Sweet pepper is a leader among vegetables in the content of vitamins C, PP and A, in addition, this vegetable has excellent taste. Peppers are widely used both raw and for preparing a wide variety of dishes.
The birthplace of sweet pepper is Mexico, so this plant is very thermophilic and has a fairly long vegetative period. Consequently, in most regions of Russia, pepper cultivation is possible only through seedlings and subject to the use of greenhouses.
Seeds for seedlings are sown in boxes installed in the room with windows facing the sunny side. The soil mixture is prepared from garden humus with the addition of wood ash and sand (a glass of additives per bucket of humus). Before using the soil mixture, it should be disinfected by adding water and steaming on fire. Then the earth is poured into the drawers with a ten-centimeter layer, grooves are made, leaving a distance of 5 cm between them. The seeds are laid in grooves, covered with earth and slightly compacted. It is best to sow the seeds in warm soil.
Seedlings of pepper will grow in boxes until two true leaves are formed. As a rule, 30-35 days pass from the time of emergence to the dive. Watering seedlings should be moderate, otherwise the seedlings may become sick. Water for irrigation should be settled and warm (25-27 degrees). Before picking, seedlings should be fed once using a complex fertilizer, such as Vegeta or Agricola-3.
Pepper cultivation provides for a mandatory pick in the period when the plants will have two true leaves. Seedlings are transplanted into pots or cups, the size of which should be at least 8 by 8 cm. The soil mixture is prepared in the same way as for planting seedlings.
Pepper seedlings are planted in greenhouses or hotbeds in the second or third decade of May. By this time, the soil should be at least 15 degrees warm.
Pepper cultivation requires soil preparation, since a good crop can only be obtained in fertile areas. Therefore, up to 15 kg of humus, 25 grams of ammonium nitrate , 40 grams of potassium sulfate and superphosphate should be added per square meter of the plot area. Of course, it is more convenient to use complex fertilizer, in which the necessary nutrients in the right proportions have already been introduced.
The planting pattern depends on the plant variety: on average, three to five plants are planted per square meter of land. The day before planting, you need to water abundantly so as not to damage the roots. The plant is planted in a hole to the same depth as it was in the pot, or 1-2 cm below. After planting, the plant is watered and mulched soil under it with humus or peat: this will prevent the formation of soil crust.
It is very important to water sweet pepper properly . Growing in a greenhouse involves 1-2 irrigation per week, and the water needs to be used warm. When using cold water, the plant stops growing and can even become ill and die. In cloudy and cool weather, the watering rate should be slightly reduced.
It is extremely important to monitor the air temperature in the greenhouse, since overheating above 32-35 degrees will have a bad effect on the crop. The most favorable temperature is 21-28 degrees in the daytime and 15-18 degrees at night. In good weather, the greenhouse needs to be opened and ventilated, since excessive humidity negatively affects the passage of pollination.
Pepper practically does not require plant formation, it is worth removing only non-fruiting and small stems located inside the bush. Top dressing is carried out every two or three weeks, using complex fertilizers. Under each plant, as a rule, make up to 1 liter of diluted nutritional composition. And before feeding, first water the plant with water, then make a nutrient solution and water it again.
The technology by which bitter pepper is grown is virtually the same as described above. The only difference is that hot pepper plants need to be stepsoned — removing flower shoots at the top of the bush. In this case, the plant begins to bush - the crop will be higher.
As you can see, growing peppers is not such a difficult process. A little effort - and on your table there will be aromatic and healthy fruits of sweet pepper, as well as spicy seasoning - pods of hot pepper.