Pepper, as a vegetable crop, has long taken root in household plots. Sweet, juicy, aromatic pepper - suitable for both fresh consumption and canning.
A good pepper harvest depends on many factors and conditions. The basis for obtaining a large number of fruits is growing strong seedlings.
What do you need to know and do at the first stage of growing peppers? Here are some basic tips and rules for obtaining powerful seedlings.
- Sowing must be carried out in the first ten days of February, then by June you can get the first harvest of pepper at technical maturity.
- The soil for seedlings consists of 65% peat, 10% river sand, 10% sawdust, 10% vermicompost, 5% chalk. It is this composition that is most suitable for obtaining good seedlings and excellent growth of pepper seedlings. Ready-made soil from bags is not very good for peppers. If you use it, then after heat treatment and the addition of vermicompost.
- Watering is carried out according to schedule. When sowing, thoroughly water the soil. Then, after the emergence of shoots, in the morning with warm water. Cold water is strictly contraindicated. Due to temperature changes, pepper seedlings get sick and die.
- Feeding young plants is necessary every 3 days. It is best to use drugs based on natural ingredients, with live bacteria. Such preparations improve the quality of the soil and normalize the plant’s metabolism. Works well on the root system of peppers.
- Lighting peppers is also an important factor for obtaining high-quality seedlings. In any case, it is necessary to illuminate the plants in the morning and evening hours. The length of daylight for seedlings should not be less than 12 hours.
- In the phase of appearance of 2-3 true leaves on plants, it is necessary to plant the peppers in separate cups. To minimize injury, be sure to thoroughly water the soil with the seedlings. Transplantation should be carried out in the evening so that young plants can rest overnight and begin to take root in a new place. In the daytime, replanting becomes a big shock, and the plants get sick for a long period.
- When rooting young peppers in a new place, they should be protected from bright sunlight. When standing on window sills, it is necessary to make sun barriers. It is better to shorten the daylight hours to 10-11 hours.
- Feeding after transplantation is carried out on the third day, and it is done with preparations from a series of rooting agents and growth accelerators.
- And, of course, hardening off the seedlings. On warm, sunny days, you need to take the peppers out into the fresh air. The air temperature is not lower than 15 degrees. First, expose the seedlings for 1-2 hours, gradually increasing the time spent outside. This way the seedlings will get used to atmospheric changes and will best tolerate planting in the ground to a permanent place of growth.
These tips for growing pepper seedlings are suitable for all climate zones. It is worth remembering that peppers, at the growth stage, are a fastidious crop and require special attention. And only by putting in the greatest amount of effort can you get a good result.
