CAPSICUM (BELL PEPPER) AGRONOMY GUIDE – KENYA

📋Crop Overview

Crop Name: Capsicum / Sweet Pepper / Bell Pepper
Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum
Crop Type: Warm-season fruit vegetable

Economic Importance:
Capsicum is a high-value vegetable grown for fresh markets, processing, hotels, and export. It offers excellent returns per unit area and is widely produced under greenhouse and open-field systems in Kenya.

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📋Agro-Ecological Suitability (Kenya AEZ)

Capsicum requires moderate temperatures, good drainage, and reliable moisture.

Best Counties:
Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Murang’a, Meru, Embu, Nakuru, Machakos, Kajiado (greenhouse), Bungoma

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📋Optimal Growing Conditions

• •Altitude: 1,000–2,100 m above sea level
• •Temperature:
  • •Day: 21–30°C
  • •Night: 16–21°C
  • •Optimum: ~25°C
• •Water Requirement: 600–900 mm per season (or drip irrigation equivalent)
• •Soil pH: 6.0–7.0
• •Soil Type: Well-drained loam, high organic matter

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📋Recommended Varieties (Kenya)

Sweet / Bell Peppers

• •California Wonder
• •Yolo Wonder
• •Red Knight F1
• •Yellow Bell F1
• •Orange Bell F1

Hot Peppers (Related Crops)

• •Cayenne
• •Jalapeño
• •Habanero

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📋Nursery Management

• •Seed Rate: 200–300 g per hectare
• •Sowing Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• •Germination: 8–12 days at 25–30°C
• •Transplanting Age: 5–6 weeks (4–6 true leaves)

Best Practices

• •Use sterilized nursery media
• •Avoid waterlogging
• •Harden seedlings for 5–7 days before transplanting

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📋Land Preparation & Transplanting

• •Ploughing Depth: ~30 cm
• •Organic Manure: 20–30 tons/ha (well decomposed)
• •Raised Beds: 15–20 cm high (essential in high rainfall areas)

Spacing

• •Open Field: 60 × 45 cm (~37,000 plants/ha)
• •Greenhouse: 50 × 40 cm (higher density, trained plants)

Transplanting

• •Late afternoon or cloudy conditions
• •Water immediately after transplanting

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📋Nutrient Management (Refined)

Total Nutrient Requirement (per hectare)

• •Nitrogen (N): 120–180 kg
• •Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 60–90 kg
• •Potassium (K₂O): 150–220 kg
• •Calcium: Essential for fruit quality
• •Boron: Important for flowering and fruit set

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Fertilizer Program (Guide)

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📋Water Management

• •Critical Periods: Flowering and fruit development
• •Preferred Method: Drip irrigation

Irrigation Guide

• •Establishment: Light daily irrigation
• •Vegetative: Every 2–3 days
• •Flowering: Every 2 days (critical)
• •Fruiting: Every 2–3 days

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📋Pest Management (Integrated)

Major Pests

• •Aphids (Aphis gossypii)
• •Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci)
• •Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)
• •Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
• •Fruit borers (Helicoverpa armigera)

Key Principles

• •Weekly scouting
• •Early intervention
• •Rotate insecticide modes of action
• •Combine chemical and biological control

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📋Disease Management

Major Diseases

▸Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum)

• •Sudden wilting, no recovery
• •No chemical cure
• •Use resistant varieties and crop rotation

▸Bacterial Spot

• •Leaf and fruit lesions
• •Preventive copper sprays recommended

▸Anthracnose

• •Sunken fruit lesions
• •Common in humid conditions

▸Powdery Mildew

• •White powdery growth on leaves
• •Favored by dry conditions with high humidity

▸Phytophthora Blight (Phytophthora capsici)

• •Root, stem, and fruit rot
• •Strongly linked to poor drainage

▸Viral Diseases (CMV, TSWV, TMV)

• •Transmitted by aphids, thrips, whiteflies
• •Rogue infected plants early

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📋Weed Management

• •Critical Period: First 6–8 weeks
• •Effective Options:
  • •Mulching (plastic or organic)
  • •Shallow hand weeding
  • •Selective grass herbicides only

Avoid deep cultivation to prevent root damage.

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📋Staking & Pruning

Staking

• •Install stakes or trellis 2–3 weeks after transplanting
• •Prevent lodging and fruit contact with soil

Pruning (Optional)

• •Remove lower leaves touching soil
• •Maintain 2–3 main stems for improved fruit size
• •Improves airflow and disease control

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📋Growth Stages

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📋Harvesting & Post-Harvest

Maturity

• •Green fruits: 60–70 days after transplanting
• •Colored fruits: 80–90 days

Harvesting

• •Hand-pick with short stalk
• •Harvest every 3–5 days
• •Early morning preferred

Storage

• •Temperature: 7–10°C
• •RH: 85–95%
• •Shelf life: 2–3 weeks

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📋Expected Yields (Kenya)

• •Open Field: 20–30 tons/ha
• •Greenhouse: 40–60 tons/ha

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📋Key Yield-Limiting Factors

1. •Poor drainage
2. •Bacterial wilt
3. •Blossom end rot (Calcium deficiency)
4. •Whiteflies and aphids (virus vectors)
5. •Heat stress
6. •Excess nitrogen
7. •Poor staking

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📋Key Success Factors

• •Healthy, uniform seedlings
• •Drip irrigation
• •Balanced nutrition (especially K & Ca)
• •Good drainage
• •Vector control
• •Staking and pruning
• •Timely harvesting