The time has come to plant pepper seedlings in the ground. Already now, every gardener mentally imagines what kind of harvest he would like to get in the fall. How to properly carry out the first fertilizing so that the plant receives a powerful impetus for growth?
Minerals and Compounds Essential for Peppers
For full development, pepper seedlings require various micro- and macroelements. Her diet should be varied and balanced. Let's highlight 4 main, extremely important minerals:
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- potassium.
They are necessary for the healthy development of roots and aerial parts of the vegetable, as well as for the ripening of fruits.
The first time feeding should be done 2 weeks after planting. During this time, the plant has managed to recover from the stress of transplantation, has settled into its new location and needs nutrition to grow. The second and subsequent ones are carried out at intervals of 10-14 days after the previous one.
Types of fertilizers
There are 2 types of fertilizing: root and foliar. The first one, in dry or liquid form, is applied at the root of the bush. Foliar application is carried out by spraying a liquid composition over the surface of the plant.
Root
Dry root feeding is carried out before winter. In the spring, liquid fertilizing should be applied to the planted seedlings.
The necessary mineral fertilizers are available for sale: Urea, Superphosphate, Potassium Sulfate, Azofoska, etc. You must strictly adhere to the instructions for use, which indicate how much to dilute with water, what area to treat.
First, you should water the soil around the bushes, so that subsequent nutrition will be better absorbed. Then prepare a solution for feeding. The water must be settled and at ambient temperature.
The solution diluted according to the instructions should be applied strictly to the root. If it gets on the leaves, you need to wash it off with water to avoid burns. The procedure is carried out early in the morning or in the evening after sunset. Finally, it is advisable to mulch the soil around the plants. This will reduce the evaporation of moisture from the soil surface.
Foliar
Foliar feeding is carried out using the same rules. The only difference is that the pepper’s nutrition will be absorbed not by the root system, but by the leaves. The solution must be sprayed from above over the ground part of the bush.
Folk remedies
Adherents of natural farming use natural products for the first feeding. They prepare solutions from them with their own hands. Can be successfully used for this:
- yeast;
- iodine;
- weeds;
- ammonia;
- manure;
- whey;
- banana peel;
- onion peel;
- wood ash;
- compost, etc.
When feeding young seedlings, it is important to observe moderation. It is more useful to apply fertilizers more often, in small portions. An overdose can lead to plant disease. Following simple rules allows you to achieve an excellent harvest in the fall.
