Many summer residents dream of growing strong, healthy peppers in their garden. This plant is rather capricious and thermophilic. Therefore, there are a number of features that need to be considered when growing this crop. Some summer residents argue that the success of this business depends on the correct choice of soil, while other gardeners insist that it is necessary to choose the right bait. There is an opinion that a plant planted on the right day of the lunar calendar will develop faster and better.
In order to develop the right strategy for growing pepper, you need to consider all the recommendations of experienced summer residents. They will greatly help to get a good harvest. How to grow pepper seedlings healthy and strong will be described in detail below.
General recommendations
Many summer residents are interested in how to grow seedlings of pepper and eggplant so that it takes root in the domestic climate. Such plants are very fond of heat. It is worth considering that the period of pepper vegetation is quite long. Therefore, it will be necessary to grow this culture as a seedling in order to have time to collect a plentiful crop.
Peppers can be grown in the greenhouse method or planted directly in open ground. However, sowing the seeds of this plant into the ground will not be advisable even in the south of our country. In the northern regions, growing peppers will be even more difficult. However, nothing is impossible. First you need to find out all the nuances of growing pepper seedlings.
If the weather conditions are far from ideal for growing such a thermophilic crop, you can create the right microclimate at home. Seedlings need to be installed on the southern windowsill. Here the plant will be able to receive the maximum amount of light. At the same time, peppers that are cultivated by the seedling method are distinguished by an earlier period of fruit ripening (up to 3 weeks). The fruiting period is increased.
How to grow sturdy pepper seedlings? You need to choose the right variety. At the same time, the duration of the summer in the region is taken into account. If it is short, early grades should be preferred. In the southern regions it is quite possible to grow late-ripening varieties. It is also worth considering the height of the bush. If the variety is tall, it is planted in a greenhouse. Plants of medium and small height can be planted on beds. They are usually covered with a film.
Varieties are also selected for taste. So, wanting to grow bell pepper, you need to consider that the fruits of a dark color are sweeter. They have a rich red tint. For salads, cylindrical and cone-shaped peppers are suitable. If the fruits resemble a cube in their shape, they are perfect for stuffing. Small peppers are best used for pickling and preservation in the form of salads.
Determination of the sowing date
The correct timing for planting requires seedlings of pepper. How to grow it, the tips of experienced gardeners and gardeners will help you figure it out. It is very important to choose the right time for landing. If this work is done too early, plants will not be able to grow properly without soil when they become too large in pots. Late planting may result in the fruits not ripening due to the onset of cold weather.
To choose the right time for sowing seeds, you need to consider a number of features. If the variety is early, it must be sown 2 months (60 days) before planting in the garden. Later varieties remain in pots for 2.5 months (70-75 days). Also take into account the characteristics of the growth of seedlings in the beds. If you plan to grow peppers in a heated greenhouse, the greenhouse will be planted in late April. If the greenhouse is covered with a film, but not insulated, planting can be done in late May. Seedlings in open ground can be applied in the first half of June.
When studying how to grow seedlings of bell pepper of other popular varieties, you need to take into account one more nuance. In some cases, a picking process is carried out. If this procedure is not carried out, the peppers will be ready to land in the ground a week earlier than their dive counterparts.
Many summer residents agree that seedlings should be grown in early February. However, it is worth considering that at this time the daylight hours are still very short. Therefore, seedlings will need additional lighting. To do this, use phytolamps or LED devices. They are turned on for 12 hours.
To avoid additional costs for lighting seedlings, it is recommended to start breeding seedlings in late February or even in early March.
Lunar sowing calendar
Wanting to grow seedlings of sweet pepper at home, many summer residents take into account the recommendations of a special sowing calendar. Lunar cycles affect biological processes. Therefore, experienced gardeners focus on the periods and phases of the sowing calendar. Many people believe that the quantity and quality of the crop depends on it.
Experienced gardeners will not begin to grow seedlings in the new moon or full moon. During this period, plant juices are collected either in its upper part or in the roots. This does not contribute to the normal development of any crops. Therefore, when studying how to grow seedlings of peppers and tomatoes, you should pay attention to the phases of the moon. In the new moon and full moon, such an undertaking is worth giving up.
At the same time, summer residents have repeatedly noticed that pepper planted during the growing moon develops faster and more actively. Accordingly, when it decreases, breeding seedlings is also not worth it. Her growth will be slowed down. To choose the right time to start breeding seedlings and planting them in the ground, you need to consider the information on the sowing calendar.
In 2018, the best time to start sowing pepper seeds is from March 3 to 4, as well as March 12, 14. If the climate in the region is cold, you can start breeding seedlings on March 20, 30 and 31.
