How to plant pepper seedlings at home. How to sow sweet peppers for seedlings How to plant sweet peppers from seeds

Pepper is a rather tender and capricious plant that takes a long time to germinate from seeds. In order to have time to get a good harvest, or even two during the summer, you need to choose the right time for sowing seeds for seedlings.

For successful cultivation seedlings matter several factors. One important condition is right time planting seeds. The second is their proper preparation and landing.

Step one - choose a variety of pepper

Ripening and harvesting should fall on the warmest time of summer - this is the end of July - mid-August. Pepper varieties are divided according to the time of their ripening. Accordingly, the time of planting seeds will be different.

For seedlings, the duration of daylight hours is important - the longer it is, the better the growth. When planting seedlings in early February, provide them with enough light with fitolamps or just fluorescent lights.

Planting pepper according to the lunar calendar

Many gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar. It is believed that pepper should be planted on a growing moon, because its fruits grow on twigs. With the growing moon, the juices from the earth tend upward into the stem and fruit. By lunar calendar define and better days for landing. For each culture define "their" days. There are also “common” days for all vegetable crops, the so-called neutral days. It is not recommended to land on the new moon and full moon.

Most auspicious days for planting seeds in March 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17.

What affects landing time

Seedlings are suitable for planting in the ground, on which the first flower formed at the first fork. If the seedling is allowed to outgrow, it does not take root well in the ground and bears less fruit. The first flower appears about 2.5 months after seed germination. Seed forcing time can vary from 10 to 35 days. Thus, it is possible to calculate the landing time, taking into account all the factors affecting its growth.

Seed choice: buy from the store or plant your own

Planting time should be adjusted depending on whether your seeds go to seedlings or purchased. The germination of their seeds is 10-20 days. Purchased seeds may hatch after 4 weeks or even later, as the manufacturer, as a rule, dries them to extend the shelf life.

Purchased seeds must be processed for better germination and planted 10-20 weeks earlier.

The process of transplanting into the ground

When calculating the planting time, it must be borne in mind that peppers do not tolerate transplanting into the ground. They need 7-10 days to recover. This can delay the fruit ripening period, which is very undesirable in our short summer. For the most gentle transplantation for seedlings, you can use separate pots specially designed for growing it. Then the bush can be transplanted into the ground by transshipment without injuring the roots. If this is not possible, you need to give odds to the plant by planting seedlings a week earlier.

For planting time, the type of greenhouse in which they will be grown is also important. If this is a capital heated greenhouse, any varieties can be safely planted for seedlings in mid-February. By the end of April, they can be moved to the greenhouse.

For those who grow peppers under film cover or in a conventional greenhouse in the sun, seedlings should be planted no later than mid-March. Landing in a greenhouse will take place in mid-May, when there is no longer a threat of frost.

Climate zones

Pepper is a heat-loving plant and the timing of its ripening varies depending on the region. The earlier seedlings can be planted in the ground, the earlier they should be planted.

In the southern regions, where the soil warms up earlier, you can start sowing seeds at the end of January. For middle lane– possible landing in early – mid-February. For the Ural region and Siberia - the beginning of March will be the best time.

In any case, the second decade of March is considered the deadline for planting pepper seeds for seedlings.

How to sow seeds for seedlings

Germination of pepper seeds lasts about 3 years. Attempts to germinate older seeds are unlikely to be successful. How to find out how old the purchased seeds are, and whether they will sprout at all?

Seed check

There are two ways to check for empty seeds in a pretty bag.

The first one is the simplest. Without waiting for the due date for planting seedlings, take a few seeds from each bag and plant, following the usual rules for their preparation. Make a so-called training planting. You should be interested in two facts: how many seeds sprouted and the time in which the shoots appeared. The distillation period has great importance. Now you will know exactly when to sow seeds for seedlings, taking into account the time of their germination.
The second method is used by almost all gardeners. In a weak saline solution (3%), you need to put the seeds. Full-fledged ones will go to the bottom, and "empty" ones will float up. They need to be removed, water from good seeds pour through a strainer, collect them and start preparing for sowing.

Seed preparation for seedlings

If the test planting showed excellent seed germination, there is no point in wasting time and effort on additional preparation. You can sow them dry directly into the prepared substrate. If the seeds showed not very good result, they need to be soaked and germinated. The largest seeds are selected for planting. You can cook them in different ways.

Soaking in potassium permanganate (only swollen seeds are processed) for disinfection. The solution should be dark in color. In it, the seeds are aged for about half an hour. Then they are transferred to melt water room temperature(not cold!) and leave for 24 hours. The seeds soaked in this way are transferred to a damp cloth, placed in a plastic bag and tied so that air remains in it. In a warm place, after 6-7 days, tiny sprouts will hatch from the seeds. Everything, you can plant seedlings.
"Grandma's" way - soaking in ash water. Wood ash (a tablespoon) is diluted in 0.5 liters of water. It is necessary to let it brew for about a day, stirring from time to time. Then drain the ash water and put the seeds in it for a day or two (preferably in a gauze bag). There they will be saturated with trace elements, which will increase their vitality. Then they are also placed for germination. After the ash solution, the seeds are not washed!
Soaking in growth stimulants. It is important to strictly follow the dosage and instructions that such drugs are provided with.
Saturation of seeds with oxygen, the so-called bubbling. Seeds are placed in settled warm water in a liter jar and air is supplied there using a compressor that is used for an aquarium. So the seeds are processed during the day. After bubbling, the seeds give excellent germination. Processing is carried out 2 weeks before sowing.

