Sweet pepper is a thermophilic culture. Growing a full-fledged pepper by sowing seeds immediately in open ground is problematic even in the southern regions. The plant has a long growing season, so seedlings must be grown to harvest a good harvest.
We cannot control the weather outside the window, but everyone can create optimal conditions for growing seedlings. After transplantation, peppers successfully take root in open ground, fruiting begins a month earlier - you are guaranteed to have time to harvest.
How to choose a variety of sweet pepper
When choosing a variety, consider a number of parameters:
- The length of summer in your area. Choose early and medium varieties if the summer is short. If warm weather is guaranteed for 2-2.5 months, varieties with an average ripening period will do. In the southern regions, it is possible to grow late-ripening varieties.
- The shape of the fruit is also important. Cylindrical and cone-shaped peppers with thick walls are good for salads, cubic peppers are best for stuffing, small peppers are best for pickling.
- Fruit Color: The darker, the sweeter the taste.
- Bush height. Low-growing and medium-sized plants are planted on beds under film shelter, tall ones are usually grown in greenhouses.
Terms of planting sweet pepper for seedlings
To obtain good planting material, timely is necessary. If sown too early, young peppers will overgrow in pots, then the lower fruits will begin to set. This takes strength from the plant, they may not take root in the open field, normal fruiting will be delayed.
How to calculate the time of planting sweet pepper seedlings:
- Varieties of early ripening should be sown 60 days before the intended transplantation into open ground,
- later - for 70-75 days.
- The best time for sowing sweet pepper for seedlings is the end of February-beginning of March, if you plan to plant immediately in open ground.
Take into account the subsequent place of growth. In a heated greenhouse, young seedlings are planted by the end of April, in greenhouses and film greenhouses - throughout May, and planting in open ground should be carried out in the first decade of June.
Also note that without a pick, the peppers will be ready for planting two weeks earlier.
It can be carried out in early February, but sweet pepper seedlings will need additional lighting. Use LED or phytolamps. Daylight hours should be 12 hours.
Preparing sweet pepper seeds for seedlings
To soak or not to soak, to process or not to process sweet pepper seeds before planting, everyone decides for himself. But experienced vegetable growers recommend showing a little patience in order to speed up germination and choose the highest quality seed. Alas, to increase the shelf life, sweet pepper seeds are often dried out - but this must be indicated on the packaging.
To get friendly shoots, it is necessary to carry out the selection and processing of seeds.
How to select the best seeds
Prepare a brine solution (30 g of table salt per 1 liter of water), immerse the seeds in it and stir well. See what happens in 5-10 minutes. Weak seeds will float to the surface, and high-quality, healthy ones will sink to the bottom. The latter should be washed well with water, laid out on paper and allowed to dry.
Disinfection from pathogens
The next step is disinfection. You will need a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1 g of powder per 1 liter of water), in which you should hold the seeds for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse and dry slightly.
Strengthening germination
You can use folk remedies: take 2 g of wood ash for 1 liter of water. Infuse the solution for a day, then keep a bag of seeds in it for about 3 hours.
Soaking can be replaced by bubbling - seed treatment in oxygenated water. To do this, you will need an aquarium compressor. You need to take a large glass container, fill it 2/3 with water (temperature about 20 ° C). Lower the compressor so that its tip is at the bottom and turn on the appliance. When bubbles appear, lower the bag of seeds there and let it stand for a day.
seed hardening
Seedlings should have good immunity. Resistance to changeable weather conditions, diseases will help increase the hardening of seeds. Hold the seeds in warm water until they swell, then move them to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and stand for a day, then start sowing.
Soil preparation for sowing sweet pepper
The soil needs to be nutritious.
The following options will work:
- The most reliable option is a special mixture for growing pepper seedlings. Such soil has already been treated against diseases and pests.
- You can prepare the soil mixture yourself. Take 4 parts of peat, 2 parts of sod land, 1 part of humus and rotted sawdust, 0.5 parts of river sand and add 2-3 tbsp. spoons of wood ash.
- Coconut substrate - can be easily found in flower shops.
- Soil with hydrogel. Hydrogel balls are great for retaining moisture in the soil. Lay them already swollen.
- Peat tablets are a very convenient option. For subsequent transplants, simply transfer the seedling with it to a container of a larger diameter.
It is recommended to add a little soil to the soil from the area where pepper will grow in the future. This contributes to the successful adaptation of seedlings after transplanting into open ground. Before entering into the soil mixture, this earth must be shed with a solution of potassium permanganate or calcined in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
What container is best to plant
As a container, it is best to use individual cups with a volume of about 100 ml. It is desirable that they are not transparent - exposure to sunlight negatively affects the development of the root system. You can make homemade cups, as shown in the video above.
Growing sweet pepper seedlings at home
How to sow sweet pepper for seedlings?
- The main condition is to plant immediately in separate cups so as not to disturb the fragile root system with a pick. Peppers after picking are very sick and stunted, fruiting is delayed.
- Planting depth 0.5-1 cm.
Preparing containers and soil for seedlings
Lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the tank (pieces of polystyrene foam, broken bricks, expanded clay).
Fill the cups with soil ¾, compact a little, pour. Make a groove about 1 cm deep, place 1 seed in each cup. Lightly cover with soil.
Lighting and heat
For healthy growth, it is necessary to provide an optimal microclimate: cover the crops with glass or film. To protect the seedlings from drafts as much as possible, place the containers in a box, install a dense wire along its edges, stretch the plastic film on top so that it completely covers the ground with crops.
The cold will destroy the plants, direct sunlight is vital for them. Southern window sills, bathed in sunlight, are an ideal place for growing bell pepper seedlings. When the days are warm, you can take out the seedlings to the insulated balcony, loggia. Be sure to place a heater under the cups with seedlings.
How many days does sweet pepper germinate for seedlings? We maintain the correct temperature
Compliance with the correct temperature regime is an important condition for growing seedlings:
- Until the first shoots appear, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature within 25-27 ° C.
- Sprouts will appear in 7-14 days (depending on the variety). During this time, ventilate the greenhouse every 2 days and spray the soil with a fine sprayer.
- The cover can then be removed. Maintain daytime air temperature at 23-25 °C, nighttime - 16-18 °C.
- The air temperature should not fall below 12 ° C, otherwise the plants will lose their leaves and may die.
From the lack of lighting, seedlings begin to reach out to look for a source of light. Older specimens stop growth, the root system may begin to rot. The optimal length of daylight hours for pepper is 9-10 hours. Light up during the daytime (from 8.00 to 20.00).
How to water
Abundant, but not often. The soil should be slightly moist, do not allow stagnant water. Watering is best done in the morning. Use softened water (thawed water, rainwater, or tap water that has been standing for a day), warm it up to room temperature.
