Capsicum (sweet and hot peppers) are high-value vegetable crops grown year-round under irrigation in Zimbabwe. They are popular in fresh markets and are exported to South Africa and Mozambique.
80
Days to Maturity
15–30 tonnes/ha
Typical Yield
Moderate
Water Need
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Optimal Soil Types
pH Range: 5.5 – 7
Well-drained, fertile soils with high organic matter. Avoid heavy clay and waterlogged soils which promote Phytophthora.
Fertilizer: 2 Nutrich earthworm poop tea 20 Nutrich vermicompost 10 Compound C 5 Nutrich vermifoliar
Optimal Temp: 18–28°C
Rainfall: 400–800mm/year
Climate Zones
Drip irrigation preferred. Apply 30–40mm per week. Calcium foliar spray at flowering reduces blossom end rot.
21°C
overcast clouds
Harare
27%
Humidity
13
km/h Wind
21–21°C
Min / Max Today
5-Day Forecast
Fri
21°
21°
Sat
31°
17°
Sun
32°
17°
Mon
33°
19°
Tue
34°
20°
bell pepper optimal climate: Temp: 18–28°C°C · Rainfall: 400–800mm/yr
Planting Months
Harvesting Months
Planting Depth: Transplanted seedlings
Spacing: 90cm × 45cm
Material: Seedlings (5–6 week nursery)
Provinces
Natural Regions
Symptoms: Leaf curl, virus transmission (CMV, PVY)
Management: Imidacloprid drench; reflective mulch; systemic insecticides
Symptoms: Silvery scarring on fruit and leaves, TSWV vector
Management: Spinosad spray; blue sticky traps; remove infected plants
Symptoms: Fine webbing, bronzing of leaves, fruit scarring
Management: Abamectin spray; avoid water stress
Symptoms: Wilting, dark collar rot at soil level, plant death
Management: Improve drainage; Ridomil drench; avoid overwatering
Symptoms: Mosaic mottling, distorted leaves, stunting
Management: Aphid and thrip control; resistant varieties; sanitation
Symptoms: Greyish mould on fruit and stems in humid conditions
Management: Iprodione or fenhexamid fungicide; improve air circulation
Governed Product Guidance
Crop-specific product selection, application rates, mixing, timing and treatment guidance for bell pepper are available only through ZEF's governed production-agronomy workflow after country readiness and product/regulatory approval.
Fresh market, processing (dried flakes, paprika powder), export to South Africa and Mozambique
Export Potential:
Cultivation Guide
Step-by-step guide tailored to bell pepper in Zimbabwe
Related Crops
Crops suited to similar climate zones or soil types as bell pepper
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Pomegranate
Punica granatum
Guava
Psidium guajava
Zucchini / Baby Marrow
Cucurbita pepo
Swiss Chard
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Rape / Covo
Brassica napus (Rape) / Brassica oleracea (Covo)
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