To disinfect seeds, instead of potassium permanganate, you can use ready-made low-toxic biological preparations, also guided by the instructions for them.

Important! When preparing seeds, do not use hot water, they will die.

Soil preparation and containers

The delicate root system of pepper does not tolerate transplants, so it is better to immediately plant the seeds in separate containers. You can make them yourself from cardboard bags and greenhouse film, you can use plastic cups, etc. The main thing is that the volume was initially small. Peat pots are good, but they have one drawback. Moisture easily evaporates through its walls, which can lead to drying out of the soil. In homemade containers must be drainage holes to drain excess water during irrigation.

If there is no experience and the ability to make the soil mixture for seedlings yourself, it is better to use purchased soil based on biohumus. Under no circumstances should garden soil be used. It is depleted of other vegetable crops. In addition, many pathogenic, destructive microorganisms and pests live in it.

Planting seeds

At the bottom of the prepared container, earth is poured, which can be mixed with a small amount of fertilizer containing phosphorus - it contributes good growth root system. Top up with earth so that 2-3 cm is left to the edge. Pour abundantly so that water flows through the drainage holes. In a recess made with a match or a toothpick, a germinated seed is placed, sprout down. The surface of the earth is smoothed and slightly pressed. It is not necessary to tamp the soil, pepper loves loose soil.

Important! For irrigation, use only well-settled or boiled water at room temperature. Chlorine is detrimental to seeds and to the plant as a whole.

Containers with seedlings are placed in a warm place (25-30?). Everyone, we are waiting for friendly shoots.

Good luck to everyone and good harvest!

Get strong healthy seedlings pepper can be grown if you grow it yourself. Beginning gardeners often wonder how to grow pepper seedlings at home. Before planting, it is important to understand all the nuances: planting dates, seed preparation features, soil selection, care rules.

Optimal landing time

When planning to grow pepper seedlings on your own, you first need to decide when to plant pepper seedlings. The date of sowing seeds for each variety is determined individually. It depends on:

planned growing conditions (open ground, greenhouse);
precocity;
the age at which the pepper is moved into the ground;
seed preparation.

The duration of the vegetative development of peppers depends on the precocity of the variety. If a early ripe varieties ripen in 100-120 days from the moment of seed germination, then late-ripening peppers need about 150 days before fruiting. Respectively early varieties should be planted later.

Seedlings are transferred to the main place at the age of 60–80 days. When calculating the timing of sowing seeds, add another 7-10 days for their spitting. If it is planned to grow peppers in unprotected soil, then it is necessary to wait until the earth warms up to +10 .. +15 ° С. An earlier planting will cause a delay in the vegetative development of the plant.

The optimal landing period is the period between February 20 and March 10. If the summer resident plans to plant plants in early June, then March will be the optimal time for sowing seeds. If you plan to plant pepper in a greenhouse at the end of April, then seedlings at home can be planted in early February.

In the southern regions, agronomists advise planting seeds during the 2nd or 3rd decade of February, and in the northern regions - in March.

When choosing a landing day, you should be guided by the lunar calendar. The most favorable period is considered to be the presence of the moon in the constellation of Cancer, Pisces or Scorpio. If you pre-soak the seeds, then the optimal day is selected for their first contact with water.

The following dates are considered favorable according to the lunar calendar in 2018:

January 1, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30;
14, 18, 21–22, 25–26 February;
1, 8–11, 20–21, 24–26, 29–31 March;
9, 11, 18, 25–29 April.

Pros and cons of planting seeds immediately in open ground

Some owners personal plots do not want to grow seedlings at home. They are waiting for warmer weather to immediately sow the seeds in open ground. But this method of growing is considered risky, because pepper is a heat-loving crop. With sudden spring frosts, plants can die.

Residents of the southern regions and the middle zone can try to grow pepper by planting seeds immediately in open ground. In the northern regions and zones related to risky farming, such an experiment is unlikely to end successfully.

You can use only early-ripening varieties, the rest will not have time to begin to bear fruit before the cold snap. It is advised to plant seeds in the ground no earlier than mid-May - early June. The chance of frost must be minimized.

The advantages of this method of planting include the absence of the need to grow seedlings at home. Growing in open field minimizes labor costs.

But this method also has disadvantages:

the ability to grow only early ripening varieties;
high probability of plant death or developmental delay due to unplanned cooling;
the probability of complete ripening of the crop before a cold snap is low even in the south.

Gardeners are forced to constantly monitor the temperature and cover the crops with agrofiber if they transmit a decrease in temperature at night.

Preparing seeds for sowing at home

Having decided on the preliminary date of sowing, it is necessary to reject the seeds. They should be examined first. All frail, damaged specimens are selected. The remaining seeds must be pickled in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes and washed in cold water. Instead of potassium permanganate, some choose antifungal agents for treatment. The following fungicides are used:

Fitosporin-M;
Maksim;
Vitaros.

After etching, they can be soaked in a solution of Epin or Zircon. These are plant growth stimulants that contribute to the accelerated germination of seeds, the activation of their defenses. 2 drops of Epin are added to 100 ml of water. When using Zircon, dissolve 1 drop in 300 ml of water. Soak the seeds for 12-18 hours at room temperature.

When processing several varieties of pepper, which are planned to be planted separately in the future, the seeds of each species are tied in a separate gauze bag.

