Table of Contents
Introduction
Did you know that Asia’s largest chilli market is located in India? Chilli farming can be extremely rewarding for farmers in India. The country is home to a wide variety of chillies, from the spiciest Bhut Jolokia in the Northeast to Kashmiri chilli in the North and Guntur Sannam in the South.
Chilli is a valuable cash crop, and chilli farming holds great potential in India. If you want to start growing chillies, read this blog till the end to learn the correct methods for sowing chilli seeds. Whether you are a beginner in chilli farming or a seasoned chilli farmer, this blog has something to offer you.
Step 1: Climate, Soil and Season for Chilli Farming
To cultivate chillies successfully, it’s essential to understand the ideal climate, soil, and season required for chilli cultivation. These factors play a critical role in ensuring healthy growth and high yields.
Climate Conditions for Chilli Cultivation
Chilli is a warm-season crop that grows well in tropical and subtropical regions. A warm, humid climate promotes vegetative growth, while warm, dry conditions are crucial for fruit maturity.
The optimal temperature range required for chilli crop is 20–30°C. While chillies can tolerate higher temperatures, root development slows above 30°C, and fruit production is adversely affected at 38°C. 9–10 hours of daylight is good for chilli plant growth, fruit set, and pigmentation.
Chilli plants need around 800–1200 mm of well-distributed rainfall. Excessive rainfall can reduce fruit set, while prolonged dry spells may hinder overall growth.
Soil Requirements for Chilli Farming
Chilli grows best in well-drained, aerated soils rich in organic matter. Light soils like sandy loams or red loams are ideal for early crops, while black soils are suitable for rainfed cultivation.
Medium to heavy soils, such as clay loams, can also support chilli farming, provided they have proper drainage to prevent waterlogging. Chilli plants are sensitive to waterlogging, which can lead to leaf shedding and poor health.
The ideal soil pH is 6.0–7.0. Strongly acidic soils may need liming, while alkaline soils are not suitable for chilli cultivation.
Season for Sowing Chilli seeds
In Kharif, chilli seeds are sown from July to August. In the Rabi season, chilli seeds are sown from October to November. Green chillies can be cultivated throughout the year under appropriate conditions. For red chillies, the Kharif season is preferred, with sowing typically occurring from June to August, depending on the region.
Step 2: Selecting the Right Chilli Variety
Choosing the right chilli variety is essential for successful cultivation. The selection should align with your specific goals, such as meeting local market demand, export potential, or consumer preferences.
Consider critical factors like your region of cultivation, soil type, season, and climatic conditions. These will help ensure the chosen variety performs well under your farming conditions.
India is home to many popular chilli types, including Byadgi, Sannam, etc., each suited to specific regions and purposes. Selecting a compatible variety ensures optimal yields and quality.
To make your decision easier, here’s a list of a few popular chilli varieties.
You can find more chilli seed varieties at Desikheti.
Step 3: Procuring High-Quality Chilli Seeds
Procuring high-quality chilli seeds is a crucial step in chilli cultivation. Even with excellent farm management, poor-quality chilli seeds can lead to low yields. Investing in premium chilli seeds ensures a successful and high-yielding crop.
Beware of counterfeit chilli seeds, which are often sold in the market. Using such chilli seeds can result in financial losses and wasted time and effort. To avoid this, always purchase seeds from a trusted and reliable source.
Looking for the Best quality chilli seeds? Desikheti offers a wide range of premium-quality chilli seeds that are carefully selected to ensure optimal performance. Visit DesiKheti today to explore a wide range of chilli seeds and get them delivered right to your doorstep!
Always check the truthful label on chilli seed packets. These labels provide essential details about the variety, quality, and cultivation practices, helping you make informed decisions and implement effective techniques.
Seed Rate for Chilli Cultivation
Open-Pollinated Varieties (OP): 250 g/acre (transplanted crop), 400 g/acre (direct sowing)
Hybrids: 80–100 g/acre
The required seed rate may vary depending on the variety and spacing used in your field.
Seed Treatment
Most hybrid and OP seeds sold by private companies are pre-treated with insecticides and fungicides to protect against pests and diseases like damping-off.
However, if you purchase untreated seeds, you can treat the seeds with 2–3 g of Captan per Kg of chilli seeds.
Step 4: Nursery Bed Preparation
Chilli seeds can either be sown directly in the field or raised in a nursery before transplanting. The preferred method, particularly for hybrid varieties, is to first sow the seeds in a nursery. This approach results in stronger seedlings, ensuring faster establishment and healthier plants in the field.
There are two main methods for raising a nursery
1. Raised nursery beds
2. Protrays.
Both have distinct benefits and drawbacks. Protrays allow for safer transportation of seedlings with minimal risk of damage, but they require more frequent watering compared to raised beds.
Raised Nursery Beds
For raised nursery beds, select a suitable area and plough it to a fine tilth. Prepare beds that are 1 meter wide and 15 cm high. The length can be adjusted according to the available space. For soil preparation, mix 5 kg of well-decomposed FYM per square meter of the nursery bed. To enhance soil health, add biofertilizers such as Trichoderma and Pseudomonas 5–6 days before sowing.
Protrays
Sterilized cocopeat can be used to fill the protrays, or cocopeat can also be mixed with other growing mediums such as vermiculite and perlite. Keep the protrays in insect-proof nets. A net measuring 5m x 4.5m x 2m can accommodate 100–120 protrays (98 cells each), producing 10,000–12,000 chilli seedlings, sufficient for one acre of land.
