Pepper is a commonly grown crop in vegetable gardens in our country. This plant is very demanding on growing conditions. In the conditions of the Russian climate, it is quite difficult to ensure a high yield of this crop.
But nothing is impossible. With proper preparation of seeds and seedlings for planting in the garden, enviable results can be achieved. To grow strong, he althy pepper seedlings, you will need to take into account a number of recommendations from experienced summer residents and gardeners. In this case, you will be able to harvest a bountiful harvest of delicious, juicy vegetables on your site.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Pepper seedlings at home can grow strong, resistant to diseases and adverse environmental factors, given a number of recommendations from experienced gardeners. The conditions of the domestic climate do not allow the seeds of this crop to be sown directly in open ground. Therefore, it will be necessary to breed seedlings. This process has many nuances.
Pepper is a thermophilic plant. It is characterized by a long period of development, fruit ripening. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly calculate the timing for planting in accordance with the existing climate features. Pepper is grown both in greenhouses and in open ground. The first option is suitable for the northern regions of our country. Seedlings are planted in open ground mainly in the south and in the central part of Russia.
Many gardeners argue that the success of the whole enterprise depends on the correct timing of planting, as well as appropriate care for young seedlings. Proper seed treatment, maintaining an optimal microclimate in the greenhouse are not the last favorable factors in growing pepper.
Experienced gardeners are sure to choose the time to start this venture in accordance with the lunar calendar. Peppers for seedlings should be planted only on certain days. And this is not a joke. The moon has a significant influence on nature. Therefore, the advice of astrologers helps to grow a bountiful harvest for everyone to envy.
It is important to choose the right kind of pepper as well. Its fruits may ripen at different times. If the warm period in the region is short, you need to choose early-ripening varieties. The warmer in the area where the cottage is located, the later variety of pepper you can choose for cultivation. In a greenhouse, plants are usually grown that reach a considerable height in the course of their development. Small bushes are suitable for open ground.
Choosing landing time
It will not be difficult to correctly determine the time for landing, givenrecommendations of gardeners and the lunar calendar. Planting pepper seedlings is one of the most important stages of growing this crop. If you plant the seeds in the greenhouse too early, the sprouts will develop, filling the cramped container with their roots. If they cannot be transplanted into open ground or even a greenhouse at the right time, the pepper will weaken. Its roots will rot. As a result, such a plant will die.
Too late planting of seeds may result in the fact that it will be impossible to harvest, as it simply will not ripen. Early cold will lead to the death of the future crop.
The choice of the period for sowing depends on the variety of pepper. Early varieties develop faster. Therefore, their seeds are introduced into the soil two months before transplanting seedlings into beds. Late varieties are somewhat behind in the rate of development. They need to be sown in small containers 2.5 months before planting seedlings in open ground.
You should also take into account the peculiarities of the methodology that the summer resident will use in the process of growing his crop. Pepper can be planted in a heated greenhouse in mid-April. For a greenhouse that will not be additionally heated, the period for planting pepper comes in May. Seedlings can be introduced into open ground no earlier than in June. A sudden return of cold can destroy even a hardened crop.
Gardeners agree that it is necessary to plant pepper seedlings in February. However, this rule is not applicable to all regions of our country. Even in the southern regions at this time daylight hours are stilltoo short. Young shoots will need additional lighting with a fitolamp. And this entails certain costs. Additional lighting will need to be turned on every day for 12 hours. Therefore, many summer residents begin planting peppers in the first days of spring.
Influence of the Moon
The moon has a significant impact on the nature of our planet. We can see the ebb and flow. Some people feel a little different on a full moon. Plants are sensitive to the phases of the moon. Therefore, this feature is taken into account by experienced gardeners. More than once they were able to convince themselves of the expediency of determining suitable dates for planting pepper seedlings according to the lunar calendar.
Summer residents never plant seeds and seedlings on a new moon and a full moon. The moon influences the movement of fluids within plants. On a full moon, the juices rise up, leaving the bottom of the plant dry. In the new moon, you can observe the reverse process. This imbalance can affect the quality of seedlings. Therefore, it is important to consider what phase the natural satellite of our planet is in now.
A good time to start breeding pepper seedlings according to the lunar calendar is the period from the new moon to the full moon. At this time, you can observe how the thin crescent of the moon is gradually increasing. Plants also respond to this process. Seedlings that were planted in the ground on the growing moon, as well as pepper seeds, develop more actively. This has been repeatedly proven by many years of observations of gardeners. Planting seeds and seedlings after the full moonis less successful, plants develop more slowly.