The roots need to receive oxygen - after each watering, loosen the soil with a carnation or a match, only slightly breaking the crust on the surface. Do this very carefully, since damage to the root system leads to inhibition of growth, fruiting may not occur.
How to prepare sweet pepper seedlings for planting in the ground
Seedlings that have grown strong need to be hardened off. 10-12 days before transplanting into open ground, take it out for some time to fresh air or leave a window open in the room.
It is useful to spray seedlings with herbal infusion (use onions, garlic, pine needles, marigolds, calendula flowers for infusion).
Thus, the seedlings will become more resistant to diseases and pests.
Immediately after spraying, seedlings should not be taken out under the sun, let the leaves dry. Droplets of water on the leaves can cause sunburn.
top dressing
Sweet peppers need to be fed. Do this twice: apply the first top dressing at the stage of appearance of 3-4 true leaves, the second - with the appearance of 5-6 leaves.
Organics can be applied under the root: a solution of mullein (1 part of humus to 10 parts of water) or an infusion of chicken manure (1 part of dry manure to 20 parts of water). For foliar top dressing, use complex mineral fertilizers.
How to sow sweet pepper seedlings video
Disease protection
A slowdown in growth is a phenomenon that is possible for 2 reasons:
- The roots are damaged after picking. If you are a beginner gardener, it is better to refuse this procedure.
- Lack of fertilizer. In addition to stopping growth, in this case, pallor of the leaves is observed. It is important to feed the seedlings so as not to destroy them.
The plant loves moisture, but do not overdo it with watering. Excessive watering leads to black leg infection: the root neck becomes soft, darkens, the sprout withers and falls. The causative agent of the disease can be initially infected soil.
To prevent this from happening, you need to ensure proper care:
- When watering, water should not fall on the stems. While they are very tiny, apply water through a pipette or syringe into the aisles.
- Do not keep under cover for long. Ventilate the greenhouse regularly until seedlings emerge. Make sure that there is no dampness near the stems.
- Provide warmth: spores of a harmful fungus become active in cold, damp soil.
- There should be no sudden changes in temperature, so as not to weaken the immunity of seedlings.
External characteristics of good seedlings of sweet pepper
Young peppers are ready for transplantation to a permanent place of growth in 60-80 days. Their height should be 17-20 cm. The thickness of a strong stem at the root should be 3-4 mm. A healthy plant should have 7-10 well-developed leaves, buds may be present.
Transplant in open ground with the establishment of real heat (late May-early June).
Stick to a 40x50 cm planting pattern, you can plant seedlings two plants in one hole if you want to use a piece of land more economically.
When and how to plant sweet pepper seedlings in the ground, we look at the planting patterns in the video:
Bulgarian pepper is a culture grown through seedlings. Every year there are more and more varieties and hybrids of sweet and hot peppers that give high yields in the open field, subject to all the recommendations for caring for these plants. Growing pepper seedlings has its own characteristics, which we will consider.
On the eve of spring, gardeners begin to actively prepare for the summer season - the acquisition, preparation and processing of seeds, soil preparation and planting containers. All this is necessary in order to grow healthy pepper seedlings at home.
Selection of pepper seeds for seedlings
If you decide to grow pepper seedlings, then go to a specialized store for seeds. When buying, pay attention to the manufacturer with positive reviews about the seed.
Pepper Seed Selection Criteria:
choose seeds according to the climatic features of your zone;
choose varieties for growing seedlings, you should not sow seeds in open ground, the pepper will not have time to grow and produce a crop. If it is not possible to grow seedlings on your own, it is better to buy ready-made ones on the market;
select disease and weather resistant varieties and hybrids;
look at the expiration date on the package, fresh seeds will provide the best seedlings. The shelf life of pepper seeds is 3-4 years.
The growing season for pepper is from 2 to 5 months, so growing it from seeds in the open field, you may not have time to harvest. Seedlings will come to your rescue, will give you the opportunity to grow tasty and healthy peppers.
Peppers can be divided into several categories according to the ripening time:
early varieties (super early and medium early);
average term of maturing;
late varieties
When you decide when to plant pepper seeds, use the recommendations on the package. The average sowing dates are indicated there, you must determine the planting date yourself, based on the conditions of your region. This can be done as far back as 2 months (the average age of seedlings that can be planted) after the last frost in your area.
Don't forget to add time to prepare and germinate the seeds. This method is applicable for planting seedlings in open ground. For a greenhouse, the sowing time is shifted by another 2 weeks towards winter.
By experimenting with planting seeds, you can get a crop of early ripe peppers as early as August.
Pepper is thermophilic - the main condition for obtaining a good harvest. The need for heat is necessary at all stages of development.
At a temperature of 26-28 degrees in the zone of seedling growth and proper processing of the sown seeds, the pepper will germinate in 7-10 days.
At 20 degrees, it will appear in 2 weeks, if the temperature is not higher than 18 degrees, then it will drag on for 3 weeks.
At temperatures below 14 degrees, the seeds stop development.
After the formation of 2 leaves, the temperature is increased to 22 degrees and maintained until the seedlings are picked.
After diving, the temperature should be 25 degrees.
The exact timing of sowing is difficult to predict, because the weather is so unpredictable. You must rely on your own experience and take into account the region in which the pepper will grow.
Sowing pepper seeds in February is relevant for growing mid-season and late varieties. Do not worry that the seedlings will not only have flowers, but also fruit ovaries, if transplanted carefully, you will not harm the root system.
Sowing pepper seeds for seedlings in March is more common. So the seedlings do not have time to outgrow much and stretch out, which causes less trouble for the gardener.
If you do not have the opportunity to plant seedlings in the ground, slow down their growth by moving them to a cool place.
Sowing pepper seeds according to the lunar calendar
By the way: garden crops with fruits in the ground part of the plant are best planted with the growing moon.
In the new moon and full moon, refrain from work related to plants.
Favorable signs of the zodiac for pepper - Aries, Leo, Taurus.
Consider pepper demanding and capricious plant. For good growth, fertile, loose soil is needed: to obtain such a composition, mix equal amounts of humus, sand (2 matchboxes of fertilizers or half a liter of ash serve as a substitute for sand), peat and soddy soil.
Mix everything well and distribute it in boxes in which to disinfect the soil. Containers should have drainage holes to prevent stagnant water. After a day, start sowing seeds.
Spread the pre-treated seeds on the soil surface with an interval of 1 cm between seeds and 2-3 cm between rows. When sowing in separate pots, plant 2 seeds in each, pinch off a weak sprout after germination.
Seeds can be deepened with a match with a small sowing area or moistened with a sprinkler, sprinkled on top with soil, 1 cm thick, which is then slightly compacted. The boxes are covered with glass or film to preserve moisture and heat, put in the warmest place.
Crops need to be aired every day, so you do not allow the development of mold.
Good luck with your crops and high yields!
