Agronomist's notebook: Capsicum farming; Expenses vs income
Capsicums in a greenhouse in Nyeri. The crop is attacked by several pests that not only damage the crop but also act as vectors for destructive diseases, especially the sucking insects. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Capsicum takes three to four months to mature, which makes it one of the best earning short-maturing crops.
Hardening off should be done a week before transplanting by reducing the frequency of watering gradually or removing the shade to prevent the seedlings from suffering transplanting shock.
Adequate watering should be done throughout the growing period for optimal production. Inadequate water supply results to crop stress, wilting, flowers abortion and physiological disorders such as blossom end rot, which results to lower yields.
This can be managed by ensuring that the soil is well-moist during the day, which creates a cooling effect on the plant.
The crop does well in well-drained fertile soils and can tolerate 5.5-6.5 pH levels.
Capsicum (pili pili hoho) is a common crop that does well in hot or warm areas such as eastern and at the Coast.
It’s one of the most important high value vegetable crops cultivated in the greenhouse, under shade or outdoor.
