Pepper is one of the most popular cultures. In temperate climates it is grown in greenhouses or in the ground under the film. In order for plants to grow strong and yield crops as quickly as possible, it is important to plant the seedlings in time.
Experienced gardeners never buy it on the market. Personally grown seedlings of their favorite varieties have a better survival rate, they are stronger and are not susceptible to diseases.
Today we will talk about how to grow pepper seedlings at home? Step by step instructions are below.
Growing pepper seedlings at home
We will discuss in more detail how to grow seedlings of pepper at home?
For peppers you need to make a light nutrient substrate of sod or garden soilmixed with humus, peat and a small amount of washed sand. You should not take the land from the greenhouse or from the flowerbed, the best option is the soil on which the grass grew.
Growing pepper seedlings from seeds. You can plant seeds in containers or peat pots. Before planting, seeds are treated with a growth promoter and soaked for swelling..
Pepper does not tolerate transplanting and picking, it will have to be transferred by transferring it to a new place of residence (in a greenhouse or in the ground). A fragile root system is easily damaged and difficult to repair.
A convenient option for growing peppers for seedlings at home - pieces of plastic film, which gardeners themselves call diapers. Growing up in “diapers” is very economical, the shoots develop perfectly, moisture does not stagnate in the soil. In this way, you can grow good and healthy seedlings without picking.
The manufacturing process is simple. Thick plastic is cut into rectangles the size of a tetrad sheet. A portion of the prepared soil is laid on each billet, the pepper seed is placed in it. Plastic with the ground rolls up in the form of a cylinder, the process is a bit like swaddling a baby.
The lower part of the workpiece is tightly tucked in, the stationery gum is put on the top for fixation. The resulting cups are tightly installed in a deep pan. If several varieties are planted, it is necessary to mark each glass and enter the name of the variety in the notebook.
Before transplanting, it is enough to remove the gum from a plastic cup, remove the film and place an earthen ball in the prepared hole. With this method, the root system is not injured, seedlings take root in a new place without problems, do not get sick and develop well.
You can clearly see how pepper seedlings are grown in the photo below:
Garden on the windowsill
How to grow seedlings of pepper at home? A very important point - the correct placement of landings at home. Usually shoots peppers put on the windowsill of the south, southeast or southwest window. To create an optimal atmosphere, it is better to veil the window with plastic wrap on both sides. This technique will provide the greenhouse effect, the plants will not suffer from drafts.
It is possible to air an improvised greenhouse with the help of a vent, opening it at a strictly defined time.
At what temperature is pepper seedlings grown? For seed germination optimum temperature is from 25 to 28 degrees. When sprouts appear on the soil surface, the temperature should be reduced to 22-25 degrees.
How to harden pepper seedlings? Some gardeners recommend tempering tempering with a decrease in temperature to 20 degrees. This temperature is maintained no more than 2 days after the appearance of sprouts, then the temperature rises.
The atmosphere in the window greenhouse must be stable. Lowering the temperature slows down the development, and excessive heat can cause the death of sprouts. It is strictly forbidden to put boxes with seedlings on the battery or in its immediate vicinity. Severe overheating dries the soil and roots.
The secrets of proper cultivation
How to grow seedlings of pepper at home? Growing peppers need a short light day, while they love bright lighting.
To ensure the desired mode on the window lamps are strengthened for illumination. At 19 o'clock the container with seedlings is covered with an opaque breathable material, in the morning it is removed. As a result, seedlings develop well and do not outgrow.
At home pepperoften affected by mites, aphids and other pests. Effective means of bio-protection (for example, Phyto-farm) will help to destroy insects. Replace the purchased preparations can infusion of calendula, garlic, pine needles or onion peel. The affected plants are sprayed from a spray bottle, the procedure is repeated until complete destruction of the pests.
Only completely healthy and strong plants can be planted in a greenhouse or in open ground. The transshipment with the earthy ball is carried out, when the earth warms to 15 degrees. Improving survival rate helps pre-spillage holes with hot water.
Watering and fertilizer
Immediately after sowing, the ground in a container or pots is moistened with a spray bottle. When sprouts appear on the surface of the ground, you can start watering from the spoon. It is impossible to pour seedlings stagnant moisture in the soil causes rotting of the roots and the appearance of a “black leg”.
For irrigation using warm distilled water. Ideal if the temperature of the water coincides with the temperature of the air. Cold watering excludedThis can cause shock and death to the plants.
Watering grown seedlings need twice a week, making sure that the soil does not dry out. If the leaves begin to fade, it is worth spraying with warm water. To improve the condition of seedlings will help and an aqueous solution of growth stimulant. Watering with a stimulant is useful immediately after seed germination and after the formation of 2-3 true leaves.
When the first true leaf appears on the plants, you can begin mineral fertilizing.
An aqueous solution of complex fertilizers is introduced into the soil. After the appearance of the third leaf, fertilizing is repeated. Potassium humate has a positive effect on root development..
After transplanting peppers in the greenhouse or in the soil, fertilizers are applied twice a month. Watering takes place in the usual mode for seedlings, 2 times a week.
For future harvest is very important seedling age. Overgrown peppers should not be planted in a greenhouse or garden bed. To obtain seedlings of the desired size and degree of development, it is important to accurately calculate the time of sowing seeds. Paying attention to all the little things, the gardener can count on a good development of plants, timely formation of ovaries and abundant fruiting.
So, the main topic of the article is pepper seedlings: how to grow it strong and healthy? We discussed the main points of cultivation, and also gave tips on how to grow peppers from seeds at home for seedlings?
Useful materials
Read other articles on pepper seedlings:
- How to grow black pepper peas, chili, bitter or sweet at home?
- The main reasons why the leaves are twisted at the shoots and the seedlings fall or stretch.
- Terms of planting in the regions of Russia and especially the cultivation in the Urals, Siberia and Moscow region.
- Learn yeast based fertilizer recipes.
