Dalle Khorsani

Dalle prefers a warm, humid climate and tolerates heat well, but cannot withstand heavy rain during growth, flowering and fruit set. Cold below 12°C at night hampers growth; the ideal flowering range is 20–25°C. It adapts to a wide range of altitude and soil, though sandy loam at pH 5.7–7.5 is ideal — waterlogging and highly acidic soil are both detrimental and call for lime or dolomite correction.

The main field is ploughed 3–4 times for a fine tilth, with farmyard manure worked in during the last ploughing; cow urine can also be used in soil preparation.

The nursery site should be elevated, sunny, close to a water source, well-drained, and partially shaded under a protected structure. Beds are prepared with FYM (7 kg/m²), neem cake (2 kg/m²) and vermicompost (1 kg/m²), sized around 1m × 1m with paths for intercultural work. Mulching with dry leaves or black polythene aids germination; damping-off is managed with a Trichoderma / Pseudomonas culture drench and, in severe cases, Ridomil or Matco.

Seedlings are ready to transplant at 30–35 days. They're best hardened in open conditions a day before, and transplanted in the afternoon into a raised bed spaced 1m × 1m.

The recommended manures and bio-fertilisers for Dalle Khorsani, applied through organic sources for both root and foliar uptake:

A continuous, moderate water supply is essential — the first irrigation follows transplanting immediately, then a weekly interval. Heavy irrigation is avoided, as standing water invites soil-borne wilt and collar rot. Dry leaves, paddy straw and saw dust all work as mulch, though black polythene sheet is considered the most effective for this crop.

Buds are pinched from the first and second nodes to boost vegetative growth, fruit set and yield, and unproductive first-node branches are clipped, especially in cooler weather when sunscald isn't a risk. Being a tall grower, Dalle needs staking to prevent lodging under fruit weight, with earthing-up done 30–45 days after planting.

Aphids (Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae), locally called Lye Kira, are the main pest — sapping vigour, secreting honeydew that fosters sooty mould, and spreading viral disease. A systemic biopesticide, such as a Verticillium lecanii-based petroleum oil spray at 6 mL/L, is the standard response.

Fruit fly is the other major threat: eggs laid in the fruit hatch into maggots that feed from within, causing fruit drop. Growers manage it with 8–12 pheromone traps per acre at fruit-set time, alongside prompt collection and destruction of dropped fruit.

Flowering begins 70–80 days after planting, with the first picking at the ripening stage; a healthy plant continues to bear fruit for two to three years. Fruits are lifted gently by hand to avoid injuring the plant or breaking the stem.

Dalle is a sensitive crop once picked — it must be processed within a week of harvest. Left to dry in the sun, it's ground into chilli powder instead.