After the completion of the treatment with growth stimulants, the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and film for 2–7 days. Do not allow the tissue and seeds to dry out. They should be at a temperature of + 22 ... + 24 ° С. The hatched seeds are transplanted into the ground. When planting, care should be taken, the slightest damage to the roots will cause the death of the plant.

Rules for the selection and preparation of soil for seeds

Owners of personal plots who want to get strong, healthy seedlings must responsibly approach the issue of soil preparation. It must meet the following requirements:

lack of pests and pathogens;
neutral or slightly acid reaction, optimal level pH is considered 6–6.5;
high nutrient content;
sufficient moisture capacity;
looseness.

You can buy ready-made soil in a specialized store or prepare it yourself. For cooking you will need:

garden land (2 parts);
humus, rotted manure (1 part);
wood ash (the amount is determined based on the fact that 1 bucket of humus requires a large handful of ash);
sawdust (1 part);
peat (1 part).

If there are no sawdust, they are replaced with coarse sand. Garden land should be collected where nightshade crops (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers) have not grown over the past 3-4 years.

Also, summer residents can prepare a substrate from:

humus (3 parts);
peat / turf (3 parts);
river sand (1 part);
ash (250 g per 5 liters of prepared soil).

When preparing the soil mixture yourself, it must be calcined in the oven or steamed in a double boiler for an hour. This is required to kill bacterial pathogens and destroy weeds.

If it is not possible to use humus and find ash, add mineral fertilizers: ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium nitrate. Potassium chloride or potassium salt should not be used, these fertilizers contain a large number of chlorine, which is harmful to the roots of young plants.

The day before planting, you can additionally disinfect the soil by watering it with boiling water.

Sowing pepper seeds for seedlings step by step

2.5 months before the planned planting date, seedlings begin the process of sowing seeds. You can do this according to the following scheme.

Drainage (expanded clay, pebbles) 1–2 cm high is laid at the bottom of pre-prepared containers, soil is poured on top. It is best to plant seeds in separate pots or cups, 10–12 cm deep and 8–10 cm in diameter. In the absence of cups, planting in a common container is allowed.
Seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil with tweezers or hands. If they are planted in a common container, then optimal distance it will be 1.5–2 cm. 3 cm are left between the grooves. 2 seeds can be laid out in separate cups.
After the completion of the process of laying out the seeds, the soil is topped up with a layer of 1–2 cm. It is not necessary to carefully compact it, otherwise it will be difficult for the sprouts to germinate. After completion, the soil is carefully watered, care must be taken that the seeds do not wash to the surface.
Top containers with soil are covered transparent material: glass, polyethylene film. This is necessary to create the greenhouse effect. When the first shoots appear, the cover is removed, the plants need air.

Many have appreciated the benefits of growing seeds in peat cups. When using them, you do not have to worry about possible damage to the roots during transplantation. Seedlings are sent to the ground directly in the cups.

seedling care

In the conditions of an ordinary city apartment, not everyone can grow strong, unstretched seedlings. In the brightest place in the apartment - the windowsill - it is traditionally cold, and in warm corners there is not enough light. When growing, the following nuances must be taken into account.

After sowing the seeds, boxes or pots are placed in a warm place. They cannot be placed on a battery. The optimum temperature for germination is +24..+26 °C. After the appearance of the first shoots, the containers are moved to a bright, cool place. The optimum temperature is +15..+17 °С. After a few days, the temperature must be gradually increased, bringing it to +22..+25 °С during the day and +20 °С at night.

Suitable conditions can be created on the windowsill of a city apartment. To do this, the window is fenced off from the heat coming from the battery and from the apartment. heat-insulating material(a semblance of a box is made with one wall for the entire window sill). Gradually, the insulation is removed, and the air temperature on the windowsill rises.

Emerging shoots must be carefully watered with warm water ( optimum temperature+30 °С). The root system of sprouted plants is weak, so they can simply be washed out of the ground with strong pressure. Excess moisture for seedlings is as harmful as its deficiency. With insufficient watering, the seedlings will begin to fade, and with excessive watering, a black leg appears. You can save the plants if you sprinkle the soil on top with calcined sand or powder with ash.
If the daylight hours are short or the weather is cloudy, the seedlings will have to be illuminated. Otherwise, it will start to stretch.
It is important to provide good ventilation for plants, but they do not like drafts.
To get strong seedlings, you need to fertilize it. The development of the root system is facilitated by feeding with sodium humate: 25 ml of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water. When 2–4 true leaves appear, pepper is fertilized with a mixture of potassium sulfate, urea (10 g each), superphosphate (30 g). This amount is dissolved in 5 liters of water. A solution is prepared on the basis that 1 liter of the mixture is needed to water 10 plants.

The second feeding is carried out 2-3 weeks after the first. Seedlings should grow at least 5 leaves. The same fertilizers are used, only their concentration is increased by 2 times.

You can use ready-made fertilizers: Krepysh, Agricola, Mortar, Fertika Lux.

Only proper care will give you the opportunity to get healthy seedlings that will bear fruit well.

A pick - is it necessary or not, how to do without it, how to conduct it correctly

Dive pepper when it has 2 true leaves. This usually happens 3-4 weeks after germination. When transplanting, young plants can be buried no more than 0.5 cm.

Many agronomists advise immediately planting seeds in large pots in order to do without picking peppers. The plant does not tolerate this procedure well. If the roots are damaged, the period of vegetative development is extended by 1–2 weeks.

But if the seeds were planted in a common container, then you can’t do without a pick. Plants begin to shade each other, and this negatively affects their growth and development. Picking is also needed to reduce the risk of root rot.