Cucumbers, potatoes and eggplants, sweet and hot peppers are also in the spotlight. After all, this culture is very healthy and tasty, and also goes to many dishes: in salads, in preservation, and also as a separate and hearty dish for dinner.
And since it is already the second decade of February, you need to remember or learn something new about when and how to plant pepper for seedlings this year.
In fact, in order to grow good seedlings, it is necessary to fulfill the conditions that are characteristic of all vegetable crops: choosing a planting day, preparing seeds, soil, caring for seedlings, and finally planting in the ground.
Therefore, we will dwell in more detail on each subparagraph, namely on the culture of pepper.
For the successful cultivation of seedlings, let me remind you a couple of golden rules:
- it is best if you have your own pepper seeds, and not store-bought ones, as they “remember” the care and characteristics of the soil;
- those sprouts that sprout later than all are best removed immediately, since they will not give a good harvest;
- pepper does not like transplanting, so it should be sown immediately in peat pots or special cups;
- since the plant develops very slowly, it must be sown as early as possible;
- do not be afraid of hybrid varieties, they are resistant to diseases;
- also do not forget to prepare the soil for seedlings.
Planting pepper seedlings according to the lunar calendar in 2019
And as usual, we will first analyze the favorable dates for planting peppers. This vegetable loves light very much, but nevertheless, experienced gardeners advise darkening it so that the plant will bear fruit sooner. Peppers also like sufficient watering and warmth. Therefore, do not forget in which climate zone you live in order to accurately choose the day of sowing.
In fact, pepper has a very long growing season, so it is planted very early for seedlings.
- So, early varieties begin to bear fruit 110-120 days after germination, medium varieties 125-135 days after seed germination, while late varieties begin to bear fruit only 140 days after germination. But in hot pepper, the growing season is slightly shorter: early varieties - after 105-110 days, medium - after 115-125 days, late varieties - after 130 days.
Therefore, the first half of February is considered the optimal time for planting pepper for seedlings in the middle lane. This vegetative data will help you to calculate the date of sowing seeds by countdown.
Remember, seedlings at the initial stage should be provided with good lighting.
Of course, many farmers adhere to the advice and the dates that the 2019 lunar calendar indicates to them. Let's take a look at what the sowing calendar has prepared for us with regards to the culture of pepper.
If we consider the month of January, then these are the dates that are considered favorable: 10, 11, 18, 31. But remember that the month of January is still not very favorable for growing seedlings of peppers.
According to the lunar calendar, February is considered the most suitable month for sowing seeds. After all, this month the daylight hours are already quite long and there are much more sunny days in it than in January. And secondly, seedlings planted in February will be ready for planting in the ground in early June.
So, in early February, it is more expedient to plant late varieties, and by the end of the month, early ones.
Advice!! Slow-witted pepper)) Since its seeds can germinate from 10 days or more, therefore, take this time into account !!
- Favorable days for planting pepper according to the lunar calendar in February: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 24.
As for the month of March, it is favorable for growing any seedlings. During this period, you can plant hot and early varieties of peppers for seedlings.
- The most favorable days in March: 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 26 March.
- The most favorable days in April: 2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 16, 25.
And don't forget about bad days:
Preparing seeds for seedlings
Any seeds that are needed for seedlings require preparatory preparation.
Consider with you the main stages of preparing pepper seeds:
Stage 1. Selection of seeds for sowing
First of all, the seeds must be sorted out, for this, pour them out onto paper and select the largest and smallest by eye. You will need medium sized seeds.
Now let's define the hollowness of the seeds. Take a container with an aqueous solution of salt, 30 grams of salt per 1 liter of water and dip the seeds there. After 5-7 minutes, remove those that have sunk to the bottom, rinse them and dry them. And those seeds that have surfaced feel free to throw away, as they will not germinate.
Stage 2. Etching
Immediately before sowing, it is necessary to disinfect the seeds.
A good way is to soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 10-15 minutes, and then they are washed and dried. Now diseases of future seedlings are not terrible.
For etching, you can use modern antifungal drugs. For example, such as Vitaros, Maxim, Fitosporin-M. Everything is simple here, you need to follow the instructions.
Stage 3. Saturation with microelements
This is an important and at the same time optional step. Gardeners and gardeners usually buy special mineral mixtures, but someone uses proven folk recipes.
The most popular and common method is soaking in a solution of wood ash, which contains about 30 trace elements necessary for plants.
To prepare a solution, you need to dilute 20 grams of ash in 1 liter of water and stand for a day. After the pepper seeds are placed in a cloth bag and lowered into the solution for 5 hours. Then take them out and lay them out to dry on paper. This procedure is carried out on the day before sowing.
Stage 4. Soaking before sowing
For the next step, you need to spread the pepper seeds in one layer on a wet cloth, cotton wool, washcloth or paper towel and cover them from above. Next, you need to make sure that the seeds are constantly wet, and the temperature in the room does not fall below 25 degrees.
In about a week or two, sprouts should appear.
You can plant both swollen seeds and those that have sprouted.
Stage 5. Hardening
And the final stage is the placement of swollen seeds before sowing for seedlings for a day in a cool room with an air temperature of -1 ° C.
You can also use a complicated type of hardening - clean for 10 days in a warm place, and at night - in a cold place (-2ºС).
This procedure helps the seeds to more easily transfer the movement to the ground. After hardening, it is necessary to immediately sow the seeds, but not forgetting to dry them before that.
Of course, you may not include all the stages of preparing pepper seeds for seedlings, but be guided by your experience and skills. But if you are a beginner, then it is better to carry out all the stages, then you will be confident in your result.
How to plant pepper seedlings at home
So, after preparing the seeds, you need to prepare the soil. What are we going to do now.
Pepper can be sown in "purchased" soil, and in peat tablets or in self-prepared soil.
Experienced farmers advise that at least 50% of the land from their garden should be in the soil for seedlings.
And so, what are the basic requirements for seedling soil:
- neutral or slightly acidic environment;
- sufficient organic content for “friability” and moisture retention;
- adequate nutrient content.
To prepare such a soil, you need:
- two parts of garden land;
- one part of peat or special soil for seedlings;
- one part of humus, compost or top layer (10 cm) of meadow soil.
And in order to increase nutritional value and adjust acidity, they add 10 liters of soil to the ground:
- stove ash (who has it) - a handful;
- lime (who does not have ash) - a handful;
- double superphosphate - 2 matchboxes.
Well, here we come directly to the very planting of prepared seeds for seedlings at home.
There are several ways to sow:
- Classic - pepper is sown in a "common" container and subsequently dived into a larger container or separate pots.
- In ready-made cassettes, 1-2 seeds are sown without picking.
- In peat tablets - 1 seed is sown without picking.
- In twists - in rolls of toilet paper, followed by planting young sprouts in large containers or separate pots.
Since pepper does not tolerate picking, it is better to grow seedlings without picking, that is, plant bell peppers immediately in separate containers.
