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Let’s grow peppers on the windowsill
When starting this exciting business, you need to keep in mind that you shouldn’t count on a significant harvest. The whole point here is in the process, observation, care. With proper organization, as a result you will get a beautiful plant, and a bonus will be bright, tasty and aromatic fruits – sweet or spicy depending on the variety you choose. The second important note is that if you focus on the harvest, it is more interesting to grow hot peppers, because, firstly, you don’t need a lot of it, and secondly, the plants turn out very decorative.
Selecting Pepper Varieties
To grow peppers on a windowsill, you need to choose early-ripening self-pollinating varieties and hybrids for universal use. Considering that you probably won’t be able to give the plant a lot of space, it’s advisable to choose dwarf or compact varieties: when they grow to their maximum size, a 4-5-liter pot will be enough for them.
On the packages of such seeds you will see inscriptions like “indoor”, “balcony”, “dwarf”, etc. You cannot grow hot and sweet peppers in the same room, since the probability of cross-pollination still exists, and as a result, all the fruits will be hot.
Choosing a pepper variety for growing on a windowsill is a responsible matter
Preparation of seeds for sowing
To get good seedlings, speed up germination, and also make sure that the seeds are alive, it is better to germinate them. To do this, put a napkin in a container, lay out the seeds, cover them with another napkin on top and moisten. There should be enough water so that the seeds are always wet, but they should not float (the excess should be drained). It is convenient to use a hand sprayer.
The seeds need to be germinated
Cover the container with seeds with a lid or place it in a bag. The optimal germination temperature is +24…+28°C. To ensure this, gardeners often raise the seeds higher: on a cabinet in the kitchen or bathroom. You can also place the container on a radiator, having previously placed a board, a stack of newspapers or a couple of thick magazines underneath to avoid overheating.
Check the seeds every 1-2 days: they should not dry out. After 10-12 days, you will be able to notice the appearance of small white roots. This means that it is time to plant the sprouted seeds in the ground.
Sowing pepper seeds
During the growth process, indoor pepper will need 2 transplants. The very first containers for sowing seeds can be common, of small depth (7-10 cm), but it is better to immediately provide each plant with a separate small cup or cell in the seedling cassette. Pepper reacts negatively to picking – transshipment is preferable for it.
The sprouted seeds need to be planted
We take the most common soil for sowing sprouted seeds – for seedlings. In stores it is called that. We fill the planting containers with the soil mixture and water it thoroughly 2-3 days before sowing.
In the soil, we make holes 1,5 cm deep with a pencil or finger and lower the seed into them. We fill it up, rolling the edges of the hole (or with the same substrate). In order for the soil to fit tightly to the seed, you need to carefully drip 1-2 drops of water onto the projection of the sowing site.
Cover the cups with a transparent lid or place them in a greenhouse or plastic bag. The optimum temperature for sprouts to appear is +20…+26°C. After you see the first green loops, the cover should be removed.
We place the crops in a greenhouse
Keeping pepper seedlings on a windowsill
We start to work on our home garden in late autumn or winter, at this time the daylight hours are short, there are few sunny days. So additional lighting is an absolutely necessary condition for growing from the moment the shoots appear. This requires full-spectrum phytolamps. A good mode for peppers on the windowsill is “8/16”, that is, 8 hours of rest and 16 hours of daylight.
Supplementary lighting is an absolutely necessary condition for growing peppers on a windowsill
Pepper seedlings at the earliest stage of development require short-term hardening, which prevents the hypocotyl part of the stem from stretching. To do this, immediately after the emergence of seedlings, turn on the lighting in the recommended mode, and sharply reduce the air temperature to +13 … +16 ° C. The plants should be kept in such conditions for 7-10 days. They should be watered rarely during this period, so as not to over-moisten. After hardening, the temperature should be raised to +18 … +24 ° C.
First transplant of seedlings
When the pepper seedling gets its first 3-4 leaves, it’s time to replant. Take 0,8-1 liter containers (they should have drainage holes and trays to drain excess moisture) and prepare a special nutrient soil.