You can minimize the likelihood of damage to the roots if you take out several plants at the same time with a clod of earth. This should be done after abundant watering of the soil. The gardener lays a clod of earth with plants on a horizontal surface and carefully separates each plant.

Dive peppers into pots with a volume of about 150 ml. In them, seedlings will be easier to take root. The hole in the pots is made so that the roots can fit freely. After moving the plants, they are sprinkled with earth, slightly compacted and watered.

Planting peppers in open ground

After 60–80 days of vegetative development, seedlings can be transplanted into open ground. The transplant process begins at the stage of the first buds and 7-8 true leaves, while the height of the plants should be at least 20-25 cm. Only hardened seedlings are allowed to be transplanted into open ground. She should be accustomed to low temperatures, direct sunlight and wind.

When transplanting into open ground, pay attention to the temperature of the soil and air. The earth should be warmed up to +10 °С. It is unacceptable that the air temperature at night falls below +12..+14 °C.

choose a sunny place, protected from drafts;
the soil is first dug up to the depth of a shovel, fertilized with humus or peat;
holes are dug for each seedling at a distance of 0.3–0.5 m from each other, the exact distance depends on the variety of pepper (0.25–0.3 m can be left between undersized determinant species, and 0.5 m will be required for tall indeterminate crops). –0.6 m);
between rows leave at least 0.5 m;
mineral fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) are applied to each well, the wells are spilled with boiling water;
seedlings are moved into the ground along with the soil in which they grew, and sprinkled on top of the earth;
seedlings are watered abundantly, after absorbing moisture, the earth is filled up so that the surface becomes even;
bushes can be mulched with peat.

Subject to all the rules for planting, seedlings should take root.

Video: a proven method of growing

Having decided to start growing seedlings on your own, you will have to deal with many nuances. It is important to properly prepare the soil, treat the seeds before planting. Grow strong seedlings it is possible, if you follow the rules of irrigation, to create optimal conditions for growth. Air temperature, lighting, humidity are important. It must also be remembered that the timely application of fertilizers stimulates the growth and development of plants.

In our latitudes, pepper is grown only through seedlings, since when seeds are planted in the ground, there is no need to wait for the harvest.

The fact is that the culture 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?

Secrets of growing seedlings of peppers at home

The preparation and planting of pepper seeds for seedlings begin in early February. Seeds are pre-germinated in a damp cloth, after which they begin to sow.

Suitable for growing seedlings convenient drawers or containers that fill nutrient soil. The substrate can be purchased in advance at 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. The seeds are laid out in grooves and deepened by 1-2 cm, sprinkled with soil on top and moistened. The container is placed in a bag to achieve a greenhouse effect and removed in a dark place. Pepper seeds do not require light to germinate.

After this reception shoots appear in 5-7 days.

As soon as the first shoots appear, the boxes are immediately transferred to the brightest place. If there is not enough natural light, which is not excluded in February, then it is necessary to build additional illumination for seedlings.

Light day for pepper seedlings should be at least 10-12 hours, otherwise the seedlings will stretch out and 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.

Highly important condition when growing seedlings of pepper at home is watering. Seeds are very tender and it is quite easy to fill them, which is fraught with a black leg. The soil 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 out. In addition, the boxes must contain good layer drainage and drainage holes for fluid drainage.

Seed treatment before planting

Properly prepared seeds produce disease-resistant and adverse conditions seedlings. There are several procedures that only the gardener decides to perform or not.

Calibration and warm-up

Empty seeds will not sprout, so it is better to discard 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 unusable seeds will float to the surface and must be removed.

After the procedure, seeds suitable for sowing are immediately placed in cold water.

Disinfection

Disinfection of seeds increases their immunity. For disinfection, modern preparations or a solution of potassium permanganate are used. The procedure is carried out for several minutes.

We grow seedlings of peppers at home (photo): how to pick

Experienced gardeners be sure to dive seedlings, this provides the seedlings with an area for nutrition, a good root system is formed. This approach allows you to get strong pepper seedlings that tolerate transplanting well and quickly adapt to new growing conditions.

The picking is carried out when the plants have two true leaves, but you should not delay the procedure too much, young seedlings are still poorly adapted. Water the seedlings well in the evening so that the soil is well saturated with moisture by morning.

For transplanting, 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 depression and water well.

2. Carefully remove the seedlings from the box with a spoon or spatula for seedlings, being careful not to injure the roots.

3. Place the plants in pots without deepening. Tightly compress the soil and water.

After picking, the seedlings take root for several days, look sluggish 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 rise again, then in a few days you can feed the seedlings with a mineral complex. Purchase a seedling fertilizer in advance or use a top dressing for adult plants, but the dose will need to be halved.

Is it possible to grow seedlings of peppers at home without picking

Inexperienced gardeners are afraid to pick seedlings, as they cannot do without injuries to the root system. And this negatively affects the quality of seedlings. In this case, it can be advised to grow seedlings of peppers at home without picking. How to do it right?

The pick-free method of cultivation involves sowing seeds immediately in separate containers, and not in boxes or containers. The containers are filled with a nutrient substrate, the soil is lightly compacted and watered. 2-3 seeds are placed in each cup, sprinkled with earth and put into a greenhouse.

The meaning of the method is that in the process of growth, only the strongest sprout is left in the glass, the rest are removed. Seedlings are cared for as usual. Rejected sprouts can be planted in other cups to practice transplanting. Be sure to mark this group of plants, note all changes. The best of them can be planted in the ground this way.

