Black pepper (also known as piper nigrum – its common name) is the most popular and oldest spice plant compared to other plants, contributing to the dish’s aroma and attractiveness. It also brings many great advantages to human health.
Thus, many people want to plant black pepper right at home to use it anytime. To do so, you need to know how to grow black pepper properly to achieve the highest yield.
Great Benefits Of Black Pepper
Black peppercorns is a spice rich in manganese, iron, potassium, vitamins, and more. It is known as a great spice in cuisine as well as a valuable medicinal herb to help prevent cancer, obesity, depression, and more.
To Support The Digestive Process
Eating black pepper is beneficial for your health because it reduces the secretion of hydrochloric acid, which causes stomach problems.
To Support Skincare Routine
Using a small black pepper to scrub your face will help remove dead skin cells and provide plenty of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
To Prevent Anorexia
Anorexia is a common health condition, in which you will not want to eat and have a feeling of not eating well. If you suffer from anorexia, it is advisable to consume ground pepper, which helps to aid digestion and makes you crave more.
To Cure Depression
Piperine in black pepper is a natural substance against depression. Thus, eating black pepper will help the brain work better and prevent depression.
To Treat Vitiligo
The lack of melanin pigment in the body makes the skin tend to develop bright white patches, causing vitiligo or leukoderma. At that time, the use of topical lotions or ointments derived from black pepper helps the body to increase melanin production, effectively treating this disease.
How Long Does It Take To Grow Black Pepper?
In general, in the temperature range of 24 – 29 degrees C, black pepper can germinate after a week from the date of sowing. However, that time may vary because different types of peppercorn seeds will have different growth times.
Besides, it depends on the growing condition as well as the weather. After germination, it will take about two to three years of plant care to harvest.
How To Grow Black Pepper
When you understand how to grow black pepper and the care processes, it will become stronger and bring substantial productivity. Here is the guide to growing this plant.
Ecological Requirements
Temperature and humidity
Black pepper is the tropical plant. It can withstand temperatures as low as 16 degrees C, and the highest is 32 degrees C. This plant can grow well at air temperatures from 24 to 29 degrees C and relative humidity above 70% because it likes humid environment.
Light and wind
Black pepper likes places with scattered light and a calm environment. Thus, you should select spaces with both sun and partial shade to best grow peppercorns. Do not leave peppercorn plants in direct sunlight.
Choose Soil To Grow Black Pepper
Peppercorn berries can be grown on many soil types such as basaltic red soil, schist soil, sandy soil, ancient alluvial soil, and more. The land for growing black pepper must be neutral with the lowest pH of 4.5 and preferably between 5.5 and 6.5.
The most important thing is that your soil must be well draining soil. To test this, you can use some gardening tips for home gardener. First, dig a small hole about 12-18 inches wide and deep. Next, fill it up with water. In case you no longer see the water after 5-15 minutes, your soil has good drainage.
Make The Trellis
Black pepper is an upright plant type. When it grows, pepper vines can reach a length of about 4.6 meters. Thus, you need the trellis for growing black pepper plant to keep it upright and bring the highest yield. Follow the growing guides below.
You can use wooden stakes having relative diameter and height so that black peppercorn fruit can hold on long-term (diameter is about 20–25 cm and height is 3-4 m above the ground).
Then, you dig holes deep in the ground and put wooden stakes down there. Be sure to press tightly so that the stakes can stand steadily on the ground. The stakes should be placed in parallel with each other and have a distance about 2-2.5 meters.
Dig Holes To Plant Black Pepper
You should dig two holes on either side of the wooden stake. Each hole will be planted with a survival seed. According to the gardening guide, the size of each hole is about 40x40x50 cm, and the edge of the shaft is 10-15 cm from the stake.
Remember to determine that where the seed or potting mix is located is 40-50 cm away from the wooden stake. Besides, you can also dig a hole of 60x60x50 cm into growing two black pepper seeds together.
Water The Black Pepper
Black pepper needs moist soil to grow. So, you need to water it two to three times per week. In hotter climates, the frequency of watering the plants must increase.
If you are not sure when to water, place a finger on the ground. In case soil feels dry or hot, it is a good time to water black pepper. You should use fresh or warm water instead of cold water because black pepper does not like the cold.
Fertilize The Black Pepper
Based on the requirements of black pepper plants and soil fertility, you need to provide adequate nutrients for black pepper to grow and develop well. Fertilizing twice a month is the standard condition.
You can buy organic and inorganic fertilizers at stores or supermarkets, then sprinkle them around the soil. Also, you can even use a tiller to bring compost into the land. At that time, black pepper will absorb nutrients better. Please read the fertilizer’s instructions for proper use and determine the right dosage for your black pepper.
Prevent Germs And Kill Insects
Regular visit to the garden to detect diseases at an early stage and timely control. You need to apply a variety of general measures to bring good pest control. Besides, spray non-toxic insecticide for your black pepper and remember to follow the instructions of the product.
Harvest Black Pepper
Black pepper is a slow-growing plant. Therefore, its growing season usually lasts from two to three years. You can harvest the peppercorns in the spring or summer when you can see clusters of pepper.
Conclusion
Above is all the detailed content of standard black pepper cultivation techniques for high yielding efficiency. You need to carefully grasp how to grow black pepper and apply the right steps to help the plant grow well and bring stable yield over the years.