Rules for growing pepper seedlings at home. Proper planting of bell pepper seedlings in open ground How to plant sweet peppers in open ground

bell pepper

is one of the most common vegetables among domestic gardeners. It is actively planted both in open ground and in greenhouses. Caring for it cannot be called scrupulous, but some basic principles and agrotechnical features still need to be considered in more detail. By being prepared for the process of growing bell peppers at home, you can achieve visible results.

Land preparation

Very often it is the choice of the optimal land plot for planting bell peppers becomes a whole problem. Many farmers believe that a vegetable garden is also suitable for this purpose: the soil is regularly fertilized and is quite loose. However, there is one significant drawback. As a rule, a vegetable garden is an open area, the wind constantly blows there, and there is no way to protect the plants from it. Such conditions are considered not optimal in the case of bell peppers. So try to plant this vegetable crop in a place protected from strong drafts. In addition, it is very important that it is well lit.

Before planting bell peppers in open ground, you should carry out some soil preparation procedures. What exactly does a farmer need to do:

• It is necessary to prepare for planting this crop, as well as most vegetables and root crops, in the fall. To do this, land in the garden or garden plot plowed and then loosened. The final stage autumn preparation soil is fertilized with mineral fertilizers. In particular, it is worth paying attention to mixtures containing potassium and phosphorus - these substances are most necessary for pepper;
• in the spring, before you start planting vegetables, it is worth fertilizing the soil again. Ammonium nitrate is added to the soil at the rate of 40 g per square meter;
• the final stage of soil preparation is saturation with a solution of copper sulfate. You need to add 1 tbsp. l. of this substance into a bucket of water.

It is recommended to pay attention to one more nuance before you finally plant peppers in your garden. Let's say you want to breed several varieties of pepper at once. In this case, it is better to plant the sprouts further away from each other. The thing is that this agricultural crop can be cross-pollinated during the ripening process. There is a risk that you will not get the result you expected. However, there is a way out of the situation. Divide your home plantation of several varieties of peppers with taller plants (corn, tomatoes or sunflowers). This way, you can grow several varieties of bell peppers in your garden without much effort.

Video “Growing and caring for peppers”

From the video you will learn how to properly grow and care for peppers.

Feeding seedlings

It is necessary to feed the pepper, but you need to clearly understand what kind of soil you are dealing with. Your choice of fertilizers should depend on its characteristics. Let's say you decide to plant peppers in a greenhouse and fill it with regular garden soil. In this case, be prepared for the fact that you will need to replenish the soil every 10 days. If you approached this issue more thoroughly, using a specially prepared earthen mixture for planting bell pepper seedlings in it, it will be sufficient to carry out no more than three stages of fertilization in the future.

How do experienced gardeners get out of this situation?

Many people prefer exclusively natural fertilizers. Between the rows of seedlings, shallow trenches are dug into which manure or bird droppings are poured.

When can this type of procedure be carried out? It is advisable to do this after 2-3 leaves bloom on the sprouts. When the bell pepper seedlings grow noticeably, they need to be planted, and then the next stage of fertilizing the soil must be carried out. You can use either special complex mixtures, dry ash or compost tea.

Feeding after planting

Among the variety of modern fertilizers, urea and phosphates are the most common for this agricultural crop. But that's not all.

Today, many summer residents use potassium and phosphorus fertilizers for feeding purposes, as well as folk remedies(cow dung or bird droppings). It is best to feed peppers with natural mixtures.

If you chose to feed vegetable plant as a disease prevention and in order to strengthen the vegetative part of agriculture, you can safely use universal fertilizers. However, if for some reason you did not feed the soil in advance, or did so, but noticed a certain deterioration in the appearance of the bell pepper seedlings, you need to act immediately. First, identify the problem and then promptly fix it. For example, if your plant is not sufficiently saturated with nitrogen, over time the vegetative mass begins to turn yellow. In the case when burns appear on the edges of the leaves of seedlings, the cause in most cases is considered to be a deficiency of potassium in the soil. It happens that bell pepper bushes acquire a purple tint: this means that it is necessary to add phosphorus fertilizers to the substrate.

Stimulation of fruiting

To prevent such problems from occurring, it is worth supporting seedlings at all stages of their development. There are universal ones for this natural fertilizers, among which nettle tea stands out. How to cook it? It is necessary to chop the stems of this plant, and then fill some barrel or container with them (about 2/3). The greenery is filled with water. It is advisable to leave the resulting mixture in a dark place for effective fermentation. At the end of the process, which will take about a week, the solution is used to fertilize the soil, first diluting it with water in a ratio of 1:10. If you wish, you can feed the soil to obtain a more generous harvest of bell peppers using a high concentration of nettle solution. To do this, you need to add dandelion, woodlice, plantain and other herbal plants.

Stimulating fruiting is not a bad thing, but it is not advisable to overdo it. With excessively large volumes of fertilizers and too frequent fertilizing, the branched part of the bell pepper may become woody. In addition, sometimes you can get the opposite result: when the soil is oversaturated with fertilizers, the fruits grow almost empty inside, falling off long before the end of the ripening period.

Features of watering

Varieties of bell peppers for open ground do not require too much care. However, when it comes to hydration, mistakes in this matter are unacceptable, as they can cost you dearly. Interestingly, it is recommended to water pepper seedlings regularly; you should not let the soil dry out. But you shouldn’t create excessive dampness either.

What rules should you follow regarding watering peppers:

• after planting the seedlings in open ground It is not advisable to water it immediately. It is necessary to give it a few days to adapt and only then carry out the first phase of watering. Next, try to maintain the established intervals until the seedlings begin to actively sprout;
• As soon as the sprouts turn green, it is recommended to water them daily;
• be sure to use warm and pre-settled water for watering - failure to follow such recommendations is fraught with the occurrence of diseases in the plant;
• it is important that water does not fall directly on the pepper leaves;
• There must be drainage at the bottom of the seedling container. Thus, excess moisture will evaporate in a timely manner.

Video “Growing peppers in a greenhouse”

From the video you will learn how to effectively grow peppers in a greenhouse.

Pepper is one type of vegetable that no holiday can do without. Bell pepper is always present on the table in the form of slices or a hot dish, and Bell pepper present on the winter table in the form of preparations for the winter. But few people know how grow peppers in open ground on a summer cottage. This vegetable is very finicky and requires good care to yourself, but every novice gardener dreams of trying to grow it on his own plot.

Bell pepper and sweet pepper seedlings

Growing such a vegetable has its pros and cons; if there is an error with watering, sudden changes in temperature, or improper transplantation, the yield decreases to almost zero.

Damaged plants will no longer produce what they want. harvest in a short summer, since without tying there will be no pollination, and without this the plant will receive less nutrition and thus will not produce the long-awaited harvest in the fall.

But in order for it to grow and please you with its harvest, you need to plant it very early and ensure seedlings and development without stress and temperature changes. This the most important rule when growing sweet peppers in open ground.

The most important points in sowing bell peppers are:

• Preparing seeds for sowing;
• preparing soil for sowing peppers;
• sowing seeds;
• picking peppers.

It is better to consider each procedure separately so as not to miss or make mistakes.

Preparing seeds for seedlings for growing peppers in open ground

Purchased seeds need to be examined and any frail or damaged ones removed. Good seeds must be treated for fungal infection.

To do this, you need to put the seeds in gauze, like in a bag, and place them in a thick solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. After this procedure, rinse with warm, running water.

There is one more good way for good germination of bell peppers, use Eline’s solution. You need to place a gauze bag in a solution of 1 drop of Eline, diluted with 1 liter of water and leave for one day.

After all these procedures, plant the seeds on a damp cloth and cover with wet gauze. In this form, the seeds should be placed in a warm place for one week, but if the seeds have not swelled, you can wait another week.

The main thing is not to leave the seeds dry, they must be moistened, otherwise the seeds will dry out and disappear.

Preparing soil for planting

For sowing, you can buy ready-made soil in a specialized store. and only add one fifth of the washed sand.

You don’t need to add anything to the finished soil, because it already contains:

High ground;

• deoxidizing additives;
• mineral fertilizer;
• Hesminic substances;
• sand;
• agropermit.