Preparing seedlings of peppers for planting in the ground

It is difficult to grow strong seedlings of peppers at home without hardening. Before transferring the plants to the dacha, they need to be prepared, otherwise the seedlings will be sick for a long time, take root poorly and give a poor harvest.

To harden peppers begin a few weeks before disembarkation. Plants are gradually accustomed to fresh air, leaving them on the windowsill during airing, first for 5, and then for 10 minutes.

After that, you can briefly take out the pots with seedlings on the balcony. Watch the weather as cold air and bright Sun rays harmful to immature plants. Be sure to bring the seedlings into the room at night.

After a few days, the pots can be left outdoors until the 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 pepper seedlings at home

Some gardeners complain that, despite their best efforts, pepper seedlings develop poorly, yield poorly, or die. To avoid this, it is not enough to properly care for the seedlings. There are subtleties of cultivation, without which it will not work to get a rich harvest.

The yield depends on the quality of the seeds. Pepper seeds quickly lose their germination capacity, so you don’t need to buy them for the future, they simply won’t germinate or the seedlings will be weak.

Planting time depends on the maturity of the variety. Early hybrids can be sown a couple of months before planting in the ground, in the middle and late varieties sown in 2.5-3 months. More early boarding leads to the fact that the seedlings outgrow, and this 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.

The picking is carried out by the transshipment method. If the roots of the plant are exposed and freed from the soil, then 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.

In the country, personal plot most gardeners plant more than just potatoes and tomatoes. The topic of growing seedlings of pepper and the time of its planting is considered relevant. And the question of whether it is hot pepper or sweet is not important, the essence of this does not change due to identical agricultural technology and a slight difference in varieties. A rich harvest of pepper can only be achieved if grown through seedlings. It has a long period of fruit ripening, therefore, in order to get a good harvest, you should worry about the future in the winter.

So, let's look at the question of when to plant peppers from the very beginning. I would like to say a little about the seeds themselves. When buying them, you should pay attention to the packaging time and shelf life. If the seeds are up to two years old, you can be sure of their germination, their more respectable age is not welcome - you risk being left without pepper at all.

A few words about culture

Pepper has been cultivated in warm countries since time immemorial and enjoys well-deserved love from both amateur gardeners and culinary specialists. Taking into account that not all varieties have time to ripen in central Russia, many are interested in which variety is best suited to our climatic conditions and when to plant peppers. Let's make a reservation right away - experienced gardeners try to plant early and ultra-early varieties of sweet and bitter peppers. Here are just a few of them:

Rafaela F1 - early pepper, refers to early ripe hybrids. Cone-shaped fruits with high palatability. Ripening, the fruits gradually change color from dark green to deep red. This variety of pepper is ideal for canning and eating raw.

Lungi F1 - also considered a high yielding sweet pepper hybrid. The cone-shaped fruit is up to 5 mm thick. Resistant to diseases and adverse growing conditions.

Ami is a variety that has gained particular popularity in the south of Russia. undersized plant bears large cone-shaped fruits. The variety has a high yield and excellent taste.

You can also grow several varieties of early hot peppers. Each of them is distinguished by a high yield, an elongated fruit shape up to 12 cm long. Due to its specific taste, each of the proposed varieties - Gekgel, For mother-in-law or Fiery volcano - is used for making sauces, home canning, spicy paprika, and so on.

Sowing dates

After buying the treasured seeds, a natural question arises: "When to sow pepper for seedlings?" The distillation period can take from 5 to 30, sometimes more, days. The older the seeds, the longer they have this time. The normal period for seedlings of fresh seeds is 2-3 weeks. Reasoning on the topic of when to sow early pepper for seedlings should be based on the timing of its planting in the ground. Unlike tomatoes, which perfectly tolerate relocation to a permanent place, peppers are best planted after the first flower in the first fork. As a rule, this happens after 2-2.5 months from the moment of seed germination. If we look at the dates, then the pepper seeds that have risen from March 1 to March 15 can be planted in the ground from May 10, and the sowing of seeds will take place from February 20 to March 5. How well the choice is made planting material, will depend on its germination and future harvest. are characterized by a long germination period, this is evidenced by the special structure of the seed of the culture, which means that it is proposed to carry out artificial activation.

Before it can be treated with a growth stimulator, which will lead to friendly shoots. Most gardeners-vegetarians with many years of experience recommend to obtain big harvest remove the central flower on the plant, formed from the first branching.

Planting seeds

It should be understood that if you want to grow seedlings of pepper, which will subsequently give a good harvest, you need to do right choice containers for planting seeds. It is best carried out in small cups or special cassettes, but a box or low pot will adversely affect growth. It is worth remembering that peppers do not really like picks. Planting it big company into a common bowl with subsequent picking will lead to a delay in the development of seedlings for about a week or two. Therefore, it is best that pepper seeds are planted in small containers.

The soil mixture should be prepared a few days before planting. The soil must be warmed up to room temperature. You can also mix the substrate yourself, which will require the following components in equal proportions: lowland peat, manure humus and soddy land.

Where to determine seedlings

Everyone strives to use their greenhouse to the fullest. But in order to get a return on such plantings, you still need to listen to the advice of experts and not violate the rules developed over many years of practice: when to sow pepper, how to place seedlings. As a rule, pepper is grown in greenhouses, tunnels, greenhouses or on open beds. But the best option, of course, there is a greenhouse.

