High Value Crops: Growing Black Pepper
August 6, 2006 by Leo 12,703 Views
Planting pepper is a lifetime livelihood if well developed. If the soil is good and care is good, the quality of the harvest is likewise good and so commands a good price in the market. When harvest is poor, even the stems of this plant, when dried, can also be used and sold including the chaff when powdered.
Although these are not so strong in taste as the fruit itself, they are nevertheless sought because of the aroma they give to the food. So, even the powdered pulp gets sold.
Planting
- Plant materials in pepper consist of the stem with 3 nodes. Separate these from the mother plant at the beginning of the rainy season, and plant in the nursery side by side for growing roots in a rooting bed.
- The bed for growing these must be in the shade and elevated, surrounded by hollow blocks.
- Make the bed three layers of soil so as to ensure good drainage such as:
- river sand on top — 1 foot thick
- small pebbles in the second layer
- bigger stones at the bottom
- Water a little — once in the morning and one in the afternoon. Cover with a plastic sheet.
- In one month, roots will grow about an inch at the nodes.
- This can now be transferred to plastic bags with holes at the bottom, half filled with sand and the other half with loose soil. When transplanting, thrust a stick into the plastic bag, and in its hole, put in the plant.
- In 2-3 months when there are about 4-5 new growths (shoots) in the upper part of the plant, it can now be transferred in the fields.
- Black pepper is a climbing plant, so it needs a trellis or tree to climb. The best is the madre cacao (kakawate). Its long branches are cut like poles and thrust into the ground, 2-3 m apart, in April and May. These branches will grow leaves and branches in the first rain in June. Change the branch that does not grow.
- Plant two seedlings of pepper at the base of every pole. Remove them from the plastic bag and plant one feet away from the kakawate pole. Tie the stem to the pole to help it climb. In one week, the roots of the pepper will adhere to the pole and the plant will climb by itself.
Maintenance/Care of the Pepper Plant
- Always remove weeds around the plant. Apply fertilizer about 2 ft. away from the plant; it is much better if this is mixed with the soil. Put the fertilizer at the beginning of the rains in June: 1 kilo of 14-14-14 or 16-16-16, and ½ kilo in October. Without chemical fertilizer, the proper grains will not grow big and heavy. (See section on improvement/maintenance of plants).
- Always prune the branches of the kakawate to allow sufficient sunshine on the pepper plant (but not so much pruning as to destroy the tree).
It is in the rainy season that pruning should be done after when the branches and leaves grow fast. Pruning is done about 5-6 times a year, or every 1-1/2 months during the rainy season. Control also the height of the kakawate (madre de cacao) because it is difficult to harvest pepper from a very high post, which should not be beyond 10 feet.
In Indonesia and Malaysia, they use posts made from strong wood that are treated against termites to make them last long. In this way, no pruning will be necessary.
Pests and Diseases of the Pepper – Two plant diseases afflict pepper, usually those whose soil has poor drainage. Pepper does not like soil that retains water, and may be the cause of its death. Other than these, pepper is resistant to pests and diseases, so pesticides are not necessary.
Harvesting
In 2 years, pepper bears fruit. Its fist fruits are not so plentiful, but in its 3rd year, harvest ranges from ½ to one kilo per tree. On its 4th year, each plant can give one to one and a half kilo dried pepper.
- The bunches of grains are harvested when these turn yellow. They do not ripen at the same time. It takes 3 weeks to one month to harvest them.
- The harvested pepper is spread on cement to dry like palay or coffee. In good weather, this dries in 3 days. In rainy weather, this can be left alone even up to 5 days, but let it dry by itself when the rain stops. It will be worse to gather them and put them in a container where the grains will heat up, which hastens its rot.
- Threshing – To separate the pulp and foreign matters from the grains, it is better to use a machine for the purpose because the machine does faster work with less cost for labor.
