Here are more tips on growing black pepper from the MBRLC:
The seedlings are ready for transplanting when they are about one-year old. In transplanting, it is advisable to retain as much of the soil clinging to the roots as possible. A reminder: Plants raised from seeds grow more slowly and require more care than plants grown from cuttings. Black pepper can also be propagated by means of marcotting. Here are the steps: From the tip of a black pepper branch, look for the node with whitish aerial roots that are less than a centimeter long. Enclose the node in a container. Tie it securely to the support. A tin can, waxed paper cup, or a plastic bag can be used as a container for the marcot.
Black pepper should not be allowed to grow tall. As the vines climb the support poles, the tops should be pulled down as they reach the desired height of two to three meters. Every three months, manure or compost is applied to each hill to maintain plant growth. In addition, pests and diseases attacking the plants must be controlled. Weeding must be employed, too.
The fruits on a bunch do not all mature at the same time. In backyard growing, only the mature ones are harvested and the green immature berries are left to be harvested later on. In commercial plantations however, to facilitate harvesting, the operation should be delayed until almost all fruits on a bunch have matured. Then the whole bunch could be gathered in a simple operation instead of picking the individual fruits one by one as they mature.