Growing peppers is a fascinating process that requires patience and knowledge.
However, conditions sometimes force gardeners to look for ways to speed up the ripening of this heat-loving crop.
There are tried and tested methods to bring the moment of harvesting juicy and tasty fruit closer.
Optimising lighting
Peppers are light-loving plants, and they really enjoy lots of sunshine! This helps them to ripen quickly. To help them along, make sure you give them as much light as possible. If you’re growing them outside, find a sunny spot with some protection from the wind. If you’re growing them in a greenhouse, you can use artificial lighting to help them along, especially on cloudy days or in areas where daylight is short.
Temperature control
The optimum temperature for fruit growth and development is 22-28 °C during the day and 16-18 °C at night.
In cooler weather, protective material or greenhouses can be used to maintain the desired temperature.
On hot days, it is important to prevent overheating of the plants by providing adequate ventilation and shade where necessary.
Correct irrigation and humidity
A balanced irrigation regime promotes rapid ripening of the pepper.Lack of moisture can slow down fruit growth, and excessive moisture can lead to root rot.
Moderate but regular irrigation keeps the soil moist.
It is important to avoid getting water on the leaves and fruit to prevent fungal diseases.
Feeding and fertilisation
Proper plant nutrition speeds up the process of fruit ripening.During fruit formation and growth, peppers need phosphorus and potassium.These elements help peppers to ripen and mature quickly.
Both organic (e.g. ash or banana peel infusion) and mineral fertilizers can be used.
It is important not to overdo nitrogen fertilisation, as it can promote green growth at the expense of fruit growth.
Pruning and shaping the bush
Proper shaping of the pepper bush can greatly speed up fruit ripening.
Pinching the shoot tops and removing excess branches allows nutrients to be directed to the development of existing ovaries.
This is particularly effective at the end of the season, when the last fruits need to ripen faster before the onset of cold weather.
Removal of excess flowers and ovaries
At the end of the season, when not all the fruit may have time to ripen fully, it is advisable to remove new flowers and small ovaries.
This allows the plant to concentrate all its energy on ripening the already large fruits.This technique is particularly useful in areas where the growing season is short.
Use of growth promoters
Modern biological growth stimulants can be used to accelerate the ripening process of peppers.These preparations contain phytohormones and other substances that activate the plant’s metabolic processes.
However, it is important to follow the instructions for use carefully in order not to harm the plants and to avoid obtaining fruit with an elevated chemical content.
Harvesting technically ripe fruit
Regular harvesting of technically ripe fruit (fruit that has reached normal size but has not yet changed colour) stimulates the plant to form and produce new ovaries.
This is particularly effective for varieties with a long ripening period.The harvested fruit can be ripened at home to biological maturity.
Creating a greenhouse effect
In the field, it is possible to accelerate the ripening of peppers by creating a local greenhouse effect.
For this purpose, individual plants or small beds are covered with transparent film or fibre cloth, leaving space for ventilation.
This method is particularly effective in cooler weather or at the end of the growing season.