To understand why the soil needs them, it is better to know all the additives in detail.

The raised soil is practically germ-free and absorbs moisture well; all plants cannot do without this additive.

Deoxidizing additives are needed to remove high acidity from topsoil.

Mineral fertilizer provides mineral nutrition and promotes plant growth.

Hesmin substances are needed to stimulate root formation, as well as plant stability.

Sand reduces soil shrinkage during long-term cultivation of plants. Usually sand in large quantities needed for house flowers in pots.

Agropermite saturates the roots with oxygen and promotes their good growth and nourishes them with substances necessary for growth.

Experienced gardeners do not buy soil, but make it themselves at home. To do this, you only need two parts humus, one part sand and two parts peat. Mix everything well and heat in the oven for about one hour. In this way, the soil will be ready for planting seeds.

Sowing seeds

Seed ripening occurs 10 or 14 days after germination, and it is better to plant seedlings when it is 60 days old. Therefore, it is better to sow in mid-February when the daylight hours are still short.

Before you start planting, you need to rinse the die well in a potassium permanganate solution, and then fill it with the prepared soil mixture. Lightly compact the soil so that the bowl is two centimeters higher than the soil.

Make a hole and carefully spread the seeds at a distance of 1.5 cm. Then cover the seeds with the prepared soil and compact them.

Pour warm water over it, but be careful not to wash out the seeds. To prevent moisture from evaporating, you need to close it with a special lid, and if you don’t have such a lid, you can use a regular plastic bag.

The seeds need to be placed in a warm place where the air temperature is about 17 degrees. Be sure to water with warm water and not let the soil dry out, but you also shouldn’t overwater it.

Be sure to watch the pepper seedlings so that they do not bend. To avoid this, you need to turn one by one towards the sun. You can also do it over seedlings

How to bake correctly

To reduce the risk of root rot damage to plants, peppers are replanted when the plant has two leaves.

But it is better to replant after 4 weeks, when the seedlings are stronger and more resistant to stressful conditions and the stems of the pepper seedlings are already stronger.

Before transplanting the seedlings, you need to water it well and wait for the excess water to drain.

It grows and develops more slowly than tomatoes and therefore it is better to transplant it into separate small pots.

Fill half of the pot with pre-prepared soil, make a hole and place the pepper seedlings, cover with soil and lightly compact. Carefully pour warm water, holding the stems, and if the soil has settled, then add prepared soil, but not too much. The peppers should be halfway in the pot, not completely covered.

Place such seedlings in a warm and well-lit room.

How to feed seedlings

Caring for seedlings should begin after the peppers are transplanted into open ground at their summer cottage.

First bait is given after two weeks after diving and two weeks after the first feeding. While the plant is young, it is better and very convenient to apply fertilizer in liquid form. You can buy it at a flower shop and it is best to choose:

• Agricola;
• Get stronger;
• Fertika;
• Luxury;
• Mortar.

How to properly dilute the fertilizer for peppers will be written in the instructions for use.

Two weeks before planting bell peppers in regular soil at a summer cottage, you need to harden the seedlings in the open fresh air.

But you need to take into account one necessary part of open air: direct sunlight should not hit the peppers, but there should also be no cold and strong wind.

The best option for hardening is a closed balcony with a non-sunny side.

Grow seedlings in peat tablets

There is another great way for pepper seedlings - peat tablets. Peat tablets give excellent results, and a plant that experiences stress during a dive can no longer be afraid, so like this procedure with a peat tablet no need to do it.

The peat tablet contains everything necessary supplements for the development of pepper and with the help of such a wonderful tablet to grow good seedlings even for novice gardeners.

The seedlings still need to be grown in separate pots, so you can take peat tablets with a diameter of three centimeters.

Place the required amount of peat tablets on a tray and fill them with warm water. As the tablets swell, they enlarge and take on the shape of a cup.

As soon as the peat tablet swells to the right size and stops absorbing water, you need to drain the excess water and make a small hole in the cups

Pepper seeds should be prepared in the same way as when sown in the soil. This must also be done in advance. The seeds must be carefully placed in the holes and sprinkled with prepared soil. Cover the tray with a lid or put on a plastic bag.

Pepper planting and care in open ground

Peppers do not like cold and heavy soil, and if the site has clay soil, then better cultivation bell peppers in open ground need to be fertilized with peat and humus.

The soil needs to be dug well onto the bayonet of a shovel and level it well with a rake so that there are no large lumps. After this, make not very deep holes for planting, but you don’t need to make very frequent holes either.

Before planting, you need to put a little mineral fertilizer in each hole, which will contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This composition must be mixed well until smooth.

Carefully remove the seedling from the pot, being careful not to damage the root system of the pepper. Place the seedlings in the hole and fill the hole halfway with soil. You need to fill it up so that the entire root system of the seedling is covered.

Water generously with warm water and the water will be absorbed, cover the entire hole with dry soil.

If the plant is tall and requires staking, then it is worth tying the peppers to a special support. If the nights are still cold, then you need to cover the sweet peppers with polyethylene meadows, but you cannot cover them with woven covering material.

To ensure that outdoor cultivation is carried out with proper care, there are four rules:

1. Feeding.
2. Watering.
3. Prophet.
4. Garters.

Feeding. During growth and cultivation, it is necessary to feed three times. The first feeding after 10 days after planting in ordinary soil can be fed with ordinary manure.

The second feeding is done before flowering. Feed with woodgrass or superphosphate. To do this, dilute potassium humate with 10 liters of water. Pour this solution over the peppers.

The third feeding should occur two weeks after flowering. Feed the tree hall. You can also feed sweet peppers with nettle solution. To do this, you need to cut the nettles into small pieces and add warm water. Leave this solution for several days, and then pour over the peppers.

Watering. Sweet peppers love moisture, but too much pepper is very harmful. Therefore, you need to water sweet peppers as the soil dries out.

Prophet. Light and fluffy soil allows plants to grow well. It is imperative to ensure that the peppers are not overgrown with grass, and be sure to loosen the soil near the peppers.

bell pepper also called sweet, it is rich in nutrients and vitamins, comes in a variety of colors, is juicy and tasty.

Process growing sweet peppers has its own characteristics, since pepper is a heat-loving vegetable. To get a good harvest of peppers, you need to have knowledge and certain skills.

Let's consider growing bell peppers from seeds, from seedlings, care features when growing in open ground, pest and disease control, when to harvest.

Content:

- Video – Peppers, the secret of a rich harvest
Caring for peppers in open ground
- Video - HOW TO FORM A PEPPER CORRECTLY!!! CARE AND FEEDING!!!
Pepper trimming
Pests and diseases of bell pepper
Harvesting bell peppers
- Video – 10 MISTAKES when growing sweet peppers

Short pepper plant daylight hours, and if there is less than 12 hours of daylight, the pepper begins to bear fruit earlier.

It is not advisable to plant pepper seeds in open ground even in the southern regions, because you need to wait until the soil warms up; the pepper will begin to bear fruit later and not for long. Therefore, sweet peppers are mainly grown in seedlings.

Growing bell pepper seedlings

When growing seedlings at home, pepper seeds are sown in February, so that the plants have 90-100 days before transplanting into the ground. Pepper does not tolerate picking, so try to immediately sow the seeds in separate peat pots with a diameter of 8-10 cm.

There is no need to use large pots due to the slow development of the root system of peppers.

Soil for seedlings

A light and loose substrate consisting of humus mixed with 1 part earth and 1 part sand is suitable. Add 1 tbsp per 1 kg of substrate. l. wood ash.

Before sowing, treat the pepper seeds - soak the seeds in hot water + 50 degrees for 5 hours. Then place the seeds in damp cloth for germination for 2-3 days, the room temperature should be + 20 degrees. After such pre-sowing preparation, seedlings appear the very next day after sowing.

Seeds sown in cups, water and cover plastic film or glass. Until seedlings emerge, keep the pots in a warm place with a temperature of + 22 degrees. After the shoots emerge, remove the film and transfer the seedlings to a room with a temperature of 26-28 degrees during the day and 10-15 degrees at night.

When caring for pepper seedlings, do not allow the soil to dry out, but we also do not recommend excessive watering.