It is also important to choose the right time for planting young seedlings in the ground. If this procedure will be carried out in May, it is better to do it on the 8th, 14-15th. Also, according to the sowing calendar, favorable days for such work will be May 24-25. In June, you can plant seedlings of pepper in the soil on the 2nd, 11th, 20th date. When compiling a seed calendar, astrologers take into account not only the phase of the moon, but also the zodiac sign into which the moon falls. Therefore, only a few of the most suitable dates for this process are determined.
Seed preparation
How to grow seedlings of sweet pepper from seeds? This question interests many summer residents and gardeners. If you make a mistake, the seeds will lose their germination. Pepper is a moody plant. To increase the percentage of seedlings, you need to properly prepare the seeds. By purchasing them in a store, you need to determine the methodology for their preparation. Do not buy seeds that have a long shelf life. The manufacturer overdries them for this. Therefore, the percentage of seedlings of such material will be less.
Having bought the seeds, the gardener must select them correctly. To do this, prepare a solution of water (1 l) and salt (30 g). Seeds are poured into it. Then everything is well mixed. After 7-10 minutes seeds suitable for sowing will sink to the bottom. All weak, light seeds are harvested. Heavy, healthy grains should be washed under running water and dried thoroughly. To do this, they are laid out on paper so that the seeds do not touch each other.
When the seeds are dry, they must be pickled. This procedure will allow the disinfection of seed. It will undergo additional hardening, will become more resistant to disease. A solution of potassium permanganate (1 g) with water (1 l) processes the material for seedlings of pepper. How to grow it strong, will tell a number of tips.
After the seeds are aged in a solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, they are removed from the liquid and washed again with water. The following is a drying procedure. After that, it will be possible to proceed to the subsequent preparation of the material for planting. It will require processing immediately before applying the seeds to the ground. During processing, they are hardened and additional nutrition necessary for the growth of trace elements.
Seed preparation before planting
How to grow good seedlings of pepper? Many gardeners claim that the secret to success lies in applying the right seed preparation methods. Immediately before applying the grains to the prepared soil, you need to perform a few simple manipulations.
2 days before the start of planting, seeds must be soaked with a special tool. It contains the necessary trace elements for growth. In order for the seedlings to be strong, you need to put the seeds in gauze bags. They are put in a solution, for example, Epin, Ideal. In such an environment, the seeds should remain for about a day. Then they need to be taken out of solution and laid out on paper. There is no need to rinse the material for sowing.
If desired, other formulations can also be used for impregnation. They cook independently at home. This will require 2 g of wood ash mixed with 1 liter of water. The mixture should be infused for a day. With this tool, the seeds are treated for 3 hours.
Another effective method for seed treatment is sparging. Grains need to be lowered into water, which is saturated with oxygen. Seed germination after such treatment increases dramatically. To perform this procedure, you will need to use a conventional aquarium aerator. This method can be applied 14-15 days before sowing the material into the ground. Processing lasts 24 hours.
Another piece of advice on how to grow healthy seedlings of pepper is a seed hardening recommendation. This procedure increases the immunity of plants. First, the seeds need to be soaked in slightly warm water. When they swell, the container is placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Here they are within 24 hours. After that, the capacity is taken out. Seeds are immediately applied to the prepared substrate.
Substrate preparation
You need to consider some tips on how to grow pepper seedlings at home. This plant does not respond well to picking. Therefore, do not sow all the seeds in one large container. It is better to prepare small cups with a substrate with a capacity of about 100 ml. In the process of pepper growth, it will simply be necessary to “transfer” it from a small container to a larger pot.
The soil in which the seeds will be applied must be nutritious and warm. To fulfill these conditions, you need to choose the right substrate. The earth is poured into a pot. He poured heated water and cover with a film. Under it, condensation will accumulate.
You can choose several soil options for planting pepper. The easiest way is to purchase a substrate in a specialized store. It features a balanced set of components. Such a soil is considered the best option for growing pepper. In this case, the purchased substrate will be treated with special antiseptics.
To prepare the soil yourself, you need to mix several ingredients. It will take 4 parts of the land for seedlings with peat. 2 parts of sod soil and 1 part of stale sawdust are added to it. You will also need to add 1 part of humus, some river sand and wood ash.
Considering how to properly grow pepper seedlings, you should pay attention to another version of the substrate. You can add hydrogel to the soil. It allows you to maintain proper soil moisture. Balls are first dipped into water. When they are filled with liquid, it will be necessary to introduce a hydrogel into the soil. All mix well.
It is also possible to apply soil from coconut fiber for breeding of seedling. In such a substrate, pepper develops quickly and correctly.
Another optimal option for the development of seedlings is the use of peat tablets. They can be purchased at gardening stores. This is a convenient and less traumatic for seedlings cultivation of pepper.
It is recommended to add a little soil from the beds to any substrate, on which it is planned to plant plants later. Previously, such a soil is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate with water. You can also steam the earth from the garden in the oven.