I suggest that you consider all methods.
Use of peat tablets
So, you will need tablets with a diameter of 3-4 cm. They must be placed on the bottom of a large container and filled with water. After the tablets stop absorbing water, the excess is poured out.
Such a greenhouse must be ventilated for at least 1 hour a day. Watering should be carried out in a grassroots way as the peat dries. As soon as sprouts appear, the cylinders must be moved to separate containers with prepared soil.
Thanks to the mesh that envelops the peat cylinder, the clod of earth does not fall apart and the root system of the pepper is not injured. And further care consists in timely watering and lighting.
If you do not want to transfer seedlings to pots, then you should buy tablets with a diameter of 7 cm. In such cylinders, pepper will not need additional soil.
Using cassettes
To grow seedlings in cassettes, you need the cassettes themselves or separate pots with a volume of 250-500 ml. Sprouted seeds must be sown one at a time, and dry two in one container (in this case, the weak plant is removed in the future). Seeds need to be buried in the soil by 1 cm and watered.
Then put the cassettes under the lamp or on the south, west window. The temperature must be at least 25 ºC. As the seedlings grow in a pot, you can pour the earth. Watering is also carried out in a grassroots way, that is, in a pan. And pots with seedlings are usually watered in the classical way.
Classic way
For such sowing, you need to take a large container with earth and densely sow the seeds to a depth of 0.5 cm. Then pour the earth and tighten the top with a film, and put the container in a warm place. When sprouts appear, the seedlings need to be transferred for a day to a warm window.
After the appearance of the first true leaf, the seedlings will need to dive. The pick box itself (if there are no separate containers, which is preferable) should be at least 12-15 cm deep. Seedlings should be watered a few hours before transplanting. Plant seedlings at a distance of 10-15 cm, preferably in a checkerboard pattern.
We sow sweet peppers in a cigarette roll (in a snail)
It has become very popular to plant any seeds in Moscow style, that is, in a cigarette roll or a snail. I even singled out this method in a separate subparagraph.
Let's look at the features of a self-rolling cigarette. So, seeds for sprouting are sown between ribbons of toilet paper, which is very compact.
Well, the technology itself is as follows:
- Put a cellophane tape on the table (it is convenient to use a food bag cut lengthwise).
- And lay toilet paper on top and sprinkle it with water from a hand sprayer (be careful, the edges of the paper and cellophane should match).
- On a ribbon of toilet paper (it is better to take a cheap one), spread the seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other and from the top edge of the paper at the same distance.
- Then cover the seeds with a layer of paper, moisten well.
- Then roll up into a weak roll without much effort.
- Put the finished twist in a container, on the bottom of which pour a little water.
- Remove the structure in a warm place.
When sprouts appear, transfer the cigarette to a lighted place. Well, plant in the ground itself when two developed cotyledon leaves appear. The roll must be carefully unrolled and cut with scissors into separate pieces with sprouts, and the seedlings should be planted in a permanent container, where they will grow until planting in the garden.
We plant seedlings of pepper in a greenhouse or in open ground
When our seedlings grow up and the “X” day comes, it will need to be transplanted directly to the place where the plant will continue to grow and develop, and then bear fruit. But do not rush with the planting date, as any pepper is very thermophilic. Therefore, the air temperature should already be at least 10 degrees Celsius.
So if you're going planting peppers in a greenhouse, then first of all it is necessary to prepare the ground for future beds. To do this, the land needs to be plowed up or loosened on the day the seedlings are planted. Then water the soil generously. And if the soil is acidic, then dolomitic acid should be added, as well as mineral fertilizers, compost and other nutrients.
Check that the greenhouse is intact, without damage!!
Now form the beds themselves, making them 80 cm wide, and the row spacing - 30-40 cm. After that, apply complex fertilizer and gently mix the soil with scattered fertilizers with a rake.
Dig holes on a shovel bayonet while the soil is damp, and in each hole add a good handful of rotted manure or compost, mix fertilizer and soil (this is done if you have not fertilized the soil before).
Pepper is a light-loving plant, so dense plantings are not recommended.
Next, pour each well with water with potassium permanganate. It's time to start planting, while seedlings do not bury when planting. Transplantation is best done early in the morning or late in the evening. In order for the roots of the plant not to be damaged, you should first moisten the soil of the seedlings abundantly.
After planting, pour the seedlings under each bush. After 1.5 weeks, you can feed the plants. And so you should make sure that the culture does not break, for this the stem is tied to a stick (refers to tall varieties), for watering and processing from pests.
If you are going planting peppers outdoors, then first select a place to land, following the rules below:
- Do not use soil for planting where eggplant, tobacco, potatoes used to grow.
- The soil where cucumbers, cabbage, greens and legumes were grown is also not suitable.
- You can not plant pepper in the same area 2 years in a row.
After choosing a place, clear the ground of weeds, fertilize and loosen. After loosening the soil to 40 cm, fertilize the soil with manure and level the surface. Plant tall plants according to the scheme 50x80x70 in the amount of 3 pieces per square meter. For small peppers, the scheme is as follows: 60x30 in the amount of 4 bushes per square meter.
Pepper can also be planted in a tape way (in two rows) at a distance of half a meter from each other. In this case, the sprouts are staggered, and leave the distance between them up to 90 cm.
If you plant a vegetable in unprotected and open ground, then harden the young sprouts in advance. Just take the seedlings to fresh air, constantly increasing the time they spend outside.
By the way, never plant sweet and bitter peppers side by side, otherwise self-pollination may occur, and there will be no harvest.
Seedlings in open ground are best planted after the buds appear (approximately 50 days after sowing the seeds). Since the culture can "outgrow" and lose immunity.
Video on how to care for pepper
Of course, after landing, it is necessary to properly care for the peppers. If the crop grows in a greenhouse, then you need to systematically loosen the soil to a depth of 5 cm. But this procedure must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the roots of the seedlings. Periodically, the soil must be fertilized with peat.
Watering is needed frequently so that the plant does not dry out. Bushes as they grow can be tied up in a support. It is desirable to remove the first color and leave 2 leaves on each formed vegetable. And for pollination, peppers are usually shaken. Harvest no more than once a week.
In open ground, the bushes also need to be tied up as they grow, watered weekly, and it is permissible to fertilize up to 5 times with an interval of a couple of weeks. The fruits are harvested uncolored.
And in the end I found a very detailed video. It tells how to prepare the seedlings, and how to plant them, and further measures for the care of peppers. Look, I think this story will be very useful.
In fact, pepper is not very picky and everyone can grow it, the main thing is to follow all the steps described above and everything will work out !!
Hello dear friends!
Today, our article will focus on the timing of planting sweet pepper seeds. Although this culture is whimsical and very capricious, every self-respecting gardener will definitely plant it. I think many of them ask the question - how to grow a rich harvest? What varieties to choose and what rules of agricultural technology to apply so that a rather capricious culture bears fruit and gives a vitamin supply from June to October?
