Crop details

Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho)

Capsicum annuum

Family: Solanaceae

Quick stats

Family	Solanaceae
Typical harvest	31.0 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	7
Seasons	0

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	130
Main uses	Fresh green and coloured fruits of hoho used for cooking, salads, stuffing and seasoning.
Pollination	self
Origin / where it grows	Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho) is widely grown in irrigated and rainfed vegetable areas in East Africa, especially near towns and irrigation schemes.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	18–28 °C
Rainfall	700–1000 mm/yr
Altitude	0–2200 m
Best pH	6–6.8
Soil type	Deep, well-drained loam or sandy loam with plenty of organic matter. Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho) prefers fertile, well-structured soils.
Row spacing	75 cm
Plant spacing	40 cm
Planting depth	1.5 cm
Seed rate	0.4 kg/ha
Nursery days	35

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 130 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fresh green and coloured fruits of hoho used for cooking, salads, stuffing and seasoning..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by self. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho) is widely grown in irrigated and rainfed vegetable areas in East Africa, especially near towns and irrigation schemes. It is grouped under: Vegetables.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 700 to 1000 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2200 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6 to 6.8. It does well in deep, well-drained loam or sandy loam with plenty of organic matter. capsicum / bell pepper (hoho) prefers fertile, well-structured soils.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 75 centimetres apart, and leave about 40 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 1.5 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 0.4 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Nursery period: If you raise seedlings in a nursery, keep them there for about 35 days before transplanting to the main field, when they are strong and healthy.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Raise Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho) seedlings in a nursery bed or trays using fine soil and compost. Keep moist and protect from heavy rain and strong sun. Transplant healthy seedlings with 4–6 true leaves into the field on cool, cloudy days or in the late afternoon.

Transplanting: Water nursery before lifting seedlings. Transplant with a small ball of soil around roots and firm soil gently around each plant. Avoid burying the stem too deep.

Irrigation: Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during flowering and fruit filling. Avoid long dry spells followed by heavy irrigation as this can cause flower and fruit drop.

Fertigation: With drip irrigation, feed small doses of NPK frequently. Increase potassium and calcium around fruiting to get firm, good quality hoho fruits and to reduce blossom-end rot.

Pest scouting: Inspect weekly for aphids, whiteflies, mites, thrips, fruit borers and diseases. Check the underside of leaves, flowers and young fruits of hoho for insects and spots.

Pruning: Stake and tie Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho) plants where possible. Remove dead, diseased and very low branches to improve airflow and make harvesting easier.

Harvest: Harvest green hoho when fruits are full-sized, firm and shiny. For coloured peppers, leave fruits to turn red, yellow or orange depending on variety, but harvest before they become over-soft.

Postharvest: Handle fruits of hoho gently, avoid squeezing and dropping. Harvest into clean crates, keep in shade, and store in a cool, well-ventilated room to delay shrivelling and rots.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at transplanting	0	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	250 kg/ha	N: 42, P₂O₅: 42, K₂O: 42	Band fertilizer 5–8 cm away from hoho seedlings and cover with soil.
2	Early topdress	21	CAN 26% N	100 kg/ha	N: 26, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply between rows of hoho when soil is moist; irrigate or lightly incorporate.
3	Fruiting topdress (N + K)	40	NPK 12-6-24 or urea + SOP/MOP	150 kg/ha	N: 18, P₂O₅: 9, K₂O: 36	Supports fruit set and filling in Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho); avoid too much late nitrogen.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	50	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	60	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	60	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	30	kg/ha
N	Topdress_fruiting	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_fruiting	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_fruiting	60	kg/ha

Field images (picha shambani)

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Hybrid blocky hoho (green/red)	KE	120	Large blocky fruits, thick walls, good yield and market value.
Coloured hoho hybrid (yellow/orange)	KE	130	Attractive coloured fruits, good for high-value markets.
Local hoho type	KE	110	Traditional taste, smaller fruits and lower yield than hybrids.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	250	Gives balanced nutrients for early hoho growth.
Topdress (N source)	CAN 26% N or urea	100	Apply once or twice during vegetative growth of Capsicum / Bell pepper (hoho).
Topdress (K source)	Sulfate of potash (SOP) or high-K NPK	100	Improves fruit size, firmness and colour of hoho.
Organic	Well-rotted farmyard manure or compost	8000	Apply before transplanting to improve soil structure, moisture holding and biological activity.

Name	Type	Management
Aphids	pest	Encourage natural enemies, remove heavily infested shoots and use selective insecticides or biopesticides when populatio...
Whiteflies	pest	Use yellow sticky traps, remove severely affected plants, and apply selective products when necessary.
Thrips	pest	Reduce weeds, use blue or yellow sticky traps and apply targeted insecticides/biopesticides based on scouting.
Fruit borer / bollworm	pest	Collect and destroy infested fruits, use pheromone traps where available and apply recommended insecticides early.
Bacterial leaf spot	disease	Use clean seed, avoid working in fields when wet, rotate crops and use copper-based protectants where pressure is high.
Powdery and downy mildews	disease	Keep canopies open, avoid overhead irrigation in the evening and apply appropriate fungicides when needed.
Viral diseases (mosaic, leaf curl)	disease	Use healthy seed/seedlings, control aphids and whiteflies and rogue out severely affected plants early.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Open-field hoho, low input	8	5	12	Local or open-pollinated varieties, little fertilizer and limited pest control.
Open-field hoho, improved management	25	15	35	Hybrid seed, staking where needed, recommended fertilizer and regular pest and disease management.
Irrigated net-house / greenhouse hoho	60	40	80	Protected cultivation, high-performing hybrids, drip and fertigation, and strong crop protection.

No season calendars yet.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Irrigation schemes and river valleys
KE	Peri-urban vegetable belts around major towns
KE	Very hot, dry lowlands without irrigation
TZ	Central and northern hoho producing areas
UG	Mid-altitude vegetable-growing zones