Pepper seeds germinate already at a temperature of 13-15 degrees, while seedlings appear earlier, the higher the temperature of the soil. The optimum temperature is considered to be 20-25 degrees, when it sprouts appear after 12-15 days. Before planting pepper for seedlings, you need to know that it has a long growing season, so the seeds for seedlings need to be sown earlier than for tomatoes. The optimal time for sowing seedlings in mid-February for greenhouses and at the end of March for open ground.
The soil prepared for seedlings should absorb moisture well, it should have a sufficient amount of mineral substances. The soil should not be acidic, it should not have pathogens and pests. The soil should be mixed in proportion: humus 2 parts, peat 1 part, sawdust treated with boiling water of 0.5 part. If the seedlings of pepper will then be planted in clay soil, you need to add 1 part of sand. It is recommended that before planting, water the soil with water, which should be mixed in proportion: 1 tbsp. Per bucket of water spoon of superphosphate, 1 hour. spoon of potassium sulfate and urea, half a glass of wood ash.
Seeds should be sown in not very moist soil, in too wet soil there will not be enough oxygen. After sowing, the surface is sprinkled with wood ash or sifted soil mixture. Pepper seedlings are grown for 40-50 days. Before seed germination, soil temperature should be maintained within 24-25 degrees, air humidity should be 80-90%. After germination, you need to reduce the temperature to 12-14 degrees at night and 16-18 degrees during the day. This is necessary for better development of the root system, while the plant will not stretch too much. It should be noted that pepper seedlings are not afraid of a lack of light and are not stretched like tomato seedlings. After 3-5 days, the temperature needs to be raised again: in cloudy weather up to 18-20 degrees, in the sun up to 22-28 degrees, at night a temperature of 15-18 degrees is enough.
When the first real leaf appears on the seedlings, the pepper begins to pick. It is necessary to dive with a lump of earth to the same depth at which it grew, trying not to violate the integrity of the root system. Dive into pots of peat or other material soluble in the soil. You can make the pots yourself: roll the plastic film in the form of a sleeve with a diameter of 60 to 80 mm and sew it manually or with a sewing machine. Then we cut the sleeve into separate segments of the same size as the diameter and get the finished cups. When landing in the ground, then it is quite simple to cut a plastic film from the side with a blade.
Pepper seedlings need fertilizing with mineral fertilizers as it develops. The very first feeding should be done after a dive no earlier than two weeks later. The solution for feeding - 10 liters of water, 30 g of superphosphate and 5 g of urea. The flow rate of the solution should be the same as with normal irrigation. 3-4 days before planting in open ground, a second top dressing is carried out: 50 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium salt per 10 liters of water (can be replaced with potassium sulfate). Feeding is better in the morning, then airing the plantings to protect against diseases. Immediately after the dive and in the future, seedlings should be shaded from direct sunlight. Prepare for the action of sunlight should be gradually: substitute for a short time under sunlight, in the future, constantly increase the time.
It is advisable to regularly “show” seedlings to the sun and wind in the open air so that it grows faster. On cloudy days and in the evenings, if possible, seedlings should be illuminated with fluorescent lamps , this will accelerate its development and allow plants to get used to a longer daylight hours. Watering should be done often and plentifully, but not over-moistened so that the roots do not rot. For planting in open ground pepper seedlings are ready when it has a height of 20-25 cm and 10-12 of these sheets. This usually happens at her age of 40-50 days.