Many gardeners have already noticed that by planting plants according to the lunar calendar on favorable days, the seedlings grow much better and stronger, get sick less and, accordingly, give a large and high-quality crop.
I do not argue that it is very difficult to keep the exact days and carry out the work on the day indicated in the calendar. Then, the main thing is not to sow on the days of the New Moon, Full Moon and in the sign of Aquarius.
Is it necessary to take into account the lunar calendar when planting pepper seeds for seedlings?
Every gardener wants to know if the lunar calendar can be trusted. Someone believes unconditionally and even tries to take a day off on a day that is considered favorable for planting a particular crop. Someone thinks that everything will grow. And someone looks thoughtfully at several lunar calendars, each of which contains absolutely contradictory dates.
Of course, it is necessary to believe in the influence of the earth's satellite on the life processes taking place on Earth. But it should be treated with caution and a certain amount of skepticism when it comes to bright magazines called "Lunar Calendar", which flooded store shelves.
The ancient Slavs knew about the dependence of the yield of vegetable crops on the influence of the moon. Sayings have come down to our days: “This is on the moon, you will collect bread twice” or “This is the time - you will collect the mountain of grain.” But big doubts creep in - whether they knew about the movement of the Moon in the zodiac circle. There are a number of irrefutable rules that our great-grandfathers used:
- You should not engage in planting, picking and even hilling plants on a new moon.
- On the full moon, you should also not plant or transplant vegetables.
- During the growing moon, plants are planted that bear fruit above the ground - the same applies to peppers.
- During the period when the moon is waning, root seeds are sown.
If the dates in the purchased magazine correspond to the above terms, then you can trust it. But this is unlikely.
Lunar calendar for planting peppers in 2019:
If we take 2019 as an example and the calendar shown in the photo, then
- It is necessary to sow pepper seeds for seedlings in February according to the lunar calendar on the 16th-17th, when the Moon will be in the constellation of Cancer, or on the 24th-27th, when the Moon will pass through the constellations of Scorpio and Sagittarius. But the lunar cycle in February begins on February 6th and ends on March 6th. This means that you can sow peppers for seedlings on February 16 and 17, but you should really think about the second date, because the period from February 19 to March 6 is considered unfavorable for sowing crops that produce fruits above ground level.
- Let's turn to the lunar calendar for the month of March. The cycle starts on March 7th and ends on April 4th. According to the calendar, the most favorable days are: 15-16, when the growing moon will be in the constellation of Cancer, and March 23-27, when the satellite will pass through the favorable constellation of Scorpio, but will be in the waning stage. Planting peppers for seedlings these days is very doubtful.
- The same goes for April. 11-13 numbers - the growing moon will pass through the constellation of Cancer, which guarantees a large harvest. But the dates of April 19-23 should be questioned. On April 19, the new moon and the satellite will be in an unfavorable position - in the constellation of Libra. From April 20, the Moon, although it will move into the constellation of Scorpio, will begin to wane.
Conclusion: the most auspicious days for planting peppers for seedlings will be:
- February 16-17;
- March 15-16;
- April 11-13th and with a stretch April 19th.
bad days- all days when the moon is waning, namely:
- the period from February 20 to March 6;
- the period from March 22 to April 5;
- period from April 20 to May 5.
If everything is more or less clear with the movement of the Moon, then it is worth dealing with the timing.
Favorable days for caring for pepper seedlings according to the lunar calendar
Unfavorable days according to the lunar calendar:
- February 4-5;
- March 17, 21;
- April 15, 16, 24-30.
If you take care of sweet pepper seedlings on auspicious days, then you are guaranteed a high harvest!
The timing of planting pepper seedlings depending on the climate of the region
The optimum soil temperature for planting pepper seedlings is up to 16-18 degrees Celsius. In different regions, this moment comes at different times. By the time of transplantation, 60-65 days should pass from the appearance of the first shoots. The latter appear 10-15 days after sowing the seeds. As a result of simple mathematical calculations, we can conclude that from the moment of sowing seeds to planting seedlings in the ground, 70 to 80 days should pass.
It remains to find out when the soil in your area warms up to the desired values and count back two and a half months. It must be remembered that the temperature of the soil in greenhouses and greenhouses rises faster, and the sowing dates are shifted by a couple of weeks.
Moscow region
Seeds are planted in the second half of March if they plan to grow peppers in open ground. Or in the first days of March, if the pepper grows in a greenhouse.
Siberia and Ural
In Siberia and the Urals, work begins later. For planting seeds when growing peppers in open ground, the beginning of April is suitable, when growing in greenhouses - the end of March.
Volga region
In the Volga region, the timing is similar to the timing of sowing in the Moscow region. And only for the southern regions they can be shifted a couple of weeks earlier.
What varieties of peppers to plant? The best varieties for planting seedlings
Everyone chooses varieties of peppers for himself, depending on tastes, availability of area, growing conditions, resistance to diseases.
In order for peppers to please all summer, you need to pick up several early, mid-season and late-ripening varieties. It is desirable that they be universal in agricultural technology, that is, suitable for growing in open and protected ground.
- Early ripe.
These include varieties with maturation periods that do not exceed four months from germination. Among them, the most notable varieties are:
"Palanskaya Babur",
"Zhupsky early",
"Winnie the Pooh".
- Mid-season.
They enter the fruiting stage 110-130 days after germination. This:
"Belozerka",
"Boyarin F1".
- Late ripe.
Until full maturation takes up to 150 days. Suitable for cultivation in the southern regions. In Siberia and the Urals, they will not have time to give the harvest to the maximum. In the middle lane can be grown only in protected ground. For example:
"Hercules"
"California Miracle"
Preparing seeds for sowing
Pepper seeds are hardy. Therefore, each gardener has his own secrets of preparing them for planting.
Many advise - soak pepper seeds in water for an hour and a half and see what happens to them. If the seeds sink, they can be prepared for sowing. It is better to discard the floating seeds.
Next, the seeds are placed in a solution of a growth stimulator, such as Kornevin or Ecosil. The range of drugs is huge and may vary by region. There they are kept for about two hours and washed in water. This completes the seed preparation process.
But for greater certainty, the seeds should be wrapped in damp gauze and placed in a warm place for several days. The main thing is not to forget periodically, moisten the gauze with warm water. When most of the seeds hatch, you can start planting.
It is not worth waiting for the appearance of sprouts in all seeds. It's better to plant them separately. The stock will not be redundant.
Rules for sowing seeds for seedlings
Seeds are sown either in purchased specialized soil, or they prepare it themselves as follows: two parts of compost, one part of sand and earth, preferably from the area where peppers are supposed to grow, a couple of pinches of wood ash. Homemade soil should be disinfected in the oven or microwave. In the soil bought in the store, it is worth adding a little earth from the garden plot. There is no need to refuse disinfection.
