Chili pepper is a high-value spice and vegetable crop grown across Zimbabwe. Dried chili is a significant export earner, particularly to Europe and Asia.
90
Days to Maturity
3–8 tonnes/ha (dried)
Typical Yield
Moderate
Water Need
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Optimal Soil Types
pH Range: 5.5 – 7
Well-drained, fertile sandy loam preferred. Avoid waterlogged soils which promote root rot and Phytophthora.
Fertilizer: 2 Nutrich earthworm poop tea 14 Nutrich vermicompost 7 Compound D 5 Nutrich vermifoliar
Optimal Temp: 20–30°C
Rainfall: 400–800mm/year
Climate Zones
Drip irrigation preferred. Apply 25–35mm per week. Reduce irrigation during ripening to intensify colour and heat.
20°C
overcast clouds
Mashonaland East
31%
Humidity
6
km/h Wind
20–20°C
Min / Max Today
5-Day Forecast
Fri
20°
20°
Sat
33°
14°
Sun
35°
14°
Mon
36°
16°
Tue
37°
17°
Chili Pepper optimal climate: Temp: 20–30°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, sticky residue, CMV/PVY virus vector
Management: Imidacloprid drench; reflective mulch; systemic insecticides
Symptoms: Silvery scarring on leaves and fruit, TSWV vector
Management: Spinosad spray; blue sticky traps; neem oil
Symptoms: Premature fruit drop, maggots inside fruit
Management: Protein bait traps; malathion cover sprays
Symptoms: Sunken dark lesions on ripe fruit, spore masses
Management: Copper or mancozeb spray; avoid wetting fruit; resistant varieties
Symptoms: Sudden wilting, vascular browning
Management: Crop rotation; avoid waterlogging; soil fumigation
Symptoms: White powdery coating on leaves
Management: Sulphur or myclobutanil fungicide; good air circulation
Governed Product Guidance
Crop-specific product selection, application rates, mixing, timing and treatment guidance for Chili Pepper are available only through ZEF's governed production-agronomy workflow after country readiness and product/regulatory approval.
Dried chili export (EU, Asia), fresh market, spice processing, sauce manufacturing, pharmaceutical industry
Export Potential:
Cultivation Guide
Step-by-step guide tailored to Chili Pepper in Zimbabwe
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