- Winnowing is done normally in which the immature grain and light ones separate from the matured. In this way, high quality grains are segregated, which command a higher price. As mentioned earlier, even its chaff and stems, when powdered, are commerciable.
source: elgu2.ncc.gov, pictures from diwinetaste.com, charak.com
2009 · All Rights Reversed ·
Hello to everyone!!!
I really would like to give a thumbs up for this site since it is very informative.
I’d like to ask:
1. How often could one plant of black pepper produce 1 to 1/2 kilo? Would this be a weekly thing or monthly or 4 times a year?
2. Has anyone tried a really serious Aeroponic farm for black peppers and other crops? Maybe an article could be posted on this subject. This has such a great potential. Maybe an article has already been posted, could you be so kind enough to redirect me, thanks.
Fog Aeroponics, Hydroponics, I’m willing to try it but still researching. Maybe we can help each other on this. I’m actually trying to find out where to buy materials to build this medium-less farming.
Looking forward to any replies, thanks so much and God Bless!!!
Ian
We would like to introduce JOYPAUL TRADING as one of the established spices
business. The nature of our business is wholesaler/retailer of dried spices such as black pepper, white pepper and chili. Our pride, black pepper is originated from our province.
Our client base is spread all over the country. We make sure that our products are of good quality and reasonable price.
I am looking forward to be closely associated with you for a long-term business interest. I will be waiting for your valuable reply.
Thanks.
Kristiene Joy Yago
JOYPAUL TRADING
Batangas
0928-627-8578
email: joypaultrading@yahoo.com
kristiene_joy_yago@yahoo.com
I want to buy seedling of black pepper, i have black pepper plants but until now wala pang berry 1 year old na.
Good Day.
I’m Froilan De Guzman, proprietor of Black Pepper business from Lipa City, Batangas, would like to offer your our product whether it is whole or ground Black Pepper.
Our business started nearly 30 years ago by my parents and now, it is my turn to continue their legacy. We are proud to say that our family is one of the most respected wholesaler of black pepper here at our region and through this, I would like to extend our business to other buyers.
Samples and quotations may be requested if the case may need it. Or contact me @ (0921) 2823130 or (0906) 3612146.
Hoping to have good business with you. Thanks and God Bless.
We are looking for Black Pepper 500GL and 550 GL 13.5% Moisture.
We need your quotation
I’m interested to purchase of black pepper can you call me @ 7749487, I’m trying to contact but your number is out of coverage area.
waiting for your call
Thanks
John
im planning to buy seeds of black pepper,can u pls contact me at cellphone number 0918-9193155,also mahogany plants at 6ft high,im arthur napiza,my farm is in nasugbu batangas.
Im looking for BLACK PEPPER supplier….
any growers here that could help me….
you could e mail me at rhialeyco@yahoo.com.ph..
hope to hear from you guys soon…
have a nice day…
Are you intrested in buying Black pepper – Dinesh – Sri Lanka – Pls mail me on dineshr@dmsgt.com
Hello Entrepinoys:
I am looking for SUPPLIERS for the following spices Black Pepper, achuete, kasuba and banana blossoms/ “bulaklak ng saging”.
This is for long term business transaction, for details please call or text me at 0917-8198588
greetings,
i find the price of blk pepper very low_ 180 per kilo here in cagayan de oro city
its rather very discouraging. but the price of the processed seeds is significantly higher….. do you know where I can sell for a better price/? thanks for your information
@sicilian, download here the list of spices supplier: http://www.da.gov.ph/wps/wcm/connect/resources/file/eb46f741e8b050d/spicesdirectory.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&attachment=true
sir saan po pupwede makabili nga binhi ng black pepper?
@daniel, for all your seedlings need, you can ask assistance from the Dept. of Agriculture at Tel. Nos. (632) 929-6065 to 67 / 920-3991 / 928-1134
Dear Sir/Madam,
Saan po ba maaaring makabili ng binhi ng onion,
maaari po bang paki bigyanyo kami ng idea kung saan mabibili ang punla ng onion.
salamat po,
regards
Danny Camila