Some gardeners do not like to dirty the oven and just some time before sowing, preferably at night, pour the prepared mixture with plenty of boiling water with the addition of a few crystals of potassium manganese.
The prepared soil is placed in seedling boxes and carefully tamped to prevent small seeds from falling to the bottom. Grooves are made on the surface up to 1 cm deep. Seeds are planted in them in increments of about 3-4 cm. The width between the grooves is at least 5 cm. They are mulched with soil from above. The soil is abundantly sprayed with water. Do not water - again, because of the risk of seed failure. The boxes are covered with foil or covered with glass and placed in a warm place.
Peppers are not tomatoes; they do not tolerate a pick. Therefore, if there are germinated seeds, it is better to plant them immediately in peat containers. In case of doubt, two seeds can be sown in one container. As it germinates, one sprout is either removed or dived into another container. Further actions are similar: containers are made up of boxes or boxes, covered with glass on top and placed in a warm place. After germination, the seedlings are transferred to a well-lit place. Make sure the plants are not exposed to direct sunlight.
Pickling seedlings of sweet pepper
The pick is carried out at the stage of two true leaves. Better in peat containers, so that when transplanted to a permanent place, do not disturb the root system. The soil used is the same as when planting. Sprouts with a fork or a small scoop are transferred with a root ball of earth into a container and buried to the cotyledons. Water well.
How to grow seedlings of peppers at home
To obtain strong and healthy seedlings, timely and sufficient watering, good lighting and several top dressings are necessary.
Seedling lighting
In the shade, peppers stretch, the stem becomes weak and sluggish. When exposed to direct spring sunlight, the plant can get burned. Therefore, it is important to maintain light balance. When cloudy weather persists for a long time, especially when peppers are planted early, illumination with special lamps is recommended. Unfortunately the lamps are not cheap. Therefore, the seedlings should not be placed too densely, and the containers should be periodically swapped and turned towards the light source.
How and when to water pepper seedlings
Watering seedlings is carried out every few days as needed. The earth should not dry out, but peppers do not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. It is useful to lightly spray the leaves with water once or twice a week. You can replace spraying with foliar top dressing.
How to feed seedlings
The first root dressing is carried out at the stage of three or four leaves with potassium monophosphate at the rate of 1 gram per 1 liter of water. Top dressing with the same composition is repeated 10-15 days after transplanting the plants into separate containers.
In order for the peppers to take root better after picking, you can sprinkle the leaves with a Zircon solution the next day - 4 drops of the drug per 1 liter of water.
If desired, you can use complex fertilizers "Kid", "Krepysh", "Ekosil", following the instructions. Don't go overboard with fertilizers.
Tips for caring for sweet pepper seedlings:
Planting pepper in the ground
Plants are planted in the ground approximately two and a half months after the appearance of the first shoots. At the same time, the condition of plants and weather conditions are taken into account.
Ideally, the peppers should reach a height of 20 cm and have at least 12 true leaves. It is good if by the time of transplantation the stem begins to stiffen.
Planting pepper in a greenhouse or greenhouse
By this time, the earth should warm up to 15 degrees, and night temperatures should not fall below 10-13 degrees. In hotbeds and greenhouses, such conditions are set, as a rule, on the 10th of May.
Wells are prepared according to the scheme 35 * 35 cm, if the varieties are tall, then 50 * 50 cm. A mixture of humus, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and wood ash is poured into the hole, you can add a little crushed eggshell. Everything is mixed. Pepper is lowered into the hole so that the root neck is underground. If the plant is overgrown, you can deepen it a little. The hole is covered with soil and well tamped. For a better acceleration of engraftment, the plants cut off the buds on it. Abundantly watered. Ten days later, fertilizing with complex fertilizers is carried out.
Planting seedlings in open ground
The agrotechnics for planting peppers in open ground is about the same, but you just need to wait until the soil warms up to + 15 degrees and the soil should be at least + 12 degrees. For most regions of Russia, such conditions develop on May 16-31. The northern regions plant sweet pepper seedlings in early June.
Plants are ready for planting when they have 9-12 leaves and flower buds have formed. And in order for the seedlings to take root, it is necessary to arrange hardening within 2 weeks.
If a cold snap is predicted, it is better to postpone the transplant. In hot weather, planting should be done in the evening.
Approximate dates for planting sweet pepper seedlings by regions of Russia:
These tables are averaged, since weather conditions and characteristics of the variety must also be taken into account.
If you have your own secrets and tricks in growing seedlings from seeds, please share with me and my readers. We will be very interested to learn and apply them.
I wish you strong and healthy seedlings!
How to plant pepper seedlings and grow high-quality seedlings
To get a chic crop of sweet peppers, you first need to properly grow strong seedlings at home. The procedure for growing a crop is in many ways similar to eggplant and partly to tomatoes, but there are also cardinal differences. Pepper reacts sharply to the wrong watering regime, temperature fluctuations and an unsuccessful transplant (dive), which sharply reduces the level of its vitality, it grows slowly.
Therefore, before you start sowing pepper seeds for seedlings, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features and rules of cultivation. Next, you will find detailed step-by-step instructions on how to grow sweet pepper seedlings at home.
How to choose a good variety of sweet pepper
Note! The site already has several detailed review articles about the most popular and best varieties of sweet pepper, which will definitely help you make your choice:
How to plant pepper seedlings
It is very important to properly plant the pepper seeds themselves for seedlings, and first choose the optimal sowing time, prepare and process the planting material itself, soil and containers, without making annoying mistakes.
When to sow seeds: optimal sowing time
Note!
- The site already has a detailed article on, including favorable days for landing in 2019 according to the lunar calendar.
How to prepare seeds for planting seedlings
Note!
- More complete information on the preparation and processing of pepper seeds before sowing seedlings you will find !
To make the correct and efficient planting of pepper seeds for seedlings, it is important to carry out preliminary seed preparation. This procedure will help to disinfect the planting material, as well as activate its vitality in a shorter time.
Note!
- The shelf life of pepper seeds should not exceed 3 years. Further, germination is significantly reduced.
Important! On sale you can find pelleted (granulated) pepper seeds. Such planting material does not need any preparation, it has already been processed and coated with a special nutrient shell. It must be sown dry so as not to wash off the protective film.
Technology for preparing pepper seeds for sowing:
- disinfection (etching) in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (this is a very weak remedy), much better in Phytosporine(Alirin, Gamair are also suitable) for 20-30 minutes (in gauze) followed by rinsing under running water;
- soaking in a growth stimulator, for example, in "Epin" or "Zircon" (according to instructions) in order to enhance growth processes;
As an option, you can use an infusion of ash (1 tablespoon per 500 ml of water, let stand for 2 days), in which you need to withstand the seeds wrapped in a gauze bag for 4-5 hours.
