When black pepper is grown on slopes, the slopes facing south should be avoided. The lower half of northern and north-eastern slopes is preferred for planting so that the vines are not subjected to the scorching effect of the southern sun during summer.
With the receipt of the first rain in May–June, primary stem cuttings of Erythina sp. (Murukku) or Garuga pinnata (kilinjil) or Grevillea robusta (silver oak) are planted in pits of 50 cm × 50 cm × 50 cm size filled with cow dung and top soil, at a spacing of 3 m × 3 m which would accommodate about 1,110 standards per hectare. Seedlings of Alianthus malabarica (Matti) can also be planted and the black pepper vines trailed on it after 3 years when they attain sufficient height.
Whenever E. indica is used as standard, application of phorate 10 G @ 30 g may be done twice a year (May/June and September/October) to control nematodes and stem and root borer.
Pits of 50 cm³ at a distance of 30 cm away from the base, on the northern side of the supporting tree, are taken with the onset of monsoon. The pits are filled with a mixture of top soil, farmyard manure @ five kg/pit and 150 g rock phosphate. Neem cake @ one kg and Trichoderma harzianum @ 50 g may also be mixed. With the onset of monsoon, two–three rooted cuttings of black pepper are planted individually in the pits on the northern side of each standard.
As the cuttings grow, the shoots are tied to the standards as often as required. The young vines should be protected from hot sun during summer by providing artificial shade. Regulation of shade by lopping the branches of standards is necessary not only for providing optimum light to the vines but also for enabling the standards to grow straight. Adequate mulch with green leaf or organic matter should be applied towards the end of the North-East monsoon.
From the fourth year, two diggings are usually given — one during May–June, and the other towards the end of south-west monsoon in October–November. Growing cover crops like Calapogonium mucunoides and Mimosa invisa are also recommended as effective soil cover to prevent soil erosion during rainy season.
Recommended nutrient dosage for black pepper vines (3 years and above) are as follows:
Only one-third of this dosage should be applied during the first year, increased to two-thirds in the second year. The full dose is given from the third year onwards. Fertilizers are best applied in two split doses — one in May–June and the other in August–September. Organic manures in the form of cattle manure or compost can be given @ 10 kg/vine during May. Neem cake @ 1 kg/vine can also be applied. Application of lime @ 500 g/vine in April–May during alternate years is recommended.
In soils deficient in zinc or magnesium, foliar application of 0.25 per cent zinc sulphate twice a year and soil application of 150 grams/vine magnesium sulphate are recommended.