How is a quality capsicum grown?

On the land or in the greenhouse

The ideal circumstances to grow a capsicum plant is when the temperature is about 25 degrees. Therefore the Dutch weather conditions are not suitable for growing capsicum plants outside, so we use greenhouses for this. Inside the greenhouse the plants can grow up to 4.5 meters high. For outdoor cultivation this is only 1 meter high. It takes about 7 to 8 weeks for the capsicums to ripen, this can be even faster in the summer months. What happens to the plant in these weeks?

Pollination of the flowers in the capsicum plant

Several flowers grow in the armpit of the capsicum plant. These flowers must first be fertilized in order to harvest the fruits at the final stage. The stamens of the flower are close to the pistil, so just a little is needed to create fertilization. Nevertheless, in horticulture, bumblebees are mainly chosen to provide pollination. This is partly due to the allergic reaction of the capsicum picker that the pollen can cause. When the bumblebees take the pollen with them, there is less chance of an allergic reaction.

What are paprika flush?

A flush occurs during the period in which the flower develops into a capsicum. One or more flowers bloom in each armpit of the bell pepper plant. The grower tries to get set in an armpit and controls this process by limiting the flowers in the armpits. Why? The more flushes, the more capsicum you would think, right? That theory is not correct. The plant must distribute the nutrition and energy among the fruits. If there were a lot of flushes, there would be more capsicums and the weights of the capsicum will decrease. It is therefore important to grow 1 or 2 flowers per armpit, in order to maintain the quality, size and weight of the capsicums. Growers has decided together that 18 to 24 capsicums must grow on 1 m2.

Influence of the temperature on the brew of the pepper

The number of fruits per flush determines the weight of the capsicum. Sometimes it "puts" it easier than other times. Growers have to deal with large flushes and small flushes. On a nice open and sunny day it is easier to convert and there will be a lot of capsicums. When the weather is dull and gray, it is more difficult to get flushes. A difficult setting often indicates that a setting is small, little fruit means few kilos of capsicums per m2. An easy setting can also encounter all kinds of setbacks in the growing process, which, for example, keeps the fruit weight low. If so, it may mean a lot of capsicum fruit, but also fewer kilos per m2.

When the temperature is too high, the plant goes into a survival mode. In order not to burn, it produces new fruits and ensures that all energy goes to the rest of the plant. This is often accompanied by quality problems, the capsicum fruit is a kind of cooked on the plant. This can result in a delicate skin and dark spots. There is also often a dip in the supply of peppers, a few weeks after it has been very hot. These are the challenges faced by a capsicum grower. A capsicum also remains a natural product that depends on weather conditions.

Harvesting capsicums

After about 7 weeks, the fruit is fully grown into a capsicum and can be harvested. They are inspected for quality and sorted by weight. Then the capsicums are transported directly to the customer, ready to be eaten. Tasty and super healthy, bon appetit!