Before planting seedlings, it must be hardened off. This must be done in order to accustom the plant to the sun, wind, daily temperature fluctuations, in general, to fresh air. Hardening begins a few weeks before planting such a heat-loving crop as pepper in the ground. What is the best preparation method? Graduality is important here. Seedlings are taken out to the balcony, to the street. You can even just open the window, increasing the ventilation time every day. But it should be borne in mind that the temperature outside should be at least +13, otherwise the seedlings may freeze.

In the absence of a greenhouse, the planting of pepper seeds has to be planned for the month of February, so that by the time of transplantation, the seedlings are about 100 days old. It is not recommended to pamper your seedlings with excessive watering, as this can lead to a disease, popularly referred to as the black leg. But the drying of the soil should not be allowed.

Seedling feeding

During the period of growing seedlings, it will need to be fed a couple of times. Proper seedling seedlings will need to receive their first top dressing two weeks after the first shoots appear. The second is carried out a few days before planting the plants in the ground. The composition of the nutrient mixture includes: urea - 5 g, superphosphates - 30 g, potash fertilizers- 10 g (per 10 liters of water). A good top dressing is obtained from a mixture wood ash and infusion of nettle in a ratio of 1:10. It is worth remembering that potassium chloride is contraindicated for pepper.

Place to land

Pepper is heat-loving vegetable crops, which means that it needs a sunny, warm place, protected from the wind. Also, the plant is very demanding on the soil, therefore, strong seedlings are required. The land must be fertile, retain moisture well and allow air to pass through. The best predecessors of pepper are carrots, onions, also legumes(except beans). Do not plant pepper on the beds after eggplant, tomato, potatoes. The first couple of weeks after planting, the plants grow very slowly. Therefore, it is recommended to help them - to loosen the soil. This improves the supply of oxygen to the root system of the pepper.

Proper watering of pepper

Pepper prefers frequent but moderate watering with warm water. After each, the earth must be fluffed up, remembering that the root system of the crop is very close to the surface. Therefore, the procedure is carried out very carefully, trying not to damage the roots of the plant.

Irrigation rate before the formation of ovaries - 30-35 liters per 1 m 2, during the fruiting period - 40-45 liters. Watering stops 20 days before the last harvest.

Benefits of hot and sweet peppers

Mass useful properties has hot peppers, not to say about which it would be simply a sin. Oddly enough, it is popular not only in the preparation of individual dishes or in preservation, but also as a strengthening agent for hair, as well as warming for colds and inflammatory diseases.

It is best to start with a gentle way. To do this, hot tincture is diluted with kefir or vegetable oil with the addition of vitamins A and E. The mask has a stimulating effect on the hair without overdrying the scalp. Tincture can be prepared independently, or can be purchased at pharmacies. For self cooking you will need finely chopped hot peppers (2 pcs.), Which must be poured with 150 ml of alcohol and hidden in a dark place for 7 days. After that, the solution is ready for use. Apply it to the scalp, diluting with water in the proportion of 1 tablespoon of extract per 10 tbsp. l. water.

Now about sweet pepper. Thanks to the presence of a routine and a record number ascorbic acid strengthens capillaries, supplies the body with vitamin C. Eating ripe fruits will normalize the secretion of gastric juice, improve digestion and appetite. Pepper contains trace elements such as zinc and cobalt, which regulate the production of its own melanin.

Pepper for open ground

When to sow pepper seedlings for open ground? At about the same time as for greenhouses, but in the southern regions of our country, they shift by about 3 weeks by the beginning of the calendar year. Such varieties of sweet pepper seeds as Denis, Arsenal, Slastena, Heracles or Novocherkassky have established themselves as species that give an excellent harvest. They are very often grown by amateur gardeners. You can pick up other varieties of sweet pepper, which, through the efforts of professionals and amateurs, were bred for cultivation in the middle lane in open ground.

Among the varieties of bitter pepper, I would like to highlight such pepper for open ground as Astrakhan modifications 147 and 628, Ukrainian bitter or Elephant trunk modification 304.

The cultivation of bitter and sweet peppers is in many ways similar to the cultivation of tomatoes. But peppers, as it turned out, are much more sensitive to temperature changes and the effects of cold air currents. This means that it is necessary to choose varieties of bitter and sweet peppers for cultivation in open ground with a great eye on the weather and climate calendar of a certain area.

Also, when planning to plant seedlings in the ground, it is necessary to carefully select a place for peppers. To protect plants from the wind, they try to plant them along the fence, hedge, and so on. Thanks to the ability of culture to cross pollination we sow pepper seeds at a considerable distance from each other. This will give the plants the space they need to grow.

Planting pepper seeds in the ground should be accompanied by the application of organic fertilizer. receiving regular feeding from complex fertilizers, the plant develops a powerful root system.

Planting pepper seeds

Pepper belongs to rather capricious crops: the germination of seeds quickly falls, and since they have a rather dense shell, it is likely that the sprouts will be few, and it may happen that they will not exist at all. A completely logical conclusion follows from this: planting pepper seeds must be prepared in advance. How to do it?

Just before planting a pepper, it is recommended to make a careful selection of seeds for planting. To do this, you need to make a solution table salt(30 g per 1 liter of water). Seeds are immersed in it for no more than 10 minutes. Full seeds will sink to the bottom of the container, while hollow or weak ones will float. Floating seeds can be collected and thrown away without regret, as there will be no clear sense from them. Drain the solution, and wash the remaining seeds at the bottom. clean water and spread out to dry completely.

