How to Grow Capsicum at Home

Shimla Mirch is used in a variety of ways on lots of dishes in India. Here’s all you need to know about How to Grow Capsicum at Home!

Shimla Mirch is one of India’s most beloved veggies. It makes a great addition to salads, stews, and various cuisines. They are very easy to grow in the warm Indian climate, and produce crops in as little as a month! Let’s find How to Grow Capsicum at Home in India!

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How to Grow Capsicum at Home

Capsicums are well propagated through seeds – all you need to start the process are store-brought capsicums. First, slit the capsicum into two halves and fill some soil into them. Then, directly sow them into the ground or a pot that is about 10 inches deep. You will start seeing saplings in 1-2 weeks at most.

Alternatively, you can germinate the seeds in moist tissue paper and later transfer the seedlings to the soil.

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Growing Requirements of Capsicum

Location

Initially, you can keep the pot indoors where it receives indirect sunlight. But later on, move the plant to a spot where it receives at least 3-5 hours of direct sun.

Capsicum loves warmth, but it can’t tolerate too much heat. You may notice the leaves shedding if the plant is subjected to extreme heat.

Soil

The plant does best on sandy-loamy soil with compost. Make sure the soil is well-draining and slightly acidic (pH between 5.5-7). A well-draining potting mix would be an ideal choice.

Watering

Water forms a large part of capsicums. They need frequent watering, especially if the climate is too hot. Water them whenever the topsoil is dry to touch.

Also, never allow the soil to go completely dry and avoid overwatering the plant too.

Temperature & Humidity

The minimum temperature for germination of capsicum is 15℃, whereas flowering and fruit formation requires 18℃. Therefore, the optimum temperature range oscillates between 20-26℃.

It requires 50% to 70% humidity to do best.

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Taking Care of Capsicum

Fertilizing

It’s good to add compost or manure to the soil before planting the seedlings into it. Besides that, you can fertilize the soil with compost tea or liquid fertilizers when the plant starts to bloom for faster growth.

Alternatively, you can also go for a 10-5-15 feed. Do follow the instructions on the label.

Pests & Diseases

Shimla Mirch is susceptible to powdery mildew, aphids, whiteflies, and a few other pests. To avoid these, you can use a homemade spray of neem oil and detergent. Spray this on your plant once a week to get rid of them.

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Harvesting Capsicum

The capsicum will be ready to harvest in a month or two. If they have grown about the size of a cricket ball and look glossy, then it’s the right time to harvest. It would be best if you do not wait for the capsicums to ripen further as this slows down the growth of new fruits.