The Organic Mix company has put together a ready-made kit for a home garden on the windowsill especially for keen gardeners. It includes the most important tools that will help grow beautiful and fruitful plants that are pleasing to the eye.
Window Garden Home Kit
Preparing soil for pepper seedlings
The plant will spend quite a lot of time in its new home, so the soil mixture must be prepared taking into account all the needs. To prepare the basic nutrient soil, we will need the following components:
- high-moor neutralized peat – 70% of the total volume,
- “Viohumus” from “Organic Mix” – 20%,
- agroperlite – 10%,
- “Seaweed flour” from “Organic Mix” at the rate of 10 g per 1 liter of soil mixture.
Components of a basic nutrient soil
Biohumus is a product of earthworms, a natural growth stimulator. “Biohumus” from “Organic Mix” is a concentrate of natural selected raw materials of high purity. “Seaweed flour” creates a unique microflora that improves the absorption capacity of the plant’s root system for faster growth.
“Seaweed flour” creates a unique microflora
We add “Fertilizer for Vegetables” from the Belgian series to this basic nutrient soil mixture. This is an organic complex fertilizer containing the essential NPK complex in a ratio of 6:3:12. It will give the young plant everything it needs for harmonious development. Add 1 g of fertilizer to 5 liter of the basic soil mixture when mixing the soil.
We add “Fertilizer for vegetables” from the Belgian series to the basic nutrient soil mixture.
Pepper transshipment
We pour the prepared soil mixture into the pot in such a way as to prepare a hole according to the size of the container in which the pepper seedling is located. We pour a little “Biokorny” on the bottom of the hole. This is an organic rooting agent that activates and accelerates root growth. It helps to create a strong and deep root system in a very short time.
Carefully, without disturbing the soil lump, remove the seedling from the baby cup and dust the root ball of the plant with “Biokorne”. Place it in the prepared hole and lightly press it with soil. The pepper planting level should be the same as it was in the previous container, or slightly lower. There is no point in planting this crop too deeply.
For the first transplant, a pot with a capacity of 0,8-1 l is suitable. Pour a little “Bioroot” powder into the bottom of the planting hole.
Watering
Now the plant needs to be watered. To do this with maximum benefit, we use not just water, but a solution of “Biotonus”. This is an organic immunostimulant, it contains amino acids and oligosaccharides that strengthen the immune system and protective functions of the plant. Its unique formula is absolutely safe for use on seedlings, as well as for regular maintenance of plant tone.
To prepare the solution, pour the preparation into an empty container and add water at a rate of 3 g of “Biotonus” per 1 liter of water. Then leave the solution for 1 hour, stir and water the newly planted plants. Pepper seedlings should be watered with this elixir every 5-7 days, and then no adversity will be scary for them.
Five days after transplanting the seedlings, when they have become accustomed to their new position, it is time to give the first push. The organic growth stimulator “Aminorost” comes into play. This is an amino acid vitamin complex that stimulates protein synthesis and increases the absorption of nutrients through leaves and roots.
On the 5th day after transshipment, we introduce the organic biostimulant “Aminorost” into the pepper care regimen.
To prepare the solution, mix the powder with water at a rate of 2 g of “Aminorost” (1 measuring cap) per 1 liter of water, stir. Spray the plants with this solution until the leaves are completely wet, and pour the rest under the root. Repeat stimulating spraying every 10-15 days.
Keeping pepper seedlings on the windowsill
The optimum temperature is +20…+25°С. At lower or higher temperatures, peppers may slow down or even stop growing. As mentioned above, this crop requires good lighting, so supplementary lighting is essential. It is very convenient to use a timer that will turn the “sun” on and off in time without your participation.
Peppers are heat-loving, so you shouldn’t move them close to cold window glass. They don’t respond well to harsh airing, especially in January-February. If the window sills are cold, you should put something insulating under the pots, such as a layer of foam plastic, a couple of layers of bubble wrap, old magazines or newspapers.