- germination (soaking) of seeds in water(you can add a growth stimulator) - for their swelling and subsequent awakening (germination).
If you simply submerge the seeds in water, there will be no effect, because oxygen is required to awaken them. That's why seeds need to be soaked in a damp cloth (namely a cloth or cotton pads, they can grow roots into gauze) so that the seeds have access to both moisture and air), for example, putting it on a saucer, and covering it with a plastic bag (food wrap) on top so that moisture does not evaporate quickly, in other words, create a greenhouse effect.
Wherein optimal seed germination temperature pepper - + 23-28 degrees. Therefore, a saucer with soaked seeds should be removed in a warm place, for example, on a kitchen cabinet. and 2-3 days before germination.
Note!
- The most complete information on the processing and preparation of pepper seeds for sowing seedlings you will find !
Which substrate to choose
In order for seedlings to have all the necessary components for growth and development at the initial stage, a special soil should be selected.
The soil mixture itself should be loose, light and nutritious, and its acidity should be close to neutral.
If the gardener does not have the opportunity to cook it on his own, you can solve the problem by ready ground for growing seedlings of pepper(which is usually also suitable for eggplant and tomatoes).
If desired, the necessary soil mixture can be prepared independently by combining and mixing the following components:
- garden (garden) land;
- peat;
- perlite, coconut substrate or river sand.
Note!
- The site already has a detailed article on how to prepare seedlings for growing.
Some gardeners initially sow germinated seeds in pure coco substrate (without soil), to subsequently transplant into pots with soil, although again you can mix the earth with coconut. But the method is very risky, it is better to just experiment with it first.
Advice! Before sowing pepper seeds, the right decision is to preliminary disinfection of the soil. For example, it can be calcined in the oven or microwave. Or shed a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, a preparation « Fitosporin» or " Previcour"(according to the instructions).
Planting tank selection
What is the best container to use for planting a crop, each gardener decides for himself.
Naturally, if you are going to grow with a pick,
- then initially it is logical to sow in a common container (wooden box, plastic container),
- and then dive into individual containers.
Although initially it can be sown in small (0.1-0.2 liters) personal cups (pots or cassettes).
If without a pick, then, of course, immediately into separate sufficiently voluminous containers (from 0.5 liters).
To understand the advantages and disadvantages of one or another landing container, it is worth considering several options.
Plastic cups
- The most popular and convenient container for growing seedlings of pepper and other crops.
- For planting and further picking, plastic cups with a volume of 100 to 500 ml are required.
Advantages:
- reusable,
- extracting seedlings without damaging the roots,
- low price.
Disadvantages:
- no drainage holes
- the need for an additional pallet,
- instability,
- inconvenience during transportation.
wooden box
The advantage of this container is that it is durable and you can make it yourself, saving the family budget. In addition, when transporting seedlings, no additional devices are required.
The disadvantage of a wooden box is that that in the filled form it has a lot of weight, and with further transplantation into the ground, the seedlings are almost impossible to pull out without damaging the root system.
Therefore, boxes, as a rule, are used only for the initial sowing of seeds, and in the future, individual containers are already used for picking.
Plastic cassettes
- Cassettes are plastic cells interconnected. Now they are offered for sale in a very wide range, which allows you to choose containers of different sizes complete with a tray and a transparent lid.
- As a rule, plastic cassettes are used for picking, but in theory they can be used for initial sowing.
advantage their use is that they are already equipped with drainage holes, are easily cut with scissors into separate specimens, and also have a small weight and allow you to easily remove seedlings from the cell (during transshipment and planting in the ground).
By cons structures can be attributed to the fragility and relative inconvenience during the further transportation of seedlings.
Peat cups (pots)
- They are round containers made of ecological material (peat and cardboard, ideally 70% and 30%).
- Ideal for picking.
Main advantage is that they dissolve in the soil And provide additional plant nutrition while the root system is not damaged. In other words, seedlings are planted without taking out, but together with a pot burying it in the ground.
The main disadvantages these landing tanks is that they are very moisture evaporates quickly Therefore, regular and frequent watering is very important. However, because of this, they often moldy(due to overflow). In addition, peat cups have a relatively high cost.
By the way! There are also peat cassettes.
Peat tablets
- They are compressed peat, which is placed in a thin shell.
- Before sowing seeds for seedlings, you must first soak the tablets in water for about 10 minutes.
Tablets are easy to use, stimulate the development of a strong root system, as they have a balanced nutritional composition.
To disadvantages can be attributed to the rapid evaporation of moisture, the need for an additional pallet and a high price.
By the way! Lately it has become popular to plant in snails. Indeed, this is convenient, but peppers do not tolerate picking, and with this method, rather severe damage to the roots occurs during picking. Therefore, it is better to leave it for tomatoes, for which the transplant is not at all terrible.
Landing pattern
When sowing seeds of sweet pepper, it should be understood that over time, the seedlings will need more space, so initially they should be planted at a distance so that they can fully develop before picking, without interfering with each other.
Important! In the case of dense plantings, the risk of developing diseases increases, the seedlings will stretch excessively and develop poorly due to lack of light and nutrition.
Bell pepper seeds are recommended to be planted in rows at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from each other and with a row spacing of 3-4 cm. The more free space each seedling has, the longer it will be able to fully develop without picking. Such an optimal sowing technology will contribute to the normal cultivation of seedlings in the future.
- Some gardeners believe that pepper is better to grow without picking at all, in other words, the seeds should be planted immediately in separate pots or at a greater distance (3-5 cm apart, 4-6 cm in a row).
Direct landing
Step-by-step instructions for sowing sweet pepper seeds for seedlings:
- Pour the prepared soil into the container.
- pour over warm water and allow moisture to soak in, and the soil to settle.
- Make rows 1 cm deep with acceptable row spacing.
By the way! Some plant peppers to a depth of 1.5 cm, but the recommended one is exactly 1 cm.
- Spread the seeds at a distance.
- Sprinkle with soil and moisten the surface with a spray bottle.
- Cover the container with a transparent lid or cover with a plastic bag (film) to create a greenhouse effect.
- Put in a dark and warm place until shoots appear when temperature +25-27 degrees. For example, on a kitchen cabinet.
Caring for pepper seedlings after sowing: temperature and other growing rules
- In order to eventually grow full-fledged and strong seedlings, you should familiarize yourself with the rules for caring for seedlings.
- This will help eliminate serious errors, especially the slow growth of seedlings or even their death.
- After sowing the seeds, it is recommended to periodically ventilate the container and remove the resulting condensate from the cover (film).
- Within 7-14 days, the first shoots will appear.
- When the seedlings become friendly, it is recommended to move the container to the windowsill window (or under the phytolamps) and lower the temperature.
Content temperature
For stable growth of the above-ground part without compromising the development of the root system
- the air temperature during the day should be within + 22-25 degrees,
- and at night - + 16-18 degrees.