The next step to take before planting the pepper is called dressing. With it, you can disinfect the seeds and prevent plant diseases. To do this, sort the planting material by size and make a 1% solution of manganese (1 g per 1 liter). Put the selected seeds into the solution and leave there for no more than 15 minutes. After that, rinse again with water and let them dry.

In order to give plants health, it is recommended that a couple of days before sowing pepper seeds for seedlings, treat them with microelements. To do this, make small bags from gauze and put the seeds prepared for planting in them. Immerse in a solution with microelements (Ideal or Elin fertilizers) and leave for 12-14 hours. After that, the seeds must be removed and dried. It is worth paying attention that it is not required to wash them after this procedure.

Apart from chemical fertilizers, seeds can be processed folk remedies. For example, take 2 g of wood ash per 1 liter of water (the mixture should stand for a day with frequent stirring). Then the seeds are folded into gauze bags and lowered into the nutrient mixture for 3 hours. After that, rinse and dry everything.

If you want to get guaranteed seedlings, the seeds can be germinated in advance. To do this, put the pepper seeds disinfected in potassium permanganate on gauze, wrap and put in a shallow plate, slightly moisten. Put in a warm place. After a day, you can observe how small roots hatch. Germinated seeds can be planted in the substrate.

There is another method that is considered more effective - this is bubbling, which involves the processing of planting material in oxygen-saturated water. This method of processing pepper seeds allows you to accelerate the emergence of seedlings. This method is good 1-2 weeks before planting seedlings.

For this, it is recommended to prepare three-liter jar and fill it with water at a temperature of 20 o C by two thirds. Lower the jar to the bottom and turn on the compressor. After the appearance of bubbles, lower the seeds into a jar for a day. After that, take it out and dry it.

And the last method used in seed treatment is hardening. With its help, plants will be able to safely endure the vagaries of nature. After carrying out the necessary disinfection, it is recommended to soak the pepper seeds in warm water and leave them to swell. Then immediately put on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then let them dry. You can start sowing pepper seeds for seedlings.

How to grow pepper

If seedlings are bought for growing pepper, then you should pay attention to the stem of the plant - the leaves on a strong stem should be dark green. Only if these conditions are met can it be said that proper seedling pepper. It is worth abandoning the one on which there are flowers or fruits. This is a guarantee that there will be no harvest. In dry weather, the plant requires abundant watering. Otherwise, due to lack of moisture, the fruit may be bitter, and the flesh will be thin and dry. Pepper is a lover of warm soil, which means that it is best to plant it in soil warmed up to +15 degrees. Pale greens and slow fruit growth may indicate a lack of proper nutrition. You can feed the plants with mullein or compost tea.

AT recent times gardening is influenced by fashion. This is evidenced by the rapid rise or fall in the popularity of a particular variety. Most amateur vegetable growers try to plant their own material, which was obtained from the seeds of the previous crop, but sometimes disappointment comes from the second generation of a new variety. Many seed varieties that appear on the market are first-generation hybrids that produce a wide range of genetic traits the next year. Persistent signs provide, as a rule, time-tested varieties.

Bulgarian pepper is an unpretentious plant that grows in southern latitudes without any problems. The difficulties of growing this crop in the conditions of the middle lane and to the north are associated with the long growing season of the plant. If you know how to properly plant pepper seedlings, you can get bountiful harvest not only in the greenhouse, but also in the open field.

Even the earliest variety of bell pepper has a growing season of up to 140 days, and the time from germination to ripening is at least 90 days. Plus, the germination of seeds - the germination time is from 10 days to 1 month.

Thus, if you have early seeds or mid-season variety, then sow bell pepper seedlings should be no later than mid-February (northern regions), early March (middle lane).

Germination rate of bell pepper seeds depending on air temperature:

26-28 ºC - 8-10 days;
20-24 ºC - 13-17 days;
18-20 ºC - 18-20 days;
14-15 ºC - up to 1 month;

You can speed up the process of seed germination by pre-soaking and preparing them.

Seed preparation

Preparation of seeds for sowing consists in their disinfection, stimulation and soaking.

Before starting preparation, light seeds should be discarded, as weak plants will grow out of them or they will not sprout at all. To do this, the existing seed is poured into the water. After a few minutes, discard all the seeds that remain on the surface of the water. Work continues with drowned, which means full-weight, seed material.

Disinfection of seed material is carried out with a solution of potassium permanganate (in the common people, potassium permanganate). To do this, a slightly pink solution is bred, in which the seeds are immersed for a couple of hours. Non-chemical method of disinfection - heating in hot water(50 ºC) for 20 minutes. After that, the seeds are immediately cooled in cold water.

Stimulation and feeding are carried out by special means Epin type (Humate, Zircon). The existing drug is dissolved in water strictly according to the instructions, since an overdose is extremely harmful. The seeds of bell pepper, which were removed from the solution of potassium permanganate, are transferred to the resulting solution. In "top dressing" the material is kept for 20-30 minutes. Then washed and soaked for germination.

Germination is conveniently carried out between two cotton pads. To do this, the seeds are laid out on the surface of the disk and covered with another one. The top disk can be signed with a ballpoint pen if you want to plant several varieties of pepper. Discs should be dampened sparingly. Fully flooded seeds will “suffocate” and die.

As soon as the peppers hatch, they need to be planted in the ground. A visible sprout should not be allowed - it will easily break off when sowing. The germination stage can be skipped, but this will slightly delay the germination time.