Water with warm water +30 degrees, from cold water frail seedlings will grow, the plants may get sick. The air in the room should not be too dry, protect the plants from drafts and spray the plants.

In winter in February, seedlings require additional lighting so that daylight hours are from 7 am to 9 pm.

First feeding carried out in the phase of appearance of 2 true leaves with the following solution: dilute 5 g in 10 liters of water ammonium nitrate, 10 g of potassium fertilizers, 30 g of superphosphate.

Second feeding carried out 14 days after the first with mineral fertilizers in 2 times greater proportions than the first.

Third feeding carried out 2 days before planting seedlings in the ground. Increase the dose of potassium fertilizers in the solution to 70 g per 10 liters of water.

A few weeks before planting pepper seedlings, the plants are hardened off by placing them in fresh air for several hours. Make sure that the air temperature is not lower than +13 degrees, the seedlings may die.

Choosing a place to plant bell peppers

Select a plot in the garden where cucumbers, onions, pumpkins, carrots, cabbage, zucchini, and various green manures previously grew. Peppers do not grow well and bear fruit if planted in an area where potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers previously grew.

Pepper grows best in light soils. Prepare the area for planting in advance, in the fall add 50 g of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers per m2, dig deep. In spring upper layer soil, add 40 g of ammonium nitrate per m2 of plot.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, disinfect the soil with the following solution: dilute 1 tablespoon of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water.

At the end of May, pepper seedlings are planted in open ground with a distance of 40x40 cm between plants. Seedlings are planted in a film greenhouse at the end of April.

Seedlings should be planted at the same depth as the plants grew in cups or boxes. Do not expose the roots, but also try not to dig in the root collar.

Peppers do not like cold soil; arrange high beds for peppers, raised to 25 cm, to get a good harvest of peppers.

Attention: peppers are susceptible to cross-pollination, so plant different varieties of peppers as far apart as possible or separate them using tall plantings of tomatoes, corn, and sunflowers.

Video - Peppers, the secret of a rich harvest

Caring for peppers in open ground

It is necessary to water, fertilize, garter and weed pepper plantings in a timely manner.

Feeding peppers in open ground

During the season, it is necessary to carry out 3-4 fertilizing with chicken manure diluted with 1 x 10 water. Alternate such foliar fertilizing, using spraying with nitrophoska (1 tbsp per 10 liters of water).

Potassium deficiency will lead to curling of the leaves and the appearance of a drying border. But pepper does not tolerate an abundance of potassium chloride.

At nitrogen deficiency pepper leaves become smaller and acquire a matte grayish tint. If there is excess nitrogen, flowers and ovaries are dropped.

Phosphorus deficiency– the leaves on the underside become deep purple, press against the plant stem and rise upward.

At magnesium deficiency the leaves become marbled in color.

Video - HOW TO FORM A PEPPER CORRECTLY!!! CARE AND FEEDING!!!

Pepper care

Perform pinching in hot and humid weather, removing side shoots, especially the lower ones. And vice versa, when the weather is hot and dry, the peppers are not the stepsons, the leaves during this period protect the plants from evaporation of soil moisture.

Pepper trimming

During the growing season, the longest shoots are pruned, especially all shoots below the fork of the main stem are removed, as well as all branches going inside the plant. Perform pruning every 10 days and after harvesting the fruits.

To attract pollinating insects, spray the pepper plantings with a sugar or honey solution: 100 g of sugar, add 2 g of boric acid, dilute everything in a liter hot water.

Mulching peppers with rotted straw (10 cm layer) will reduce the frequency of watering to once every 10 days.

Carry out gartering of plants in a timely manner; it is better to do this after hilling.

Pests and diseases of pepper

Pests such as slugs, armyworms, aphids, whiteflies, mole crickets and Colorado potato beetles can harm plants. It is necessary to pollinate peppers with wood ash 3 times per season.

Common diseases of sweet peppers– late blight, Septoria, macrosporiosis, blossom end rot, white rot, black leg.

In the fight against mole crickets, before planting in the ground, fill the planting holes with onion water (infuse 500 g of onion peels in 10 liters of water for 3 days).

If aphids are infested, treat the plants with a solution: dilute 1.5 liters of whey in 10 liters of water. After processing, crush with ash.

Harvesting bell peppers

When the peppers acquire the size and color appropriate for ripeness, begin harvesting by cutting off the vegetables with the stalk. Pepper ripening begins in early August and continues until the first frost.

Video - 10 MISTAKES when growing sweet peppers

Wishing you a great harvest of sweet peppers!

Bell pepper cultivation and care

Growing peppers requires care and attention. But if you prepare a strong and healthy seedlings If you properly care for it, the result will be an ideal harvest of large and juicy vegetables.

Preparation of seed material

According to lunar calendar, it is recommended to sow pepper seedlings during the days of the waxing Moon. To grow pepper seedlings, seeds are sown in February, since by the time they are transplanted into a greenhouse - in early May, or into open ground, the seedlings must reach three months of age.

Preparing pepper seeds before sowing

Stage-by-stage technology of pre-sowing preparation

1. Disinfect the seed material in a 1% iodine solution for half an hour, then rinse.
2. Immerse them in warm water for 5 hours (temperature up to 50 °C).
3. For final germination, leave the seeds in a warm room for a couple of days, covered with a damp cloth.

If sowing is done for seedlings, prepare the soil by mixing soil with sand (one to one), add the same amount of humus to get a ratio of 1:1:2. For every kilogram of soil, add a tablespoon of ash.

Agricultural technology for sowing bell pepper seeds for seedlings

• After filling the boxes with prepared soil, moisten it.
• Make grooves 1.5-2 cm deep in the ground.
• Plant the seeds at a distance of 4-5 cm from one another so that the seedlings do not dive in the future.
• Sprinkle with soil and water well with warm water. Cover the container with polyethylene or glass and place in a warm room.

Sowing bell pepper seeds for seedlings

The presence of light does not matter at this point. But after seed germination, additional lighting is required from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Growing bell pepper seedlings

When the first shoots appear, after 4-7 days, the cover will need to be removed.

Features of caring for pepper seedlings

Seedlings need watering once a day, preferably in the morning or evening. Use warm water, preferably melted water, infused until room temperature(up to + 30 °C). Before watering, loosen the soil to a depth of 5-6 cm.

Watering pepper seedlings

Increased soil moisture can lead to blackleg disease, but the soil should not dry out completely. To avoid diseases and pests, the air must be constantly humidified by daily spraying, and the room must be ventilated.

• Maintain the daytime temperature at 22-27 °C, and the night temperature at 14-16 °C.
• Pick the first leaf that appears, this will prevent the roots from tangling.

Feeding pepper seedlings

During cultivation, seedlings are fertilized twice.

• The first time - after the formation of 3-4 leaves (13-15 days after the first shoots). Use urea: 1 tbsp. for 10 liters of water. To improve the effect, first crush the soil with ash.
• The second time - 4-5 days before transplanting into the ground. The composition used is the same as for the first time, but superphosphate (1 tbsp) is added to it.

Nettle infusion is also an effective supplement.

Bell pepper: cultivation and care in open ground

Proper care of peppers in open ground includes thorough preparation. You will need tools and supplies for watering, weeding, fertilizing and frost protection.

Planting pepper seedlings in open ground

Timing for planting peppers in open ground

To plant, you need to wait for warm weather to allow the soil to warm up.

• In the south of Russia and in the middle zone - at the end of May or beginning of June.
• For the northern regions, this time comes in mid-June, when the threat of return frosts has passed.

Hardening off seedlings before planting

To grow peppers in open ground successfully, seedlings must be hardened off 14 days before planting.

Hardening off seedlings in boxes on the veranda

• For several days, open the window slightly for 1-2 hours if the weather is warm.
• Having built a sun shield from plywood sheets, hardening is carried out on the balcony or veranda for a week.
• If the night air temperature is not lower than 14 degrees. Celsius, then it is no longer brought into the room.

Selecting a location and preparing the soil for growing peppers

Select the area where you plan to grow peppers. It should be protected from strong drafts and well lit. The bed must be pre-treated:

• In autumn, the soil is carefully dug up and loosened, after which complex potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are applied (50 grams per 1 sq.m.)
• In the spring, 40 g of ammonium nitrate per square meter is added to the top layer of soil.
• Five days before planting seedlings, the soil is disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate (1 tablespoon per bucket of water).

