by Pepper is a favorite crop of many gardeners. In order for the seedlings to grow strong and the harvest to please, it is necessary to put in a lot of effort. The main conditions for growing pepper are: high-quality seeds, nutritious soil, light, warmth and timely watering.
Depending on the variety, peppers ripen 100-130 days after emergence. Seedlings are planted in open or protected soil when the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up to 15-17°C. By the time of planting, the plants should be 60-80 days old. Late and mid-season pepper varieties can be sown in the second half of February, and early varieties – in early March.
Seed preparation
When choosing pepper seeds, pay attention to the expiration date. If you use your own seed material, its shelf life is on average 4 years.
To improve seed germination, soak the seeds in a solution of liquid complex organomineral fertilizer for 10 hours before sowing. To do this, prepare the solution according to the instructions on the package. Wrap the seeds in a cloth, dip them in the solution for 15-23 minutes, then take them out and place them in the same cloth to swell at a temperature of 25-°C.
You cannot leave seeds soaked in a large amount of liquid for a long time, as they will experience a lack of oxygen, and this will negatively affect germination, and may even lead to rotting.
In addition to liquid complex fertilizer, pepper seeds can be soaked in an infusion of wood ash (1 teaspoon per glass of water) or in a solution of the drug Epin Extra.
To increase the cold resistance and stress resistance of future plants, it is recommended to harden the seed material. To do this, put the swollen seeds in the refrigerator for 10-12 hours. Then take them out and repeat the hardening after 12 hours. When exposed to variable temperatures, biochemical processes in the seeds accelerate, the shell is destroyed faster, the flow of water and oxygen increases, and enzymes are activated. Therefore, you cannot keep germinating seeds in a plastic bag, blocking the air supply.
If the pepper seeds are covered with a nutrient shell, there is no need to soak them: you can start sowing immediately.
Selecting a container for sowing
To grow peppers, you should select containers that will allow you to transplant the plants without damaging the root system. After all, pepper roots are delicate and sensitive. Peat-humus tablets and peat pots are perfect for this. They have an important advantage: they provide the root system with access to oxygen.
Peat-humus tablets are easy to use and significantly simplify sowing. They consist of pressed peat, humus and are packed in a thin non-woven material that holds the substrate, but does not prevent swelling from water. The tablets also contain important macro- and microelements, growth stimulants, antibacterial components. Therefore, seedlings at the initial stage are provided with all the nutrients necessary for full development.
Sowing in peat-humus tablets
Before use, place the peat-humus tablets in any shallow container or special greenhouse with cells. Place the tablets with the indentation facing up and fill with warm water, after which they will swell and their height will increase by 6-7 times.
Before spreading the seeds, the depression in the tablet can be enlarged. This is especially important for sprouted seeds.
After sowing, sprinkle the pepper seeds with a small amount of soil, cover with a lid so that the tablets do not dry out, and put the container in a warm place. The optimal temperature for sprouting pepper seeds is 23-25°C. After the shoots appear, remove the lid and move the container to a well-lit place. In this case, the air temperature can be lowered to 20-22°C.
Sowing seeds in peat pots
When sowing peppers in peat pots, you should carefully consider the choice of soil. It should be nutritious, light, moisture-absorbing and have normalized acidity. You can use special soil for growing nightshade seedlings, which promotes stable growth of strong and healthy seedlings.
Place the peat pots in a plastic container, fill them with soil and water with settled water at room temperature. When the water is absorbed, spread the seeds and sprinkle with prepared soil (layer thickness – 1 cm).
Cover the container with the pots loosely with a lid and place in a warm place for germination.
Watering and fertilizing peppers
If the air in your room is dry, carefully monitor the soil moisture in the containers with crops. Peat humus tablets and peat pots dry out quickly.
The first pepper feeding should be done after the appearance of a real leaf. You can use a liquid complex organomineral fertilizer. The liquid form prevents burning of fragile roots, and the organic component actively stimulates the growth and development of the plant.
Prepare a fertilizer solution as indicated on the package. Water the seedlings carefully, avoiding excessive soil moisture. Repeat fertilizing every 7-10 days, combining it with watering.
Transplanting pepper seedlings
If it is still a long way to the moment of planting in the ground, and the seedlings have already grown, you should transplant them into larger containers. This is especially important for plants in peat-humus tablets. Before planting, water the seedlings, carefully remove or tear the mesh material from the substrate and transfer the plant to a prepared pot, half filled with moistened soil. Add soil on top and water a little, and after 10-14 days feed with complex fertilizer. Such a transplant will promote the development of the root system.
If you approach pepper cultivation responsibly and follow simple agricultural rules, you can get strong, healthy seedlings and subsequently harvest a good crop.