Plants need to be watered as needed. This can be determined as follows: if the soil at a depth of 1-1,5 cm is wet (it stains a finger), it is too early to water. Excess moisture will do more harm than good, as it will provoke the development of diseases. It is better to use melt or rain water, you can take it from the tap, but let it settle for 2-3 days. Boiled water is not suitable for watering.
Continue to strengthen the immunity of plants by giving them a solution of “Biotonus” every 5-7 days, and spray them with a solution of “Aminorost” every 10-15 days to accelerate development and budding.
Spray the peppers with an AminoRos solution every 10-15 days to speed up development and budding.
Second transplant
With such intensive care, pepper on the windowsill will grow and develop perfectly. When the plants have mastered all the soil space with their roots, you need to carry out a second transplant – this time to a permanent place. A certain guideline for this event can be the appearance of roots in the drainage holes of the pot, as well as the formation of buds.
Peppers need to be transplanted into a permanent container before flowering begins.
The process of the second transshipment follows the same rules as the first time, only the plants in your hands are already larger and stronger. We prepare the same nutritious soil mixture, only its volume will need to be increased taking into account the new container: each plant needs to be provided with a pot with a volume of 3 to 5 liters, depending on the size in adulthood, depending on the variety.
At the bottom of the pot with drainage holes, pour a small layer of drainage (for example, fine-grained expanded clay) and fill it with soil mixture. Make a hole to the size of the current seedling container. To do this, you can put a smaller pot in a larger one, fill the space around it with soil, and then take it out. A hole of a suitable size will remain. Pour a little “Bioroot” on its bottom, as if salting the earth.
Carefully remove the plant from the pot and dust the root ball on all sides with “Biokorne”, place it in the prepared place and carefully press it with soil. Add more soil if necessary. The next watering with “Biotonus” solution should be planned for the day of transshipment of peppers to reduce stress from inevitable damage.
We take the plant out of the pot and dust the root ball on all sides with “Biokornem”
5 days after transplanting the peppers into a permanent pot, we carry out mandatory stimulation using the “Aminorost” solution. It will promote abundant bud formation and increase pollen fertility in the flowers.
35-40 days after the second transshipment, it is necessary to carry out additional feeding. To do this, scatter “Fertilizer for vegetables” from the Belgian series over the surface of the soil in pots at the rate of 3 g per 1 l of soil mixture.
Sprinkle organic fertilizers over the surface of the soil in the pots, loosen and water the plant.
Formation and care of peppers
Caring for peppers on a windowsill primarily involves paying attention to them. Inspect your plants, notice changes, rejoice in your successes and share them with your friends. Do not stop providing additional lighting, raising the phytolamp above the growing green pets in time. Continue watering with a solution of “Biotonus” once a week and spraying with a solution of “Aminorost” once every 1-1 days, and you will see how beautiful your peppers will become.
Potted peppers are very decorative.
No special pollination is required, but if you want to maximize the number of fruits, you can use a soft brush to artificially transfer pollen from flower to flower.
There is no need to form sharp and decorative varieties. As a rule, they are distinguished by good formation of ovaries and excellent ripening of fruits. During the coloring period, they look very elegant. Seeing such a plant in the house in the middle of winter is a real pleasure.
You can pollinate pepper flowers on your windowsill yourself
Sweet pepper varieties and hybrids need shaping. Pinching is used to regulate the number of ovaries so that all the remaining ones can turn into fruits corresponding to the variety. Pinching is carried out according to the following scheme. As the main shoots grow, nodes with leaves, flowers and second-order shoots are formed on them. In the node, we leave 1 leaf, 1 flower and 1 additional shoot (it will be thinner than the main one). As soon as the next node is formed on it, we leave 2-3 leaves and 1 ovary in it. We remove everything else.
Cold and cloudy weather outside is not a reason to give up your favorite activity. Try growing peppers on the windowsill – you will definitely lift your spirits. And a set for a home garden on the window will make the whole process exciting and turn it into real pleasure.