If you use different varieties, it is better to grow peppers in open ground at a distance from each other, since the crop tends to cross-pollinate. You can differentiate between varieties by planting tall plants - corn, tomatoes or sunflowers.

Procedure for planting pepper seedlings in open ground

Pepper does not tolerate cold soil well, so it is better to raise the height of the beds by 20-50 cm.

Planting peppers in open ground

• Pepper seedlings are watered to remove them from the containers by the roots; they are planted in the morning or evening, when the sun is not too active.
• Plant vertically according to a 40x40 cm pattern.
• The peppers are sprinkled with earth, the area around it is slightly compacted and watered well with warm water.
• The leaves of young plants break easily, so place a peg on each one and tie it up.
• To provide oxygen access, loosen the soil around the plant.
• Cover the ridge with film, stretching it over pre-installed arched rods. After rooting, remove the film.

Build protection from the cold for the peppers using available materials at hand by constructing a tent from roofing felt, boards or cardboard. The top can be covered with burlap or agrofibre.

Pinching peppers in open ground

For proper bush formation and good development The fruits are pinched every 10 days. When the plant reaches a height of 25 cm, cut off its top. As a result, the stem will produce many shoots; they must be partially removed, leaving the top 5-6. They will serve to form the crop. Pruning is carried out in hot, but not dry weather.

How to properly pinch peppers

To attract insects to your site that will pollinate the pepper during flowering, spray it with a special sugar syrup. It is prepared like this: dissolve half a glass of sugar and 2 grams in a liter of hot water. boric acid.

Watering peppers in open ground

Growing bell peppers in open ground does not require abundant watering. The first time it is watered during planting, the second time after 5 days, then once a week. To water one plant, 1-1.5 liters is enough. But as you grow older, the norm can be doubled.

When the pepper begins to bloom, water it only with warm water (20-22 degrees Celsius). Watering is stopped 2 weeks before the vegetables are completely harvested. After each watering or rain, the soil must be loosened.

To reduce the number of waterings and better retain moisture at the roots of the plants, mulch the peppers with a 10-centimeter layer of rotted straw.

Fertilizing peppers in open ground

Caring for peppers after planting in the ground necessarily includes three feedings per season.

Fertilizing peppers in high beds

1. The first is carried out two weeks later. For good growth nitrogen fertilizers are needed. To do this, dilute a tablespoon of superphosphate and urea in a bucket of water. You can mix urea (1 teaspoon) in the same volume of water. Pour 1 liter of this mixture under each plant.
2. The next feeding is done during flowering. Since potassium is needed for fruit set, use wood ash. Feed again with urea, as with the first feeding.
3. The last time peppers are fed is when the first fruits appear. To do this, dilute potassium salt and superphosphate (2 teaspoons each) in 10 liters of water.

Watch the growth of the pepper; it may need additional feeding. It can be foliar, since the plant can receive the necessary substances not only through the roots, but also through the leaves.

Problems when growing peppers and their solutions

• If the leaves turn yellow, then they do not have enough nitrogen. To provide this substance, spray with a solution of urea in water in the ratio: 1 tablespoon per bucket of water.
• If the pepper loses its ovaries, then prepare a solution of boric acid: a teaspoon per bucket of water.
• If fruit formation is poor, feed with superphosphate or ash: a teaspoon per 5 liters of water.

Foliar feeding is carried out exclusively in the morning or evening, otherwise the leaves may burn in the scorching sun. In this case, the weather should be calm. Good effect The development of peppers is influenced by fertilizing with yeast.

Recipe for yeast nutrition for peppers

For preparation you will need 100 grams of fresh yeast. They are soaked in 0.5 liters of water for a day. Before use, add 5 liters of water to the solution.

Fertilizer recipe for peppers using dry yeast

Dissolve one packet of dry yeast in a bucket of water, add 2 tablespoons of sugar, leave for 2 hours to activate the fermentation process. Dilute the infusion with water at the rate of 0.5 liters per 10 liters of water.

Apply this fertilizer only to sufficiently warm soil. It can be applied no more than twice per season. After feeding with yeast, be sure to add wood ash.

Protecting peppers from diseases and pests in open ground

• To protect peppers from major pepper pests, spray them with wood ash three times during the season. This should be done early in the morning when there is still dew on the plant.
• To prevent damage by mole crickets, fill the holes with onion water 1 hour before planting peppers (infuse 0.5 kg of onion peels in 10 liters of water for three days).
• If during the growing season you find aphid damage, treat with a solution of 1.5 liters of whey in a bucket of water. After spraying, dust with ash.

Harvest time for peppers in open ground

• The fruits are harvested when they have acquired the size and color appropriate for ripeness. Since these vegetables are fragile, it is better to cut them with the stalk.
• The first harvest appears by mid-August, then it is harvested every week until frost.

To prepare seeds for next year, select several large fruits. Do not remove them until the end of summer, allowing them to fully ripen. Cut and wrap in paper until completely dry. Cut and collect the seeds. Their varietal characteristics can persist for three years if cross-pollination does not occur.

Sweet pepper: growing and care in a greenhouse

Because pepper is very heat-loving crop, its cultivation in open ground most often begins with seedlings. When sowing pepper seeds into the ground, they are carefully processed and well hardened. That is why many gardeners prefer growing bell peppers in a greenhouse, where they can create ideal conditions growth.

Growing bell peppers in a greenhouse

Glass, film greenhouses or hotbeds are used for planting seedlings or sowing seeds. It is also now widely practiced to grow peppers in a polycarbonate greenhouse.

Technology for planting bell peppers in a greenhouse

Peppers are planted in the greenhouse in early April. You can sow with seeds, but for better yield use 2-month-old seedlings 20-25 cm high, which already have 6 to 10 leaves.

Planting bell peppers in a greenhouse

• In the greenhouse, beds are prepared at a distance of half a meter from one another.
• Holes are made in them corresponding to the size of the container in which the seedlings grew.
• A solution of manure or chicken droppings is poured into the holes. To prepare it in a bucket warm water(about +50 C) dissolve half a liter of manure or a glass of droppings.
• 1 liter is poured into each well.
• Pepper seedlings are watered to remove them from the container by the roots.
• Then the peppers are planted in the prepared holes and tied to pegs.

Peppers in a greenhouse growing and caring

The main care for peppers in a greenhouse is to maintain optimal temperature regime, water, regularly feed, weed and loosen.

Automated drip irrigation of peppers in a greenhouse

• The greenhouse must be ventilated and shaded in hot weather.
• Water the pepper every 2-3 days, pour 1-2 liters of water under the root of each plant.
• Growing peppers in a greenhouse involves maintaining optimal temperatures. During the day it should be at 20-27°C, at night - 15°C. After fruiting begins, it can be reduced by a couple of degrees.
• Bushes are earthed up when the soil is still moist. After the soil dries, it is necessary to loosen the row spacing.

Caring for peppers in a polycarbonate greenhouse does not differ from the rules of care in a regular greenhouse.

How to properly feed peppers in a greenhouse

Growing peppers in a greenhouse is impossible without sufficient nutrients. For feeding, urea is used in a similar proportion. But it is better to use a solution of bird droppings in water in a ratio of 1 to 15. Water 1 liter of it for each sprout. Before feeding, pepper care includes adding wood ash.

Fertilized pepper beds in a greenhouse

• The first feeding is carried out two weeks after planting in the greenhouse.
• The second is when fruit sets.
• The third is before harvest.

The composition of fertilizers can be the same for each of the procedures if the plant does not show signs of a lack of any microelements.

Bottom line

Bell peppers, the cultivation and care of which we have examined, will delight you with an excellent harvest if agrotechnical rules are observed. Follow the recommendations, provide timely watering and fertilization and you will not have any problems with this crop.

Bell pepper is unpretentious plant, which grows in southern latitudes without any problems. The difficulties of growing this crop in the middle zone and further 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 ground.

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

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

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

Preparing seeds for sowing consists of disinfecting, stimulating and soaking them.

