In our latitudes, peppers are grown only through seedlings, since when planting seeds in the soil, the crop does not have to wait.
The fact is that the crop begins to bear fruit 4.5-5 months after planting.
How to grow seedlings of peppers at home so that by May the plants are ready for planting in the ground?
The secrets of growing pepper seedlings at home
To prepare and plant pepper seeds for seedlings begin in early February. The seeds are first germinated in a moist tissue, and then proceed to sowing.
For growing seedlings, any convenient boxes or containers that fill with nutrient soil are suitable. The substrate can be purchased in advance in the store, but it is better to do it yourself. To do this, mix a bucket of humus with a glass of sand and ash.
The soil mixture is slightly compacted, moistened with water and grooves are made at a distance of 3 cm from each other. Seeds are laid out in grooves and deepened by 1-2 cm, sprinkled with soil on top and moisten. The container is placed in a bag to achieve a greenhouse effect and cleaned in a dark place. Light is not required for seed germination.
After this reception, seedlings appear in 5-7 days.
As soon as the first shoots appear, the boxes are immediately transferred to the brightest place. If natural light is not enough, which is not excluded in February, then it is necessary to build additional illumination for seedlings.
Daylight hours for seedlings of pepper should be at least 10-12 hours, otherwise the seedlings will stretch, become weak. The backlight is placed at a height of 20 cm from the plants. As a backlight, LED bulbs or special phytolamps for seedlings are used.
A very important condition for growing pepper seedlings at home is watering. They are sown very tender and it is quite easy to fill them, which is fraught with a black leg. The land in containers with seedlings should not dry out, but excessive moisture is harmful to plants. Therefore, seedlings are watered often, but little by little, allowing the soil to dry. In addition, the drawers should have a good layer of drainage and drainage holes for fluid drainage.
Seed treatment before planting
Properly prepared seeds allow you to get seedlings that are resistant to disease and adverse conditions. There are several procedures that only the gardener should decide whether or not to perform.
Calibration and warming up
Empty seeds will not germinate, so it is better to reject them at the initial stage of cultivation. We prepare a warm 5% saline solution and pour the seeds into it, after 10 minutes the full ones will settle to the bottom. All unsuitable seeds will float to the surface, they must be removed.
After the procedure, seeds suitable for sowing are immediately placed in cold water.
Disinfection
Seed disinfection enhances their immunity. For disinfection using modern drugs or a solution of potassium permanganate. The procedure is carried out for several minutes.
We grow seedlings of peppers at home (photo): how to pick
Experienced gardeners are sure to dive seedlings, this provides seedlings with space for nutrition, a good root system is formed. This approach allows you to get a strong seedlings of peppers, which tolerates transplanting and quickly adapts to new growing conditions.
A picking is carried out when two real leaves appear in the plants, however, it is not worth dragging out the procedure much, young seedlings are still poorly adapted. In the evening, water the seedlings well, so that in the morning the soil is well saturated with moisture.
For transplantation, pots are selected, the depth of which is at least 15 cm.
The soil mixture is not changed.
1. Fill the pots with soil, make a recess and water well.
2. Seedlings carefully removed from the box using a spoon or spatula for seedlings, trying not to injure the roots.
3. Plants are placed in pots without deepening. Compress soil tightly and water.
After picking, the seedlings take root for several days, look lethargic and lifeless. This is a normal process.
Try not to water the seedlings during this period, there is enough moisture in the pots. As soon as the plants get stronger, the leaves will rise again, then in a few days you can feed the seedlings with a mineral complex. Acquire fertilizer for seedlings in advance or use fertilizing for adult plants, but the dose will need to be halved.
Is it possible to grow seedlings of peppers at home without a pick
Inexperienced gardeners are afraid to pick seedlings, since root system injuries cannot be avoided. And this negatively affects the quality of seedlings. In this case, you can advise growing seedlings of peppers at home without a dive. How to do it right?
A pick-free growing method involves sowing seeds directly in separate containers, and not in boxes or containers. Capacities are filled with a nutrient substrate, slams tamp the soil and watered. In each cup put 2-3 seeds, sprinkled with earth and cleaned in a greenhouse.
The meaning of the method is that during the growth process only the strongest sprout is left in the glass, the rest are removed. Seedling care is carried out as usual. Culled sprouts can be planted in other cups to practice transplanting. Be sure to outline this group of plants, note all changes. The best of them can be planted in the ground.
Preparation of seedlings of peppers for planting in the ground
It is difficult to grow strong seedlings of peppers at home without hardening. Before you transfer the plants to the country, they need to be prepared, otherwise the seedlings will be sick for a long time, take root poorly and give a weak crop.
Peppers are hardened a few weeks before planting. Plants are gradually accustomed to fresh air, leaving them on the windowsill during ventilation, first for 5, and then for 10 minutes.
After this, you can briefly take out the pots with seedlings to the balcony. Keep an eye on the weather, as cold air and bright sunlight are harmful to immature plants. Be sure to bring the seedlings overnight into the room.
After a few days, the pots can be left outdoors until evening. If there are no signs of wilting, there are no sunburns, then the seedlings are ready to move to a new place.
The subtleties of growing seedlings of peppers at home
Some gardeners complain that, despite all efforts, seedlings of peppers are poorly developed, yield poor crops or die. To avoid this, it is not enough to properly care for seedlings. There are subtleties of growing, without which a rich harvest will not work.
• Crop depends on the quality of the seeds. Pepper seeds quickly lose their germination, so you do not need to buy them for future use, they simply will not germinate or the seedlings will be weak.
• The planting period depends on the precocity of the variety. Early hybrids can be sown a couple of months before planting in the soil, middle and late varieties are sown in 2.5-3 months. An earlier planting leads to seedlings overgrowing, which is bad. Such seedlings do not adapt well in a new place, they bloom even in pots, which significantly weakens the plants.
• For germination, seeds need a certain temperature regime. In order for the seeds to hatch faster, the temperature in the room should be at the level of 20-25 C. At low temperatures, the germination process is delayed.
• Pick-up is carried out by transshipment method. If the roots of the plant are exposed and freed from the soil, this will delay adaptation for 14 days.
Such simple rules allow you to grow strong seedlings of peppers at home, which will give a good harvest.
