Sweet peppers grown in a greenhouse have several advantages over those cultivated in open fields, such as earlier ripening, higher yields, and a longer harvesting period. However, if not properly managed, they can develop an issue known as "empty bell peppers," which results in lower production and poor fruit set.
Causes of Empty Bell Peppers
The main cause of this problem is the hot and humid conditions inside the greenhouse. One key factor is an excessively long seedling stage, which typically lasts 6 to 7 days. During this time, the greenhouse must be tightly sealed and not ventilated, with temperatures kept between 30°C and 35°C. Straw is often placed around the greenhouse at night for insulation and to prevent freezing, which helps speed up the seedling process. If the seedling period is too long, the prolonged exposure to high temperature and humidity can lead to plants growing in a "false living" state, where they appear healthy but are not developing properly.
Another major cause is inadequate ventilation. After the initial seedling stage, the greenhouse temperature should be gradually reduced to 28°C to 30°C. If the temperature remains above 30°C for too long, it can increase soil and plant transpiration, causing the relative humidity to exceed 60%. This environment makes it difficult for the first set of fruits to form, leading to poor fruit setting and further promoting leggy growth. This creates a harmful cycle that ultimately results in "empty" peppers.
Preventive Measures
To avoid this issue, several steps should be taken. First, after planting, the greenhouse should be tightly sealed and covered with straw at night to promote strong seedling growth. Second, once the seedlings begin to grow, it's important to ventilate regularly while maintaining an optimal temperature. Initially, the greenhouse temperature should be kept between 28°C and 30°C, and then gradually lowered as the plants mature. By the time fruit setting begins, the temperature should be maintained between 20°C and 25°C, ensuring it doesn't drop below 15°C. At this stage, continuous day and night ventilation is necessary to encourage compact growth, shorter internodes, and better fruit set.
Third, proper water and fertilizer management is essential. Sweet peppers have small leaves, so their transpiration rate is relatively low. Watering should be moderate after planting, and excessive watering should be avoided until just before harvest, as too much moisture can cause flowers and fruits to drop. Once the first layer of fruit starts to be harvested, it's important to increase watering and apply organic manure along with additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to boost yield and improve fruit quality.
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