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

Disinfection of seed material is carried out with a solution of potassium permanganate (in common parlance, potassium permanganate). To do this, dilute a slightly pink solution into which the seeds are immersed for a couple of hours. A non-chemical method of disinfection is heating in hot water (50 ºC) for 20 minutes. After which 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 potassium permanganate solution, are transferred into the resulting solution. The material is kept in the “feeding” for 20-30 minutes. Then they are washed and soaked for germination.

It is convenient to carry out germination between two cotton pads. To do this, the seeds are laid out on the surface of a disk and covered with another one. The top disk can be signed with a ballpoint pen if you want to plant several varieties of peppers. Discs should be wetted sparingly. Seeds that are completely flooded will “suffocate” and die.

As soon as the peppers hatch, they need to be planted in the ground. You should not allow a visible sprout - it will easily break off during sowing. You can skip the germination stage, but this will slightly delay the germination time.

Note! Seeds that are pre-treated by the manufacturer do not require pre-sowing manipulations. The bag of such seed material says “Do not soak!” Follow this instruction - soaking such seeds will damage the nutritional and protective capsule.

Preparing the soil for sowing seedlings

You can sow sweet peppers in “purchased” soil, in peat tablets, or in self-prepared soil. Experienced gardeners believe that at least 50% of the soil for seedlings should come from their own garden. This is explained by the fact that the plant “gets used to extracting” food from a certain soil mixture. A radical change of soil when planting seedlings from “purchased” soil into the garden delays the development of the plant for a long time.

Requirements for seedling soil:

• neutral or slightly acidic environment;
• sufficient organic content for “looseness” and moisture retention;
• sufficient 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 the following to 10 liters of soil:

• stove ash (who has it) - a handful;
• lime (for those who don’t have ash) - a handful;
• double superphosphate - 2 matchboxes;

It is better to fertilize with potassium and nitrogen fertilizers later, when watering the seedlings.

Note! The prepared soil mixture needs to be spilled with a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. The second way to kill pathogens in garden soil is to preheat it to 60 ºC.

Methods for sowing pepper seedlings

There are several ways to plant sweet pepper seedlings:

1. Classic - peppers are sown in a “common” container and subsequently planted in a larger container or individual pots.
2. In ready-made cassettes, 1-2 seeds are sown without picking.
3. In peat tablets, 1 seed is sown without picking.
4. In twists - in rolls from toilet paper followed by planting young shoots in large containers or separate pots.

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

Growing seedlings in peat tablets

For germinating peppers, tablets with a diameter of 3-4 cm are suitable. They are placed on the bottom large capacity and fill with water. As soon as the tablets stop absorbing water, the excess is poured out.

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

The mini greenhouse should be ventilated at least 1 hour a day. Watering is carried out using the bottom method as the peat dries. After the sprouts appear, the cylinders are moved to separate containers with prepared soil mixture.

The mesh that envelops the peat cylinder prevents the lump from disintegrating and the root system of the pepper is not injured. Further care consists of timely watering and lighting.

Note! If you do not want to transfer the seedlings into 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 produces high-quality seedlings. You can sow sprouted seeds one at a time; dry seeds are better, two in one container, followed by removal of the weaker plant. The seed is buried 1 cm into the soil and watered.

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

Classic home method of growing seedlings

The “old-fashioned” method of growing pepper seedlings at home has a right to exist and even has some advantages:

1. When sowing in a common container, seed germination is not particularly important.
2. It is convenient to sow in a small container.
3. When picking seedlings, weak plants are discarded.
4. If you follow the timing and agricultural techniques of diving, the pepper will tolerate it relatively well.
5. Planting in the “native” soil will prevent the plants from getting sick and taking a long time to get used to the new soil after planting in the greenhouse.

To sow, take a small container with soil and sow the seeds densely to a depth of 0.5 cm. Water the ground, cover the top with film and place the container in a warm place. After the sprouts appear, the seedlings are transferred to a warm window for a day or two. As soon as the sprouts turn dark green, the first real leaf hatches - they need to be picked.

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

Twist landing (Moscow style)

Sowing seeds for germination between strips 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:

1. Place a cellophane tape on the table (it is convenient to use a food bag cut lengthwise).
2. Lay toilet paper on top and spray it with water from a hand sprayer (important! the edges of the paper and cellophane must match).
3. Seeds are placed on a strip of cheap (thicker and coarser) toilet paper at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other and from the top edge of the paper at the same distance
4. Cover the seeds with a layer of paper and moisten well.
5. Roll into a weak roll, effortlessly.
6. Place the twist in a container with a little water poured into the bottom.
7. Remove the structure to a warm place.

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

Growing seedlings at home is not too troublesome if you have some skill. Follow the deadlines and agricultural techniques, give the seedlings light and warmth - bell peppers will delight you with a harvest until frost.

Growing bell peppers in open ground is possible not only in regions with a warm climate. Therefore, in the garden of many vegetable growers you can find beds with this cultivated plant. In order for each bush to have a strong stem and strong roots, and for the fruits to begin to form in a timely manner, it is necessary to plant ready-made seedlings grown at home.

How to plant peppers in open ground, seedlings or seeds is everyone’s choice. But you are more likely to get a good result in the first case. Seeds are germinated independently at home, following several rules.

Growing sweet peppers in open ground begins three months after sowing the seeds. Therefore, grains need to be planted in early February. For the rapid appearance of healthy sprouts, the seeds must be subjected to various manipulations.

Caring for sweet peppers begins from the seeds. Preparatory stage The technology for growing pepper in open ground is based on seed treatment. To remove fungal and bacterial infections from the seed shell, a disinfection procedure is carried out. A weak solution of potassium permanganate will come in handy.

It is enough to add 1 g of the substance to the water; the solution should have a slight pink tint. The exposure time of the grains in such a solution should be about 25 minutes.

After disinfection, it is recommended to carry out care by hardening the seeds. How to carry out the procedure correctly? For this purpose, the seeds are alternately placed in a cold and warm place for three days. Hardening will allow the bushes to withstand adverse weather conditions in the future.

In order for the seedlings to grow faster and enjoy a high-quality harvest in the future, it is recommended not to skip the soaking procedure. For this purpose, you can buy special preparations or make your own from natural ingredients. You can use a recipe based on wood ash or aloe juice. Aloe juice will additionally increase resistance to various diseases. A cloth bag containing pepper seeds is placed in the juice of two fleshy leaves.

Planting seeds

It is faster to grow peppers if you wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and put them in a warm place. After two days, the seeds can already be sown in a prepared container with soil. The distance between the holes should be at least 1.5 cm. One seed should be placed in each hole. The container is covered with plastic film or glass. As soon as most of the seedlings appear, the seedlings are opened.

The soil for peppers should be light. You can mix black soil, humus and sand yourself. It is useful to add charcoal. The soil with seedlings is watered with water, which has settled for at least a day.

Seedlings should be protected from drafts and provided with sufficient light access. Be sure to add mineral or organic fertilizers. The first time feeding the seedlings is done immediately when the first leaves bloom. The last feeding is carried out two weeks before transplanting into an open area.

Peppers are very difficult to transplant, so many experienced gardeners skip the stage associated with picking (pinching out long roots). But if planting pepper seedlings is accompanied by correct and careful picking, then the root system will be branched and strong. One of the experiments described the positive result of this procedure: “I have been growing peppers for several years now. The picking procedure greatly increases the strength of each bush and allows seedlings to quickly adapt to a new location.”

If you decide to plant pepper seeds in open ground, then sowing begins three weeks earlier than with seedlings. It is recommended to place 4-5 grains in holes about 4 cm deep. The method of heaping seeds makes it possible to facilitate the process of seedling development. More attention should be paid to sowing seeds.

Features of planting under the open sky

There are many secrets on how to grow a good harvest of peppers in open ground.

How to plant sweet pepper seedlings in open ground? Before planting pepper seedlings in open ground, you need to choose a place and prepare the beds. Bell peppers should be planted in a place where there is no piercing wind. Back in the fall suitable site the land is dug up and fertilized. Planting peppers and caring for them in open ground cannot be done without feeding them with potassium and phosphorus substances.

Also, sweet peppers in open ground do not tolerate too hot air and direct sunlight. You need to take care of shading the beds in hot weather.