- The optimum soil temperature is + 19-21 degrees.
Important! As mentioned earlier, pepper seedlings are very sensitive to heat, lowering the temperature below +12 degrees can have a very detrimental effect on young plants, they will simply die.
Lighting
Pepper is a short daylight plant.
Therefore, in order for the seedlings to fully develop, daylight hours should be only about 9-10 hours(and for late varieties even less).
Interesting! Pepper often does not stretch with a lack of light, but simply stops in development.
Because sowing seedlings occurs early enough, then, of course, it is optimal to place the seedlings on the southern windowsill, but the western or eastern window will also do.
Advice! Every 2 days, you should turn the seedlings with the other side to the window so that the seedlings do not stretch in one direction.
In this case, the pepper seedlings on the windowsill, as a rule, will have enough natural light, in other words, you will not need to turn on additional lighting (phytolamps).
However, if your windows face the north side or you often have cloudy weather, then seedlings cannot be dispensed with.
Note!
- The optimum temperature in sunny weather is + 24-26 degrees, in cloudy weather - + 20-21 degrees. In other words, the lack of light must be compensated by a decrease in temperature.
Watering and humidity
Watering pepper seedlings at home should only when the topsoil dries up, avoiding overflow and drying out of the earth (especially withering of plants).
Important! Water for watering pepper seedlings should be separated and warm (+ 25-30 degrees) or at least at room temperature.
Watering itself must be carried out carefully along the edge of the container so as not to put the plants. At the same time, it is necessary to water so that the soil is completely saturated with moisture.
All excess moisture must exit through the drainage holes.
Picking pepper seedlings
Pepper negatively tolerates any damage to the roots and recovers for a long time after transplantation. Therefore, picking should be carried out very carefully.
When do you need to plant (dive) peppers after sowing?
- Picking should be carried out in phase 2 of true leaves, i.e. about 15-25 days after germination.
- It is not worth delaying the moment of picking, otherwise the root system of the plant will simply no longer have enough space for development and nutrition.
- The container for picking should be 0.5-0.7 liters in volume, and it is also necessary to have drainage holes.
Note! If you use containers with a volume of 0.2-0.3 liters, then after a while you will need to carry out another transplant (dive), more precisely, transshipment.
The soil mixture can be used the same as for sowing seeds(loose, light and nutritious, almost neutral acidity). But now you can add humus and wood ash to it, i.e. make it even more nutritious. And don't forget to disinfect.
A couple of hours before picking, the seedlings should be shed abundantly with warm water so that the soil does not crumble from the roots during their transplantation, and the earthen lump is well separated.
By the way! Some gardeners at the same time (1-2 hours before picking) are advised to spray the seedlings with one of the growth regulators "Epin" or "Zircon" (according to the instructions) in order to neutralize possible stress.
The picking procedure itself is standard: fill individual containers with soil, make holes, carefully remove the seedling with an earthen clod (shovel or spoon) and put it in the hole, slightly deepening, but not directly to the cotyledon leaves, but leaving a small distance, i.e. about half a stem.
The roots of the plant must have good contact with the soil, therefore, after transplanting, the ground around the seedling should be lightly pressed and poured abundantly with warm (room) water.
In the future, if necessary (the seedlings will stretch a little), then you can pour the earth into the seedlings of peppers. The main thing is not to deepen too much in the beginning.
How to care for seedlings after picking
Further care for pepper seedlings is similar: you need to maintain temperature and light conditions, as well as water on time and start feeding.
top dressing
Top dressing is an important element in the care of pepper seedlings at home. However, if you originally used nutrient soil, then you can usually do without additional fertilizer. But, if the appearance of the seedlings causes concern, then top dressing is simply necessary, it will help the plant develop normally.
Usually, feeding is not carried out before picking.
For the first time, pepper seedlings should be fed in the phase of 2-3 true leaves, i.e. after picking, most often after 7-14 days.
How can you water pepper seedlings so that it is strong?
In the seedling period (after picking), the pepper queue is picky about:
- phosphorus nutrition (for the growth of the root system);
- nitrogen fertilizer (for green mass);
- Potassium in a small amount is needed by plants almost always.
Thus, almost immediately after picking, you should fertilize with a fertilizer with a high content of phosphorus, and a little later a couple of times with nitrogen fertilizers.
Micronutrients complement the actions of macronutrients. So, pepper needs:
- magnesium and iron (for photosynthesis);
- calcium (to strengthen the stems and root system).
You can also feed seedlings with humic fertilizers, such as Gumi, Sodium Humate or Potassium Humate.
Important! Before top dressing, seedlings must be watered to improve the availability of nutrients and prevent root burns.
Against pulling (overgrowing) seedlings, you can use fertilizer, more precisely, the Athlete growth stimulator.
- Concerning feeding frequency pepper seedlings, it is generally recommended to do this 1 time in 10-14 days, although experienced gardeners advise fertilize with every watering, reducing the recommended dose (written in the instructions) by 2-3 times.
Alternatively, you can use the complex fertilizer "Cytovit" (according to the instructions, as a rule, 10 ml per 10 liters of water), which contains the entire complex of trace elements in an easily accessible (chelated) form, as well as a small amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium .
Preparation for landing in the ground
Since seedlings are grown at home, before planting seedlings in open ground, they should first be adapted to more severe environmental conditions (for example, to sudden temperature changes, direct sunlight, etc.) so that after transplanting, they do not fall into a strong stressful situation. .
To do this, 2 weeks before planting seedlings in a permanent place in open ground, you should start preparing it, in other words, harden it.
First, you can simply open the window, and then put the seedlings on a balcony or loggia under direct sunlight, in a greenhouse or on the street (where the temperature is about + 12-16 degrees), gradually increasing the time (starting from 30 minutes).
This procedure will help strengthen the immunity of plants, adapt them to more severe external conditions.
When and how to plant pepper seedlings in open ground: optimal timing
Pepper seedlings should be planted in a permanent place only if when the air temperature is not lower than +15 degrees regardless of the time of day, and the soil warms up to at least +10, and preferably + 12-15 degrees.
Thus, the approximate time for planting pepper in the ground in the South of Russia is the second half - the end of April, in the Middle lane (Moscow region) - in the middle or at the end of May, and in the northern regions (Urals, Siberia) - not earlier than the beginning of June.
Important! Ignoring favorable temperature conditions for planting seedlings can lead to hypothermia of seedlings, they will stop growing, start to hurt, which will negatively affect the future harvest, which may not be in the end. In the case of spring frosts, seedlings may even die.
As for the requirements for appearance, then pepper seedlings by the time of planting should be strong, with a well-developed root system and have 8-12 true leaves. In addition, early varieties should have clearly defined first buds.
The very procedure for planting pepper seedlings in open ground is standard: transfer the seedlings into pre-prepared planting holes, maintaining the integrity of the earthen coma, and then thoroughly shed.