Pepper loves heat, so in the middle zone and northern regions of Russia the crop is grown through seedlings. However, seedlings do not always develop in accordance with the expectations placed on them. Sometimes seedlings begin to bloom vigorously even before they reach their permanent location. This is where the gardeners' confusion begins. Not everyone knows whether it is necessary to pick off the first flowers that appear at home.
Causes of premature flowering of seedlings
First of all, early flowering is caused by violation of sowing dates. If you plant seeds earlier than expected, the seedlings will have to spend more time in the house until it becomes warm outside. And if spring is late, then the timing of planting seedlings in the ground is postponed for another 1-2 weeks.
However, plants develop in accordance with their biological rhythms. If the variety is early, then the pepper will flower quickly, regardless of whether the seedlings are in the room or in the greenhouse. Early peppers are sown closer to mid-March, late varieties are planted no later than the end of February.
Other reasons also influence the onset of flowering:
- high room temperature;
- excess fertilizer in the soil;
- abundance of moisture;
- use of growth stimulants.
If you create excessively comfortable conditions for the pepper, then flowering will not take long.Therefore, it is better for summer residents to adjust the care of seedlings in advance in order to delay the appearance of buds.
In what cases can buds be left?
Without assessing the situation, it is impossible to say unequivocally whether it is better to remove the buds or leave them. First of all, they determine how much time the seedlings still need to spend at home. If warmer weather is already on the way and the peppers can be planted in the next 2 weeks, leave the flowers, but at the same time adjust the care.
It is necessary to reduce the temperature in the room by 4-6 degrees, water the seedlings less often. Additional replanting will also have an effect, which will create stressful conditions for the plants, slowing down their growth and the formation of buds. The peppers may shed the buds that have already appeared.
When is bud removal required and how to do it correctly
If there is still a lot of time left before transplanting into a greenhouse or open ground, it is better not to let the pepper bloom. Removal of buds is carried out as soon as they begin to form, so that the plant does not waste energy. If you allow the first flowers to open during home flowering, the pepper will be weakened in the future, and this will have a bad effect on the yield.
You can leave the buds if you want to get early fruiting, but the number of fruits in this case will be small. Experienced gardeners offer a compromise solution - to remove only the “crown” flower that forms in the lower fork. Remove the buds manually, pinching them at the base with a fingernail. It is also acceptable to use tweezers.
After the buds are removed, the seedlings are cooled by lowering the temperature to +18°C during the day and +15°C at night.The room is ventilated as often as possible, making sure that the flow of cold air does not touch the plants. Also reduce watering and lighting levels.
To avoid the problem of early flowering of pepper seedlings, you need to sow them in a timely manner, keep the plants at temperatures below +25 °C and water them moderately. If the seedlings look vigorous, it is better not to feed them. You need to be especially careful when using phosphorus fertilizers. Formed buds can be left if there are no more than 10-15 days left before planting the seedlings in a permanent place.