In the spring, you need to loosen the soil again, adding ammonium nitrate. The pepper planting scheme can be varied, but the variety is always taken into account. At what distance from each other is it recommended to plant seedlings in the ground? The holes are dug at a distance of 35 cm. The distance between the rows should be approximately 45 cm. If two pieces are planted in a hole, then the distance should be increased to 60 cm.

The square-cluster planting method is known and often used. The hole should have equal sides, at least 60 cm. You can plant two pepper bushes in each hole. How to plant a plant if there are three in a nest? In this case, the dimensions of the sides should be equal to 70 cm. More details about this method of planting can be seen in the video.

Peppers are planted in the ground at the end of spring. If the weather does not settle, then the planting of pepper is postponed to the beginning of June. It is better to plant peppers in the ground in the evening or on cloudy days.

The seedlings are thoroughly watered and one bush at a time is carefully removed from the container along with the earthen lump that is enveloped by the roots. What fertilizers should I apply when planting peppers? When planting, it is useful to add a composition with humus and nitrophoska to the hole. The plant is placed to a depth of the first pair of leaves.

Useful layer

A valuable care step is mulching the pepper. The peculiarities of cultivation lie in covering the soil with an organic or inorganic layer called mulch. Mulching the soil is necessary to reduce weeds, retain moisture, and protect from heat and cold. In the soil that is covered with mulch, beneficial flora spreads and it becomes fertile.

You can mulch the area where the pepper will be planted with the following substances.

• An organic layer of straw can quickly cool the ground, reduce the number of weeds, and allow you to get a good harvest. The depth of the mulch layer is at least 10 cm.
• For growing sweet peppers, humus and compost are useful and nutritious mulches. They contain beneficial microorganisms that fight pathogens. Pepper grows better, the fruits ripen faster and become juicy.
• Mulch the ground with chopped grass. Any herb can be used. Planting sweet peppers in such a place will only bring benefits. The layer retains moisture well, promotes rapid plant development and fruit formation. The thickness of the mulch should be at least 30 cm.
• You can plant seedlings using inorganic mulch. This includes black film. The soil under the black film retains moisture well and protects against weeds. Many experienced vegetable growers plant peppers under the film, since there is no need for constant watering and weeding of the beds.

On the Internet you can find detailed information about each type of mulch, as well as watch a video.

In addition to its benefits, mulching can lead to problems. Most often this occurs when a thick layer of mulch is installed. Stagnation of moisture in the soil can lead to rotting of the roots. Should be changed periodically old layer on new.

To avoid mistakes, each type of mulch should be laid in the thickness recommended by agronomists. The layer is laid on well-heated, dry soil. Every spring, the old layer of mulch should be removed.

Caring attitude

The first days after transplantation, pepper growth slows down, the leaves are sluggish and drooping. Within a few days, when the bushes take root, a strong stem will begin to develop.

Caring for peppers in open ground is accompanied by regular watering, fertilizing the soil and weed control.

Growing and caring for peppers in open ground should be accompanied by proper, regular watering. The first watering is carried out at the time of planting, and then 5 days later. If the weather does not favor rain, then water until the first fruits appear, it is recommended every week. During rapid fruiting, watering is reduced. As soon as the first harvest is harvested and new flowers appear on the plants, the previous watering regime is resumed.

As soon as the height of the plant reaches 35 cm, pinch off the top. Thanks to this, new side branches will appear. In order for the flowering to be abundant and many ovaries to form, the flower located in the center is removed.

Throughout the entire period when bell peppers are growing, you need to pick off excess leaves and twigs. This provides better access to sunlight and air to the stem.

Pepper loves soft, well-loosened soil. Therefore, a hard crust should not be allowed. During loosening, the soil is enriched with oxygen, the plant grows faster, and the activity of beneficial bacteria improves. At the same time, weed control is underway. The first loosening should be carried out no deeper than 6 cm. In the future, it is useful to loosen the soil after each watering or rain. Since peppers are heat-loving plants, they can hardly withstand unfavorable weather surprises. You can protect peppers from frost as follows. Shelters are constructed from cardboard and warm fabric over the beds. If the cold nights continue long time

, it is better to cover with film.

Additional nutritional components

Growing bell pepper is not complete without adding nutrients. The frequency of applied fertilizer should be once every 12-14 days. The plant needs to be fertilized at least three times. Peppers especially urgently need nourishment during flowering and fruit formation.

When flowers appear, you can use the following recipe based on herbal infusion and mullein. Nettle, plantain and dandelion leaves are poured with water, mullein is added and infused for a week. Apply the prepared solution at the root of each bush. You can repeat watering every 2 weeks. The nutrients obtained during this feeding contribute to the activation of growth and better education fruits

To attract pollinating insects during the flowering period, you can use a solution with sugar. Sugar and boric acid are dissolved in water. The resulting mixture is sprayed onto the bushes. As a result, ovaries form faster.

During fruit formation, you can care for it using fertilizer based on chicken manure and nitroammophoska. The components are mixed and left to infuse for the whole week. Fertilizer is transferred to the garden bed between the rows.

Bell peppers can be cared for using nettle infusion. An infusion of nettle alone stimulates the growth and development of pepper. Young nettle is best suited for infusion. It contains magnesium, iron, potassium and other essential micronutrients. The stems are crushed and infused in a barrel of water, covered with a lid, for two days. Before feeding, the solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.

Before applying organic or mineral fertilizers, the beds should be watered with plain water. Such care will allow the nutritional components to be evenly distributed and avoid burning the root system.

Agricultural technology for growing peppers does not allow the use of fresh manure as fertilizer. Manure contains a lot of nitrogen, so the risk of an excess of this element increases. The stem and leaves begin to gain mass and strength, and fruiting stops.

When problems arise

If it has been noticed that the leaves change shape, color, the stems look lethargic, or other signs appear, the cause is often a lack of mineral components:

• with a lack of potassium, the leaves curl, and their tips dry out and turn yellow;
• It’s time to apply nitrogen fertilizers when the leaves have lost their rich green color and turned gray;
• if the leaves are pressed against the stem and have acquired a bluish tint, it means there is not enough phosphorus;
• white spots indicate magnesium deficiency;
• leaves and ovaries fall off when there is an excess of nitrogen.

To grow sweet peppers, you need to create conditions. If not properly cared for, it is susceptible to the development of various diseases. The most common disease is blackleg, which develops in too wet soil. You can notice the problem by the dark part of the stem with a coating that runs near the ground. If measures are not taken, then all the roots will rot and the plant will die.

To reduce the risk of developing blackleg, seeds are planted only in treated soil; only strong, healthy seedlings are transplanted into open ground. The distance between the bushes must be large, this will reduce the rate of spread of the disease. In addition, closely planted bushes will not allow air and light to pass through well.

Phytophthora is a fungal infection that affects green part plants. You can recognize it by the appearance of brown spots on the stem and leaves. To avoid this disease, care must begin from the seeds. Before planting, they are soaked in potassium permanganate, and foliar spraying of seedlings in open ground with protective solutions is carried out. You should also avoid the proximity of peppers to tomatoes and potatoes.

2017-01-16 Igor Novitsky

Sweet pepper is a rather whimsical plant, but this quality does not prevent hundreds of thousands of gardeners from annually collecting hundreds of kilograms of this amazing plant from their gardens. In order for sweet peppers to be juicy, ripe and not susceptible to pests, you will have to study the features of planting, caring for, growing seedlings and their subsequent planting!

Growing peppers is quite a troublesome task. However, this garden culture considered one of the most popular. Of course, it opens up endless spaces for culinary fantasies! Juicy and aromatic sweet peppers can be added to salads, borscht, soups and sauces, stuffed, baked, pickled and used to prepare delicious vegetable stews!

Homeland of sweet pepper South America with its tropical climate. Today it is grown all over the world in a variety of climates. Here in Russia, we started growing peppers for culinary purposes only in the 19th century. Before this, it was used exclusively in medicine. It should be noted that the vitamin C content in this vegetable is higher than in oranges. In addition, its regular use improves the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.

Where to plant and how to care?

