the Agrilink website.
DPI&F information and services
To access DPI&F's information and services, Queensland residents can contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 for the cost of a local call. The Business Information Centre is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays); E-mail callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au. Non-Queensland residents phone (07) 3404 6999.
This Note is also published on the DPI&F's PrimeNotes CD-ROM.
Industry links
Industry links is a page of links to various sites of interest to horticultural growers.
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Last updated 08 July 2005