Seed planting
Studying how to grow pepper seedlings at home, you need to pay attention to all the nuances of carrying out such work. Since the plant does not tolerate picking, you need to plant the seeds in separate small cups. If the summer resident does not have such an opportunity, he can sow the seeds in one large, spacious box.
The depth of the container should be from 6 cm or more. The soil level should be lower than the edge of the box by 2 cm. Before sowing, the container is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. Next, a prepared substrate is poured into it. Seeds spread on the surface of the soil. To do this, use tweezers. The distance between the seeds should be at least 1.5 cm. The seeds need to be pressed to the surface of the soil. Then they are watered through a sieve. A layer of earth about 10 mm thick is poured on top. It is slightly compacted. The container must be covered with polyethylene.
There is another technique that helps to properly grow pepper seedlings. To do this, you need to purchase peat tablets. Their diameter should be 3 cm. The number of tablets acquired by counting the selected seeds. They are placed in a transparent container. Pour warm boiled water into the container. When the tablets swell, they will no longer absorb liquid. Water needs to be poured out of the tray.
In each peat tablet you need to make a hole. Its depth should be 10-15 mm. In the prepared recesses lay one grain at a time. Seeds need to be covered with a fertile layer of soil. The transparent container must be closed with a lid. If it does not let in the sun, it will be necessary to lay a plastic film or glass.
The temperature in the tray should be high (about 25º). When you need to make pills with seedlings in the ground, they just roll into prepared places in the garden. This is a simple and effective way to grow pepper seedlings.
Care Rules
How to grow good seedlings of peppers at home? In search of an answer to this question, one should consider the rules for caring for young shoots. After planting seeds in the ground, the ambient temperature in the greenhouse is maintained at a level of 25-27º. The first shoots can be observed in 1-2 weeks. It depends on the variety of pepper.
Soil will need to be sprayed using a spray once every 2 days. When seedlings appear, the film is removed. If the daylight is still too short, the seedlings are additionally illuminated with phytolamps. In this case, the plant will be stronger. If the lighting is insufficient, the seedlings will be greatly elongated. This will affect their health. The roots may begin to rot, and growth will stop completely.
To avoid adverse effects, it is necessary to provide illumination of seedlings for at least 9 hours. Additional lighting is included from 8:00 to 20:00.
Studying how to grow pepper seedlings from seeds, you also need to consider the requirements for temperature conditions. The heating in the room during the day should not be less than 23º. At night, a temperature drop of up to 16 ° C is permissible. If it gets colder at night, the pepper will begin to lose leaves and die. Therefore, seedlings should be installed in a warm living room.
Watering is carried out in the morning. In this case, you need to use warm clean water. Watering should be plentiful and infrequent. It is necessary to control the state of the topsoil. After watering, the soil is loosened. It is best to use melt, rainwater for this purpose. You can water the seedlings with tap water only after its preliminary sludge.
Loosening the soil is a must. However, the roots cannot be damaged. Otherwise, the plant will die.
A few more care rules
It is necessary to take into account a few more recommendations that help to properly grow pepper seedlings. It is necessary to conduct hardening of not only seeds, but also seedlings. This procedure is carried out approximately 1.5 weeks before planting seedlings on beds. For this, containers with pepper need to be taken out for a short time to the street. You can also just open the windows in the room for a few minutes.
To increase the resistance of seedlings to various diseases and pests, it can be sprayed with infusion. It is prepared on the basis of garlic, calendula, needles, onions. If water remains on the leaves, the plant should not be left in direct sunlight. This can cause burns. Therefore, spraying is carried out in the morning.
You also need to make bait in the ground. This procedure is carried out 2 times before planting plants in the ground. The first time fertilizers are added during the period when 3-4 seedlings appear near the seedlings. When their number reaches 5-6 pieces, carry out the following dressing.
To prepare the fertilizer, you will need to mix 1 part of cow manure with 10 parts of water. Spray the plant with a mixture of complex fertilizers on a mineral basis. This greatly increases the rate of development of pepper.
Landing
Knowing how to grow seedlings of pepper, you must also consider the features of its planting in open ground. This process must be performed at the moment when the plant will have about 8 leaves, and buds will also form. At this point, the seedlings usually reach a height of about 20 cm or even more (depending on the variety).
18º. . . 12-14º. . . 2 .
15º. . . . 50 . 60 .
A tablespoon of mineral fertilizer is added to each well. It is mixed with soil. The root neck of the pepper after installation in the hole should be flush with the surface of the soil. The roots should not be bent. They are transshipped from a container along with a lump of land. Pour soil into the hole to half. Then pour 1/3 of a bucket of water into it. After that, fill the hole completely with earth.
Having considered how to grow pepper seedlings, you can expect a plentiful harvest at the end of the season. The culture will be healthy and strong. It will not be affected by adverse environmental factors.