So, when to plant pepper seedlings? In 2018, you need to time the sowing of seeds for the following dates in March:
- 3.03.2018
- 03/4/2018
- 12. 03.2018
- 2018-14-03
If you want to plant seedlings in the ground quite late (cold climate), you need to choose one of the following days:
- 20.03.2018
- 30.03.2018
- 31.03.2018
Knowing when to plant pepper seedlings according to the lunar calendar, you must also choose the dates for planting young shoots in the ground. The following days will be successful for this:
- 2018-08-05
- 2018-14-05
- 2018-15-05
- 24.05.2018
- 25.05.2018
- 2.06.2018
- 2018-11-06
- 20.06.2018
During these periods, the Moon is not only growing, but also in the signs of the zodiac, which accompany a bountiful harvest and he althy seedlings.
Suitable seeds
Having considered the recommendations of the sowing calendar for planting pepper seedlings, you need to plan a number of preparatory activities. Seeds require proper selection and processing. Only in this case, germination will meet the requirements of the gardener. Seeds should not be overdried. Such material can be stored for a long time, but seedlings using these seeds will be rare.
Having chosen the right seed in the store, you will need to select only the strongest grains. For this incontainer is poured with 1 liter of warm water. 30 g of ordinary kitchen s alt is dissolved in it. Pour the contents of the bag of seeds into the solution. The liquid is thoroughly mixed. When 8 minutes have passed, you can collect the grains that will remain floating on the surface and throw them away. They are too weak to sprout well.
Seeds from the bottom are collected, washed under fresh water and laid out on a sheet of office white paper. The seeds must dry out. The preparation process does not end there.
To plant pepper seedlings according to the lunar calendar, you will need to carefully process the selected seeds. They need to be washed with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will significantly reduce the risk of developing diseases in sprouts. Also, a similar procedure additionally hardens crops. To prepare the product, you will need to mix 1 g of potassium permanganate with 1 liter of water. The seeds are dipped into the composition for 13-17 minutes.
Taking the grains out of the solution of potassium permanganate, they are not washed. You need to lay out the seeds on paper. After that, the seeds are left for some time. Before introducing them into the prepared soil, it will be necessary to carry out a few more preparatory procedures.
Seed preparation
Knowing when to plant pepper seedlings, you need to choose the time for hardening and processing with nutrients. 2 days before the introduction of the grains into the soil, they must be impregnated with a solution of the components necessary for growth. These can be purchased at a gardening store (for example, "Ideal") or self-prepared compositions.
To make the grain goodsaturated with useful substances, you will need to prepare a solution according to the manufacturer's instructions. The seeds are dipped into it for 24 hours. After that, they need to be taken out and laid out on paper again.
To enrich the seeds with oxygen (which also has a positive effect on their growth), an aeration procedure will be required. This will require a container of water. A compressor is installed in it (you can take it from the aquarium). Enrichment of pepper grains with oxygen should last a day. It will be possible to plant them in the ground no earlier than in 2 weeks.
You can soak the seeds in a homemade solution. This will require wood ash and water. Seeds are in this solution for no more than 3 hours. Then they will also need to be dried on a sheet of paper.
Having decided when to sow pepper for seedlings, you need to choose a date for hardening the grains. It is carried out a day before the introduction of seeds into the soil. They are soaked in warm water. When the grains absorb moisture and swell, put a container of water in the refrigerator (preferably on the bottom shelf). After 24 hours, they are taken out and start landing.
Soil selection
To grow a he althy, bountiful harvest, you need to consider not only when to sow pepper seedlings. It is important to correctly approach the selection and preparation of the soil. It should be warm, rich in nutrients. It is better to pour the substrate into small cups. Peppers don't like diving.
To make the soil warm, it is poured into a glass, poured with warm water and covered with a film. At the same time, there isseveral suitable substrate options for pepper seedlings. You can make your own mixture. However, it would be better to purchase ready-made soil in a special store. It will be properly treated with antiseptics. At the same time, the composition of nutrients will be balanced.
A self-prepared substrate consists of a mixture of different types of soil. To prepare it, you will need to mix the following ingredients:
- 4 pieces of peat land;
- 2 pieces of soddy soil;
- 1 part sawdust (fresh is not suitable);
- 1 part humus.
Also, quite a bit of river sand and wood ash are added to this mixture. Experienced gardeners recommend adding to any substrate (even purchased) a little land from the beds where the pepper will be planted. It needs to be heated in the oven to protect the seedlings from the development of diseases.