Pepper is extremely heat-loving and light-loving. A comfortable temperature for it is not lower than +20-25 °C.
Plant peppers on the south side of your garden so that other plants do not block it from the sun's rays.
Caring for peppers when grown in a greenhouse or open ground is as follows: proper watering, constant fertilizing, weeding and loosening. Pepper bushes should be watered as the top layer of soil dries out. At the same time, you should not allow it to dry out completely; the plants may die. After watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil.

How to grow seedlings?

Pepper is a late-ripening crop, so it is grown as seedlings. We sow seeds for seedlings in late February early March.

Before planting seeds, prepare the soil. If it was stored in a cold place, a few days before planting we bring it into the house so that it warms up well. First, a day before planting, we spill the soil with a pale pink solution of hot water and potassium permanganate. This is necessary for disinfection from harmful microflora, as well as final heating.

For better growth of pepper seedlings, mix ordinary soil from the garden with peat-based soil in a 1:1 ratio.
This will have a beneficial effect on further development plants. Add wood ash to the resulting mixture in a ratio of 1:15. Ash is an excellent source of potassium, which is so necessary for the full development of plants. Then we fill the seedling container with prepared soil and water it. In principle, you can plant seeds in ready-made purchased soil if you are not afraid of additional costs.

In a container where many plants will grow, we sow the seeds at a distance of 3-5 cm from each other. Then in the future there will be no need to pick seedlings. Sprinkle the seeds with soil and water again with warm water. To speed up germination, we create “ Greenhouse effect": cover our crops with film (an ordinary plastic bag will do).

Immediately after the shoots emerge, remove the film. Otherwise, the pepper sprouts will overgrow and be very weak. Containers with seedlings should be placed in a warm and bright place with an air temperature of at least +18-20 °C. We water the seedlings at intervals of 1-2 days so that the soil is always moist.

In the first days - always warm water with a temperature not lower than +25-30 ° C. It is best to water plants in the morning or evening. Before watering, periodically loosen the soil to a depth of 5-7 cm.

After our peppers have gotten a little stronger, we raise the air temperature to +22-27 °C. This will promote their better growth. Then, in the phase of formation of 3-4 main leaves, we maintain the following temperature: +22-25 °C in sunny weather, +19-22 °C in cloudy weather, +16-18 °C at night.

During the growing period, seedlings will need to be fed 3 times.

We carry out the first fertilizing 2 weeks from the beginning of germination, when the plant has already formed 3-4 leaves. During this period, the pepper must be provided with nitrogen so that it can fully grow and develop. To do this, add 1 tablespoon of urea to 10 liters of water, stir and water our seedlings. Before watering, you can sprinkle the soil around the plants with ash.
We carry out the second feeding 2-3 weeks after the first, according to the same scheme.

We do the third feeding of seedlings 4 days before planting in the ground. Add 1 tablespoon of urea and 1 tablespoon of superphosphate to 10 liters of water.

Where to grow: in a greenhouse or in open ground?

We know that pepper is a heat-loving crop. Therefore, when grown in a greenhouse, you are guaranteed to get a higher yield than in open ground. Plant care is the same everywhere. But it is in the greenhouse that ideal conditions are created for pepper growth.

In spring or early summer, you should not rush to plant pepper seedlings on permanent place. This crop requires well-warmed soil and stable warm weather. In addition, the threat of night frosts should completely pass. For areas with warm climates best time for planting pepper in open ground - late May - early June. For cold weather - mid or late June.

2 weeks before planting in open ground or a greenhouse, start hardening your peppers. What it is? In the first days we simply open the window. Then we take the seedlings out onto the balcony or veranda in a place where the plants will be protected from direct sunlight. If the temperature on the balcony or veranda at night does not drop below +14 °C, the seedlings feel quite comfortable. Then we don’t bring her into the house anymore.

We plant the seedlings according to the 30x30 pattern, carefully removing them from the glass so as not to damage the roots. Plant at the same depth as in the pot! Scheme 30x30: next to a separate bush there should not be another one close to it at a distance of less than 30 cm; Seedlings can be planted in a “line”, or in a checkerboard pattern.

To get a great harvest of sweet peppers, you must first properly grow strong seedlings at home. The procedure for growing the crop is in many ways similar to eggplants and partly tomatoes, but there are also fundamental differences. Pepper reacts sharply to temperature fluctuations (sharp drops) and unsuccessful transplantation (picking), due to which its level of vitality sharply decreases and it slows down in growth.

Therefore, before you start sowing pepper seeds for seedlings, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features and rules of its cultivation. Next, you will find detailed step-by-step instructions for preparing and directly planting pepper seeds for seedlings at home, as well as useful photo and video materials.

Note! The site already has several detailed review articles about the most popular and best varieties of sweet peppers, which will definitely help you make your choice:

Video: pepper seeds - how to choose the right varieties

How to plant pepper seedlings correctly

It is very important to plant pepper seedlings correctly, and first choose optimal timing for sowing, prepare and process the planting material itself, soil and containers. And, of course, sow the seeds themselves to the required depth.

When to sow seeds: optimal sowing dates

Note! The site already has a detailed article about, including favorable days for planting in 2019, according to the lunar calendar.

How to prepare seeds for planting

Note! More information on the preparation and processing of pepper seeds before sowing seedlings you will find .

In order to properly and effectively plant pepper seeds for seedlings, it is important to carry out preliminary seed preparation. This procedure will help to disinfect the planting material, as well as activate its vitality in a shorter time.

Note! The shelf life of pepper seeds should not exceed 3 years. Further germination decreases significantly.

Important! On sale you can find pelleted (granulated) pepper seeds. Such planting material does not require any preparation, it is already processed and covered with a special nutritious shell. It must be sown dry so as not to wash off the protective film.

Technology for preparing pepper seeds for sowing:

• disinfection (etching) in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (this is a very weak remedy), much better in (Alirin, Gamair are also suitable) for 20-30 minutes (in gauze), followed by rinsing under running water;

• soaking in a growth stimulant, e.g. in "Epin" or "Zircon" (according to instructions) in order to enhance growth processes;

As an option, you can use an infusion of ash (1 tablespoon per 500 ml of water, let stand for 2 days), in which you need to soak the seeds, wrapped in a gauze bag, for 4-5 hours.

• germination (soaking) seeds in water(you can add a growth stimulator) for their swelling and subsequent awakening (germination).

If you simply immerse the seeds in water, there will be no effect, because they require oxygen to awaken. That's why the seeds need to be soaked in a damp cloth (namely a cloth or cotton pads, they can grow roots into gauze) so that the seeds have access to both moisture and air), For example, placing it on a saucer and covering the top with a plastic bag (cling film) so that moisture does not evaporate quickly, in other words, create a greenhouse effect.

Wherein optimal temperature for seed germination pepper - + 23-28 degrees. Therefore, the saucer with soaked seeds should be put in a warm place, for example, on Kitchen Cabinet n and 2-3 days before germination.

Video: preparing pepper seeds for sowing seedlings

Note! The most complete information about processing and preparing pepper seeds for sowing seedlings you will find .

Which substrate to choose

So that the seedlings have everything necessary components for growth and development on initial stage, you should select a special soil.

The soil mixture itself should be loose, light and nutritious, and its acidity should be close to neutral.

If the gardener does not have the opportunity to prepare it himself, the problem can be solved by purchasing ready soil for growing pepper seedlings(which generally works for eggplants and tomatoes too).

If desired, the necessary You can prepare the soil mixture yourself by combining and mixing the following components:

• garden (garden) soil;
• peat;
• perlite, coconut substrate or river sand.

Important! Experts do not recommend adding humus or mineral fertilizers at the stage of sowing seeds for seedlings, as this can lead to intensive growth of the above-ground part with further lodging of the seedlings.

Some gardeners initially sow sprouted seeds in pure coconut substrate (without soil), to later be replanted in pots with soil, although again you can mix the soil with coconut. But the method is very risky, it’s better to just experiment with it first.

Advice! Before sowing pepper seeds, the right decision will hold preliminary disinfection of the soil. For example, it can be heated in the oven or microwave. Or pour a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, the drug or Previkur (according to the instructions).

Video: land for seedlings of peppers, eggplants and tomatoes

Choosing a container for planting

Each gardener decides for himself which container to use for planting crops.