Step 5: Chilli Seed Sowing
Chilli seeds are sown at a depth of 0.5 cm. For raised nursery beds, sow the seeds in lines spaced 5 cm apart. Draw lines across the beds and sow the seeds along these lines, then cover them with topsoil. To retain moisture and protect the chilli seeds, you can also cover them with paddy straw as mulch. After sowing, water the beds gently using a rose can. Once germination begins, remove the mulch.
To prevent ants from carrying away the seeds, apply 10% BHC dust along the bed borders. To combat damping-off disease, drench the nursery beds with copper oxychloride (2 g/litre of water) every 15 days. If insect pests are detected, insecticides like CALDAN can be applied. To protect the seedlings from virus-carrying vectors, cover the beds with 40-mesh nylon nets. Regularly monitor the seedlings for insect pests and diseases and implement appropriate management measures as needed.
For protrays, sow one seed per cell and cover it with coco peat. Water the seedlings daily, and after 18 days, drench them with 5 g/l of 19:19:19 fertilizer to support healthy growth.
Step 6: Preparation of Main Field
Proper field preparation is essential for successful chilli cultivation. Start by removing stubbles and weeds from the field. Next, plough the land 2–3 times and level it. Depending on the requirement, you can also create ridges and furrows to improve water management and promote better root growth.
Chilli plants grow well in fertile, humus-rich soils. During the final ploughing, apply 12–15 tonnes of well-decomposed farmyard manure to enrich the soil. For enhanced soil health, mix 2 kg each of Trichoderma and Pseudomonas biofertilizers with the FYM.
The general nutrient requirements for chilli cultivation are 75 kg of Nitrogen, 75 kg of Phosphorus, and 55 kg of Potassium per hectare. However, fertilizer requirements may vary based on soil conditions and regional factors, so it is advisable to have the soil tested before applying fertilizers. Care should be taken to avoid over-applying fertilizers, as excessive Nitrogen can lead to excessive vegetative growth and delay fruit maturity.
Apply the full quantity of Phosphorus, Potassium, and half of the Nitrogen as a basal dose during the final ploughing. The remaining half of the Nitrogen should be applied as a top dressing in two equal splits, spaced one month apart, after transplanting.
Step 7: Transplanting Chilli Seedlings to the Main Field
Chilli seedlings are typically ready for transplanting after 4 to 6 weeks. Generally, Chilli seedlings raised in protrays will be ready in 4 to 5 weeks, while those raised in nursery beds will be ready in 5 to 6 weeks. Select short, thick-stemmed seedlings for better establishment in the main field. Topping (snipping off the growing shoot) can also be done in older chilli seedlings one week before transplanting.
Before transplanting, chilli seedlings can be hardened by reducing irrigation or exposing them to slightly harsher conditions. For chilli seedlings raised in nursery beds, transplantation needs to be done within 1 to 2 hours of removing them from the beds. For chilli seedlings raised in protrays, the protrays with the seedlings need to be brought to the main field in advance to avoid any last-minute issues. Transplantation of chilli seedlings is typically done in the evening to minimize stress on the plants.
At the time of transplanting, seedlings can be treated with Azospirillum to promote better growth and establishment. Mix 2 kg of Azospirillum culture with 10 litres of water. Soak the root portions of the seedlings in this mixture for 20–30 minutes before planting.
Chilli seedlings can be planted at a spacing of 30 to 45 cm (plant to plant) and 75 to 90 cm (row to row). When transplanting on ridges and furrows, plant the chilli seedlings on the sides of the furrows near the ridges. Ensure that the chilli seedlings are planted at a sufficient depth so that the roots are well-covered with soil.
The first irrigation should be given immediately after transplanting to help the seedlings establish. A second irrigation can be given 10 days after transplanting. During this period, gap filling of chilli seedlings can be done.
By following these management practices, you can improve your chilli seedling establishment and ensure healthy plants, ultimately leading to a higher yield.
Common FAQs Related to Chilli Seed SowingÂ
Q. What is the best climate for chillies?
A. Chilli is a warm-season crop that grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. A warm and humid environment is good for vegetative growth, while warm and dry conditions are necessary for fruit maturation.
Q. What temperature is best for chilli plants?
A. The Optimal temperature range for chilli plants is 20–30°C.
Q. What is the season for sowing chillies?
A. Chillies can be sown during both the Kharif and Rabi seasons. In the Kharif season, the sowing of chilli seeds usually takes place between July and August, while in the Rabi season, the sowing of chilli seeds is done from October to November.
Q. What is the best soil for chilli seeds?
A. Chillies can be grown in a variety of soils, but they do best in well-drained, aerated soils that are rich in organic matter. Sandy loams and red loams are ideal for early chilli crops, while black soils work well for rainfed cultivation.
Q. How deep should chilli seeds be sown?
A. Chilli seeds can be sown at a depth of about 0.5 cm in the nursery bed and then covered with topsoil.
Q. What is the required depth for transplanting chilli seedlings?
A. When transplanting chilli seedlings, they should be planted deep enough to ensure the root ball is fully covered with soil.
Q. What is the sowing distance for chillies?
A. For optimal growth, chilli plants should be spaced 30 to 45 cm apart (plant to plant) and 75 to 90 cm apart (row to row).
Q. What is the ideal transplanting age for chilli seedlings?
A. Generally, chilli seedlings that are 4 to 6 weeks old are ready for transplantation.
Q. When should chilli seedlings be transplanted?
A. It is best to transplant chilli seedlings in the evening to minimize transplantation shock and help the seedlings establish better in the soil.
Q. What is the seed rate required for a chilli farm?
A. For hybrid varieties, 80–100 grams of chilli seeds are required per acre of land.
