MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Roots: There are 3 types.

• Main root: grows up to 2 m deep to absorb water.
• Secondary roots: grow in clusters at a depth from the topsoil to 40 cm, with the task of absorbing water and nutrients to nourish the plant, and are not resistant to waterlogging.
• Clinging roots (lizard roots): grow from the stem nodes above the ground, mainly helping the plant cling to the pole.
  Stem: Climbing stem, can be up to 10 m high.

Branch: There are 3 types of branches.

• Eel branches: grow from the axillary buds near the base, long internodes, need to be cut off.
• Extra branches: grow parallel to the main stem, grow strongly. When the pepper is still young, the top needs to be pinched off to produce many extra branches to form the main frame of the pepper tree. In the following years, they need to be pinched off because they will consume a lot of nutrients. Can be used as seeds.
• Evil branches (fruit branches, horizontal branches): grow horizontally, bear fruit. Not used for breeding.

Flowers: self-shaped flower, 7-12 cm long, 20-60 flowers arranged in a spiral. Flowers pollinate thanks to high humidity of the environment.

Fruit: spherical, 4-8 mm in diameter. Young fruit is green and turns red when ripe. From flowering to ripening 7-10 months.

LAND AND CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS

Land: Pepper plants can grow on many different types of soil, but for good and long-term growth, the soil for growing pepper needs to ensure:

• The soil is well-drained, not waterlogged or flooded.
• The soil layer must be deep, preferably 1 m or more.
• The groundwater must be deep, at least 70 cm.
• The soil has a light to medium mechanical composition, is loose, rich in humus, and not acidic.

Climate: The original pepper plant grows under the canopy of the forest.

• Suitable temperature is 22-280C, normal growth is from 18-350C.
• Annual rainfall is from 1,250-2,500 mm/year or more, best distributed evenly throughout the year because the root system is shallow and cannot withstand prolonged drought conditions. A short dry period is needed for flower bud differentiation (20-30 days).

Light: prefers diffused light, so in the early stages, especially when newly planted, it is necessary to cover it carefully. During the flowering and fruiting stage, the plant needs more light, and can be shaded little or not at all because mature plants have the ability to shade each other.

Wind: Pepper plants are weak to wind, so a row of trees is needed to block the wind.