Chili peppers are also a good candidate for aquaponics. Like any other aquaponics crops, these crops require specific parameters in their growth requirements to achieve maximum yield come harvest time. This post can serve as your practical guide on how to grow chili peppers the aquaponics way.
Why grow chili peppers in aquaponics?
Chili peppers are water-loving crops.
Of all the growing elements for plants, water is something the chili pepper really loves. Water helps the chili plant become the best it can be, but you still need to regulate the amount of water you give. Considering this fact, chili pepper really grows well via the aquaponics approach.
Chili peppers are not space-consuming.
Another good reason you could add chili peppers to your thriving aquaponics garden is that they require little space for their growth and development. The plant under consideration can be grown using small pots and containers. Such space-saving quality becomes useful for backyard aquaponics because the chili crop can be used to fill in those extra spaces on your growing bed.
Chili peppers are packed with nutrients.
Capsaicin is a chemical substance that is abundant in chili peppers. This chemical agent has the potential to treat headaches and migraines stated by a study of the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Chili peppers may also speed up one's metabolism. One visible result of speeding up your metabolism is you reduce your cravings and increase the rate at which you burn fat. When combined with other healthy lifestyle behaviors, chili pepper consumption is thought to help people lose weight.
Chili peppers are excellent cooking ingredients.
One thing chili peppers are famous for is their ability to enhance our household recipes. Did you know that humans alone seek spicy foods from all the creatures in our world? And by having chili pepper plant nearby, adding a twist to your everyday dishes becomes a breeze.
Chili peppers are easy to cultivate.
Choosing to grow chili peppers is suitable for beginning gardeners since they are easy to grow. As long as you provide the plant with sufficient elements it needs to grow, you can expect a harvest in a couple of months.
What are the different varieties of chili peppers?
Piri-Piri
The peri-peri pepper, also known as Piri-Piri or the African Bird's Eye Chili, is a hot pepper related to the tabasco pepper. These peppers grow wild in Africa, but they are now cultivated in Africa and Portugal for commercial purposes. Piri-Piri is famous for sauces, spices, and even pharmaceuticals.
Malagueta
Because of its bright red color and short, tapered body, the Malagueta chili pepper resembles the Bird's Eye chili. It begins out green and turns red as it matures, and it only reaches a height of around 2 inches. These chili pepper varieties are used in different kinds of cuisines, but mainly stews and mild soups.
Siling labuyo
These peppers are slightly rounder (less pointed) and shorter than Thai peppers. They usually turn from green to red, but they can turn a variety of hues along the way, including yellow, orange, and even dark purple. The siling labuyo is a great way to add heat to dinners, soups, salads, and other dishes without affecting the overall flavor character of the recipe.
Tabasco pepper
This type of chili pepper plant can grow to be as tall as 5 feet (60 inches/1.5 meters), while smaller plants are more common. The peppers start green, then turn yellow-green, vivid orange, and finally, vibrant red as they ripen. They are known to be high-yielding plants that produce a lot of pepper pods at once.
Which variety is best for aquaponics?
All chili pepper varieties listed above do well in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) such as aquaponics. As stated above, chili peppers have specific qualities that make them ideal for the aquaponics approach of food production.
What aquaponics technique is best to grow chili peppers?
Media-bed aquaponics can be considered the best method to produce aquaponics chili peppers. Aside from the fact that this method is excellent for hobby applications and home gardens, media bed aquaponics allows you to control the water flow. Chili peppers love water, but this does not mean they have to be inundated because it will affect their taste.
What factors should I consider to grow chili peppers in aquaponics?
Transplant
Pepper seedlings can be transplanted for the first time 3 to 4 weeks after they germinate. Pepper seedlings are usually roughly two inches tall at this point, with four or more true leaves.
Temperature
Chili peppers thrive at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night. (16 to 21 degrees Celsius) with daytime temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. (21 to 27 degrees Celsius).
Hotter peppers are more tolerant of warmer water than their counterparts, which will become deformed if the water temperature exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). Because too cold water cannot stimulate pepper growth, the optimal temperature to keep the water at for best pepper growth is between 60°F and 75°F (15.6°C and 23.8°C).
pH range
A sound aquaponics peppers system relies heavily on getting the pH appropriate. Growin chili peppers are not exempted from this. The recommended pH range of 5.5 to 6.5 is what chili peppers love, while they may also withstand a pH of 7.
Sunlight
From seedlings to fully grown plants, Peppers require bright light to thrive. The pepper plants you cultivate can get tall and skinny instead of low and robust if they receive insufficient light indoors. The same is true for plants that are grown outside.
In a nutshell, peppers should be grown in a place that receives 6-12 hours of direct sunlight per day. But sun scald may still affect your chili pepper growth. To avoid sun scalding, choose early sun over afternoon sun, or you may even provide some shade to your plants.
Companion fish
Tilapia, catfish, prawns, and perch are some of the best fish for aquaponics systems. Once you have reached the decision to try chili peppers aquaponics gardening, it is advisable for you to do some research to find out which system is ideal for you and your needs, as well as how to put it up and maintain it.
How long does it take to grow chili peppers in aquaponics?
Plants produced aquaponically, on average, are ready to harvest 25% faster than those grown on soil. Bell peppers can be harvested in 52 days, whereas red chili peppers take 63 days.
Conclusion
Chili peppers are perfect for any aquaponics garden, especially if it is done using the media bed technique. Healthy aquaponics chilis are possible if you can provide the plant with the right conditions, as discussed above.