Naturally, if you are going to grow with picking, then it is initially logical to sow in a common container (wooden box, Plastic container), and then dispense into individual containers. Although initially you can sow in small (0.1-0.2 liters) personal cups (pots or cassettes).

If without picking, then, of course, immediately into separate sufficiently large containers (from 0.5 liters).

Important! The main requirement for a landing container is that it must have drainage holes.

Alternatively, you can also (additionally) add a drainage layer of expanded clay or fine gravel.

To understand the advantages and disadvantages of one or another landing container, it is worth considering several options.

Plastic cups

The most popular and convenient container for growing pepper seedlings and other crops.

For planting and further picking, plastic cups with a volume of 100 to 500 ml are required.

Advantages: reusable, extraction of seedlings without damaging the roots, low price.

Disadvantages: lack of drainage holes, the need for an additional pallet, instability, inconvenience during transportation.

Wooden box

The advantage of this container is that it is durable and you can make it yourself, saving family budget. In addition, no additional equipment is required when transporting seedlings.

Disadvantage wooden box is that when filled it has a lot of weight, and when further transplanted into the ground, the seedlings are almost impossible to pull out without damaging the root system.

Therefore, boxes, as a rule, are used only for the initial sowing of seeds, and later individual containers are used for picking.

Plastic cassettes

Cassettes are plastic cells connected to each other. Now they are offered for sale in a very wide range, which allows you to choose containers of different sizes, complete with a tray and a transparent lid.

As a rule, plastic cassettes are used for picking, but, in theory, initial sowing can be done in them.

The advantage of using them is that they are already equipped with drainage holes, can be easily cut with scissors into individual specimens, and are also lightweight and allow you to easily remove seedlings from the cell (during transshipment and planting in the ground).

The disadvantages of the structures include fragility and relative inconvenience during further transportation of seedlings.

Peat cups (pots)

They are round containers made of environmentally friendly material (peat and cardboard, ideally 70% and 30%).

Ideal for picking.

The main advantage is that they dissolve in soil And additionally nourish the plants, in this case, the root system is not damaged. In other words, seedlings are planted without taking them out, but together with the pot burying it in the ground.

The main disadvantages of these landing tanks are that they are very moisture evaporates quickly, Therefore, regular and frequent watering is very important. However, because of this they often grow moldy(due to overflow). In addition, peat cups have a relatively high cost.

Video: the pros and cons of planting seedlings in peat pots

By the way! There are also peat cassettes.

Peat tablets

They are compressed peat, which is placed in a thin shell. Before sowing seeds for seedlings, you need to first soak the tablets in water for about 10 minutes.

The tablets are easy to use and stimulate the development of a strong root system, as they have a balanced nutritional composition. The disadvantages include the rapid evaporation of moisture, the need for an additional tray and the high price.

Video: sowing seeds in peat tablets.

By the way! IN Lately became It is popular to plant in snails. Indeed, this is convenient, but peppers do not tolerate picking well, and this method causes quite severe damage to the roots when picking. Therefore, it is better to leave it for tomatoes, for which replanting is not at all scary.

Landing scheme

When sowing sweet pepper seeds, you should understand that over time the seedlings will need more space, so initially they should be planted with a distance so that they can fully develop before picking without interfering with each other.

Important! If plantings are dense, the risk of developing diseases increases; seedlings will stretch excessively and develop poorly due to lack of light and nutrition.

It is recommended to plant bell pepper seeds in rows at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from each other and with a row spacing of 3-4 cm. The more free space each seedling has, the longer it will be able to fully develop without picking. This optimal sowing technology will contribute to the normal cultivation of seedlings in the future.

Think! Some gardeners believe that It’s better to grow peppers without picking at all, in other words, the seeds should be planted immediately in separate pots or at a greater distance (3-5 cm from each other, 4-6 cm in a row).

Video: growing peppers without picking

Direct landing

Step-by-step instructions for sowing sweet pepper seeds for seedlings:

• Pour the prepared soil into the container.
• Water warm water and allow moisture to be absorbed and the soil to settle.
• Make rows 1 cm deep with permissible row spacing.

By the way! Some people plant peppers at a depth of 1.5 cm, but the recommended depth is 1 cm.

• Spread the seeds while maintaining distance.

• Sprinkle with soil and moisten the surface with a spray bottle.
• Cover the container with a transparent lid or cover it with a plastic bag (film) to create a greenhouse effect.
• Place in a dark and warm place until shoots emerge. temperature +25-27 degrees, for example, on a kitchen cabinet.

Video: sowing pepper seeds for seedlings

And the next video shows even more detailed process sowing sweet pepper seeds for seedlings:

Caring for pepper seedlings after sowing

In order to ultimately grow full-fledged and strong seedlings, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules for caring for and growing peppers at home.

Temperature and light conditions

In the future, for stable growth of the above-ground part without compromising the development of the root system the air temperature during the day should be between +22-26 degrees, and at night - +16-18 degrees. Optimal soil temperature - +19-21 degrees.

Pepper is a short-day plant.

Therefore, in order for the seedlings to fully develop, Daylight hours should be only about 9-10 hours(and for late varieties even less).

Because sowing seedlings occurs quite early, then, of course, it is optimal to place the seedlings on the southern window sill, but a western or eastern window (or even better, a southwestern or southeastern window) is also suitable.

However, if your windows face north or you often have cloudy weather, then you can’t do without supplementary lighting of the seedlings.

Watering

Water pepper seedlings at home should only be when the top layer of soil dries out, avoiding overwatering and drying out of the soil (especially withering of plants).

Important! Water for watering pepper seedlings should be settled and warm (+25-30 degrees) or at least room temperature.

Video: uprogress for pepper seedlings - from germination to picking

Picking

Pepper does not tolerate any damage to the roots and takes a long time to recover after transplantation, so picking should be done very carefully.

How to care for seedlings after picking

Further care for pepper seedlings is similar: you need to maintain temperature and light conditions, as well as water on time and, if necessary, start fertilizing.

Top dressing

Fertilizing is an important element of caring for pepper seedlings at home. However, if you initially used nutrient soil, then, as a rule, you can do without additional fertilizer. But, if the appearance of the seedlings causes concern, then fertilizing is simply necessary; it will help the plant develop normally.

By the way! If your young plants need additional nutrition, then all the information about feeding pepper seedlings you will find .

Preparation for planting in the ground - hardening

Since seedlings are grown at home, before planting seedlings in open ground, they should first be adapted to more severe conditions external environment(for example, to sudden changes temperatures, direct sunlight, etc.) so that after the transplant she does not find herself in a severe stressful situation.

To do this, 2 weeks before planting the seedlings in a permanent place, in open ground, you should begin preparing them, in other words, hardening them, gradually moving the seedling containers to the balcony or greenhouse.

Video: caring for pepper seedlings - from picking to planting

When and how to plant pepper seedlings in open ground: optimal timing

Pepper seedlings should be planted in a permanent place only when minute threat of return frosts, and the air temperature will not be lower than +15 degrees, regardless of the time of day. Wherein the soil should warm up to at least +10, or better yet +12-15 degrees.

As for the requirements for appearance, the pepper seedlings at the time of planting should be strong, with a well-developed root system and have 8-12 true leaves. In addition, early varieties should have clearly visible first formed buds.

Thus, the approximate timing of planting pepper in the ground in the south of Russia is the second half - late April, in the middle zone (Moscow region) - the second half of May, and in the northern regions (Ural, Siberia) - no earlier than the 3rd decade of May - early June, Around the same time, peppers were also planted in the North-West (Leningrad region).

Naturally, you can plant it in a greenhouse earlier (1-2 weeks), because soil in closed ground warms up faster.

The procedure for planting pepper seedlings in open ground is standard: transfer the seedlings into prepared planting holes, maintaining the integrity of the earthen ball, and then water them thoroughly.

Thus, even a novice summer resident is able to grow strong and healthy pepper seedlings at home, which can ultimately produce a generous and tasty harvest. It is only necessary to comply with all requirements for sowing and conditions for keeping seedlings, and also not to ignore the basic rules for growing them.

Video: growing peppers from A to Z - from sowing seedlings to planting in open ground and harvesting

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