Techniques for creating canopy for pepper during basic construction

Creating a canopy correctly in the first 2 years helps pepper to have enough trunk vines and fruit branches to be evenly distributed and firmly attached. Instructions on the number of wires according to the type of post, when to press the top, push the eel wire and errors that shock the tree.

Summary: The basic construction period is when the future shape of the pepper canopy is decided. If too few vines are left, the canes will spread thinly and productivity will be low. If left too much, the plant will become dense, damp and susceptible to disease. This article instructs on the number of stem vines according to the type of post, the technique of pressing the top, tying the vines after shaping and how to attach the vines to pepper grown with eel vines.

Applies to: Pepper orchards have stable business from after planting to before, including pepper grown with stem vines and eel vines.
Duration: Continuous monitoring for the first 10-24 months.
Difficulty level: Medium. Need to do it at the right time and not cut too much at once.
Estimated additional costs: 2-6 million VND per hectare for canopy creation, tying and additional care.

The goal of creating a canopy

Creating a canopy for pepper is not just about pinching the top. The goal is:

There are enough strong trunk wires around the pillar.
Fruit branches are evenly distributed from low to high.
The target wire sticks firmly to the post.
The roots are airy, not too dense to the ground.
The tree is not shocked after cutting.

A good canopy helps plants start business early, has stable productivity and is easy to prevent pests and diseases.

The number of stem wires should be according to the type of cylinder

Depending on the type of pillar, the number of trunk wires needed is different:

Cylinder type	Number of body wires should be kept
Living pillar	6-8 stem wires per cylinder
Wooden or concrete pillars	5-7 trunk wires per pillar
Masonry pillars	20-30 stem wires per cylinder

The brick pillar has a large circumference so more wire is needed to cover it evenly. The concrete pillar is small, if there are too many wires, it will become dense and compete for nutrients.

Create a canopy for pepper planted with stem wire

Time to press the top for the first time

About 10-12 months after planting, when the stems grow:

80-100 centimeters high.
There are 5-6 fruit branches on each vine.
Healthy vines, green leaves, no pests.

When qualified, press the top for the first time. The cutting position is about 30-40 centimeters from the root.

The stem vine above the cut can be used as cuttings if the mother plant is disease-free.

Press the top a second time

If after the first time there are still not enough trunk wires:

Wait for the vine to have 3-5 fruit branches.
Press the top a second time to activate the auxiliary wire.
Only do this when the tree is healthy and the weather is dry.

Do not press too many wires at the same time. You can leave 1-2 wires per post uncut to prevent the tree from being shocked.

Note when pressing the top

Press when it's dry.
Use sharp, clean scissors.
Disinfect scissors when moving plants.
Do not press plants that show signs of curling leaves, retracting tips, or mosaic leaves.
Do not take cuttings from plants suspected of being infected with the virus.
After cutting, tie the newly created wires to the post.

Viral diseases can be transmitted through cutting tools. Therefore, before creating a canopy, you should remove plants that show signs of curling and frizz from the orchard.

Tie the string behind to create a canopy

After cutting and shaping:

Newly arising wires need to be tied to the pillars promptly.
Only tie the main stem, do not tie the leaves or fruit branches.
Use soft string, tie self-loosening style.
Check every week during the growing season.

If the spine is still small, do not let it climb directly too early. Temporary pillars can be used for the first 2 years so that the living pillar can grow strong enough.

When the target climbs to the full height of the pillar

When the rope has climbed to the full height of the pole:

Pinch the top so the tree doesn't continue to grow too high.
Regular pruning keeps the canopy moderate.
Remove weak and diseased wires.
Adjust shade trees to diffuse and receive enough light.

Pepper that is too tall is difficult to care for, spray and harvest. Pinching helps concentrate nutrients on fruit branches.

Planting pepper with eel wire

Pepper grown from eel cuttings often needs to be planted to create a good root system and fruit branches.

Time of departure

10-12 months after planting, when the seedlings:

About 1.4-1.5 meters high.
There are 2-3 or more fruit branches per vine.
The vines are healthy, pest-free.

It's best to plant trees at the beginning of the rainy season, when the soil is moist but not waterlogged.

How to wire

Choose 3-4 strong vines with fruit-bearing branches.
Cut all the leaves below the branch bearing the first fruit.
The leaves can be cut 7-10 days in advance to allow the wound to heal.
Dig a trench 15-20 centimeters deep around the post, 20-25 centimeters from the base.
Remove the wire from the post gently, avoiding scratches.
Circle the cut wire into the groove.
Keep the lowest fruit-bearing branch 30-40 centimeters above the ground.
Tie the string with the fruit branch above to the post.
Fill the soil 5-7 centimeters thin and water.

When you see roots sprouting from underground nodes, add 3-5 centimeters of soil mixed with decomposed organic matter.

Mistakes to avoid when wiring

Do not fill the soil too thick from the beginning.
Do not apply strong fertilizer directly to the newly planted part of the tree.
Do not plant the tree when the soil is dry, cracked or waterlogged.
Do not use strings without fruit branches.
Do not let the wire rub or break when removing it from the post.

The underground pedestal wire is still weak. If it is waterlogged or hot, the rope will easily die.

Monitor periodically

[ ] Is the number of trunk wires per pillar enough?
[ ] Is the new wire healthy after cutting the tips?
[ ] Does the tie point tighten the body?
[ ] Does the plant show signs of leaf curling, tip retraction, or leaf mosaic?
[ ] Does the culm grow new roots?
[ ] Is the canopy even around the pillar?

Creating a canopy requires monitoring each pillar, especially newly planted orchards with many different seed sources.

Common mistakes

Leaving too few stems: posts are sparse, business is slow.

Too many wires on small posts: dense canopy, weak plants, increased pests and diseases.

Cutting the top when it rains: the cut is susceptible to disease.

Not sterilizing scissors: increases the risk of virus transmission.

Pile up the wire and then cover it with thick soil and fertilize it heavily: the wire in the ground can easily rot.

Take notes

The first and second time of cutting the tops.
Number of stem wires retaining each pillar.
Full wire retention rate after 12 months.
Ring date and wire number.
Trees' condition after 15-30 days.
The tree was eliminated due to suspected virus.

Notes help adjust techniques for each type of pillar and each seed source.

References

*Canopy creation technique for pepper in the basic construction period* — Hainong technical document.
*Training materials on good pepper production techniques* — National Agricultural Extension Center.
*Technical process of planting, caring for and harvesting pepper* — Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.