The soil in which seedlings will thrive may be coconut fibre. It is a natural, environmentally friendly material. In it, oxygen will be provided to the roots of the plant.
One of the popular ways to grow pepper seeds for seedlings is to use peat tablets. In this case, the likelihood of damaging the roots of the plant will be minimal. This contributes to the good development of pepper. It is the root system that is its weak point, so it must be handled with care.
Boarding process
So, we plant pepper seedlings according to the lunar calendar. Having chosen a suitable date for this activity, you will need to prepare many small glasses (100 ml). Ifthe gardener decides to dive, he can plant the grains in one spacious container. However, it is better not to do this. It is easy to damage the roots when transplanting.
Cups should be washed with a solution of potassium permanganate. Soil is poured into each of the prepared containers to the middle. Gently spread the seeds on its surface with tweezers (one for each cup). After that, the surface of the soil must be watered with a spray bottle. Pour another 1 cm of earth on top. It is compacted a little. The cups are covered with a film of transparent polyethylene.
Having chosen the right time to sow pepper seedlings, you should consider another way of planting. To do this, purchase peat tablets (by the number of seeds). They are laid out in rows in a plastic transparent container. Warm clean water is poured into it. When the tablets swell, the liquid is drained.
A small indentation (about 1 cm) is made in each tablet. A grain is put into it. The seed is covered with a layer of soil. The container is covered with a transparent lid.
Seedling care
Pepper seedlings need a body. It is necessary to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse at a level of about 26 ºС. The soil should be sprayed at intervals of 1 time in two days. To do this, use a spray gun. The substrate must not be compacted.
When the first shoots appear (it depends on the variety), you need to remove the plastic wrap. Plants, if necessary, provide additional illumination. Provide lighting for a minimum of 9 hours during the daytime.
Happythe room temperature must remain high. At night, its decrease to 15 ºС is permissible. However, at a temperature of 12 ºС, the seedlings will die. Therefore, you need to monitor the indoor climate.
Watering should be done in the morning. The water should not be cold. It must be settled or filtered. Be sure to loosen the soil. This is done very carefully. The delicate root system of peppers cannot be damaged.
Additional recommendations
Pepper seedlings need hardening. This procedure is carried out not only for seeds. Shoots also need to be prepared for planting in open ground. Hardening begins to be carried out 10-15 days before the start of the transplant. You can open the windows in the room for a short time. If the house has a loggia, veranda or terrace, you can take out a container with sprouts on it. Gradually increase the duration of the sessions.
To increase the immunity of seedlings, it is sprayed with herbal infusions. To do this, prepare a remedy for garlic, calendula or needles. The procedure is carried out exclusively in the morning. Moisture drops on leaves exposed to direct sunlight will cause burns on the plant.
Pepper is a thermophilic plant. It also loves light. Therefore, seedlings are best grown on the southern windowsills. Complementary foods are applied twice before planting pepper on the beds. The first time this procedure is carried out when 4 true leaves appear on the sprout. The second time top dressing is made when 6 leaves appear. You can use a solution of water with mullein. This is a good option for fertilizing seedlings.
How to transplant seedlings
After studying the recommendationscalendar, determining the right time when to sow pepper for seedlings, you need to pay attention to the correct planting of sprouts in the ground. The plant is considered ready for transplanting to the garden when it has about eight leaves and buds. This is already a large plant that needs to be rooted outdoors.
When hardening seedlings, you need to increase the duration of sessions up to 8 hours. 2 days before transplanting, the plant is left on the loggia or veranda for the night. In the morning, the seedlings are again transferred to a warm room. This will allow the pepper to adapt to the new conditions.
When the air and soil warms up, you can start transplanting. To do this, you need to dig the soil. Pits are made at a distance of at least 50 cm. Mineral fertilizers are applied into them. After that, each plant is taken out of the glass. If grown in peat pellets, they are left on the roots.
First, the plant is half covered with earth. It is watered (about 1.5 liters of water). The root neck should be flush with the soil. Peppers are covered with soil. Next, you need to periodically water it, waiting for the fruiting period. With proper preparation, a bountiful harvest can be expected. Pepper can be used for salads, side dishes, preservation, etc.
Having considered the rules and recommendations for growing pepper seedlings, you can prepare the plant for planting in open ground. Its yield will be high. Experienced summer residents recommend carefully calculating the time for sowing. This will require several preparatoryevents. In this case, the seedlings will be strong, ready for growing conditions in the garden.