Note! Seeds that are pre-treated by the manufacturer do not need pre-sowing manipulations. On a bag like this seed written "Do not soak!". Follow this instruction - by soaking such seeds, you will damage the nutritional and protective capsule.

Preparing the soil for sowing seedlings

sow Bell pepper it is possible in "purchased" soil, in peat tablets or in self-prepared soil. Experienced gardeners believe that at least 50% of the land for seedlings should be from their garden. This is explained by the fact that the plant "gets used to getting" food from a certain soil mixture. A cardinal change of soil when planting seedlings from "purchased" land into the garden for a long time delays the development of the plant.

Seedling soil requirements:

neutral or slightly acidic environment;
sufficient organic content for “friability” and moisture retention;
adequate nutrient content;

It is not difficult to create such a soil mixture. Have to take:

two parts of garden land;
one part of peat or special soil for seedlings;
one part of humus, compost or top layer (10 cm) of meadow soil;

To increase nutritional value and adjust acidity, add to it per 10 liters of soil:

oven ash (who has it) - a handful;
lime (who does not have ash) - a handful;
double superphosphate - 2 matchboxes;

Feeding with potassium and nitrogen fertilizers it is better to carry out later, when watering seedlings.

Note! The prepared soil mixture must be shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. The second way to kill pathogens in garden soil– its preheating up to 60 ºC.

Methods for sowing pepper seedlings

There are several ways to plant sweet pepper seedlings:

Classic - pepper is sown in a "common" container and subsequently dived into a larger container or separate pots.
In ready-made cassettes, 1-2 seeds are sown without picking.
In peat tablets - 1 seed is sown without picking.
In twists - in rolls of toilet paper followed by planting young sprouts in large containers or separate pots.

Note! The best results are obtained by growing bell pepper seedlings without picking, planting in separate containers. Peppers, unlike tomatoes, do not tolerate transplantation well, get sick for a long time and lag behind in growth.

Growing seedlings in peat tablets

For sprouting peppers, tablets with a diameter of 3-4 cm are suitable. They are placed on the bottom of a large container and filled with water. As soon as the tablets have ceased to absorb water, the excess is poured out.

In the center of the resulting cylinder (and it “grows” when it swells), a seed is placed to a depth of about 0.5 cm. The container is placed in a warm place. To preserve moisture, the top is tightened with cling film or polyethylene.

A mini greenhouse should be ventilated for at least 1 hour a day. Watering is carried out by the grassroots method as the peat dries. After the appearance of sprouts, the cylinders are moved to separate containers with prepared soil mixture.

The mesh, which envelops the peat cylinder, does not allow the lump to disintegrate and the root system of the pepper is not injured. Further care consists in timely watering and lighting.

Note! If you do not want to transfer seedlings to pots, then you should buy tablets with a diameter of 7 cm. In such cylinders, the pepper will not need additional soil.

Growing seedlings in cassettes

Growing seedlings in cassettes or individual pots with a volume of 250-500 ml gives high-quality seedlings. Sprouted seeds can be sown one at a time, dry seeds are better two in one container, followed by the removal of a weaker plant. The seed is buried 1 cm into the soil and watered.

Cassettes are placed on the south or west window, or under the lamp. It is important that the air temperature is not lower than 25 ºC. As the seedlings grow, soil is poured into the pot. Watering in cassettes is carried out in a grassroots way - water is poured into the pan. Pots with seedlings are usually watered in the classical way.

The classic home method of growing seedlings

The "grandfather" way of growing pepper seedlings at home has a right to exist and even has some advantages:

When sowing in a common container, seed germination is not particularly important.
It is convenient to sow in a small dish.
When diving seedlings, weak plants are rejected.
If you follow the timing and agrotechnics of diving, then the pepper will tolerate it relatively well.
Planting in the "native" land will not let the plants get sick and get used to the new soil for a long time after landing in the greenhouse.

For sowing, they take a small container with earth and sow the seeds thickly to a depth of 0.5 cm. Water the earth, cover the top with a film and put the container in a warm place. After the appearance of sprouts for a day (two), the seedlings are transferred to warm window. As soon as the sprouts turn dark green, the first true leaf will hatch - they need to dive.

The pick box (if there are no separate containers, which is preferable) should be at least 12-15 cm deep. Seedlings are watered a few hours before transplanting. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 10-15 cm, preferably in a checkerboard pattern.

Landing in twists (in Moscow)

Sowing seeds for germination between ribbons of toilet paper began not so long ago. There are supporters and opponents of this method. The main advantage of this method of seed germination is its compactness.

The technology is as follows:

A cellophane tape is placed on the table (it is convenient to use a food bag cut along the length).
Toilet paper is laid on top and sprayed with water from a hand sprayer (important! The edges of the paper and cellophane must match).
On a tape of cheap (it is thicker and coarser) toilet paper, seeds are laid out at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other and from the top edge of the paper at the same distance.
Cover the seeds with a layer of paper, moisturize well.
Roll up into a weak roll, effortlessly.
Put the twist in a container, on the bottom of which pour a little water.
Remove the structure in a warm place.

As soon as sprouts appear, the twist is transferred to a lighted place. Planting in the ground for seedlings is carried out with two developed cotyledon leaves. The roll is untwisted and cut with scissors into separate fragments with sprouts. Seedlings are planted in a permanent container, where they will develop before planting in the garden.

Growing seedlings at home is not too troublesome with a certain skill. Follow the deadlines and agricultural practices, give the seedlings light and warmth - bell pepper will delight you with a harvest until frost.