The cultivation of seedlings of sweet pepper has its own characteristics, which must be taken into account in order for the seedlings to be of high quality, capable of forming a high yield of pepper.
The first question that arises for gardeners is when is the optimal time for sowing seeds to obtain high-quality pepper seedlings? When determining it, it is worth taking into account the biological characteristics of this culture - the timing of seed germination, germination, germination energy and the quality of the specific seeds available. And for this, it would not be bad to check the seeds in advance for germination and germination periods, which can range from 5 to 35 days.
To our regret, at present there is a fairly large number of low-quality, old, low varietal seed purity on sale. With proper storage, pepper seeds retain germination for 3 years. And old and incorrectly stored seeds lose their germination faster, their germination energy decreases. In this regard, it will be appropriate to recall that it is better to purchase seeds in already proven retail outlets or in large specialized stores and shopping centers, as well as from official representatives of well-known Russian agricultural firms.
And so about the timing of sowing pepper seeds for seedlings ... Simple arithmetic calculations, knowing that the normal age of pepper seedlings should be 65 - 70 days (when planting it in a constant place - May 10 - 15), it can be stated that sowing should be done - 1 - 10th of March. But since the age of any seedlings is calculated from the moment of emergence of seedlings to planting in a permanent place, another 10-15 days that go from sowing pepper seeds to emergence should be subtracted from this date. The terms and conditions for growing pepper in different climatic zones are very different, therefore, elementary arithmetic calculations will be useful to many of our readers
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Starting to grow pepper seedlings, you should take into account the peculiarity of this culture - pepper very painfully tolerates any transplant and is significantly delayed in development after this operation.And sowing pepper seeds in bulk in one container, as permissible for tomatoes, is undesirable. Peat seedlings or plastic cups will be indispensable for growing pepper seedlings, where you need to sow seeds individually for each plant. If possible, it is better to sow 2 to 3 pcs. in one pot, and after germination leave one the strongest. With the growth of pepper seedlings, it is necessary in a timely manner, removing the old peat pot, to transplant it, without violating the root system, into a larger one. The optimal size of the container for adult seedlings is 1 liter.
I would like to warn the beginning gardeners - you should not immediately put the pots on the windowsill after sowing the seeds, where the temperature is much lower than in the room. And before emergence, our pets do not need light, but heat and moisture are vital. Before seedlings, cover the seed cups with glass or film and place in a warm place with a temperature of 25 - 30 degrees, so it will be possible to shorten the time before emergence of pepper.
As soon as the shoots of pepper have appeared, we place peat pots or plastic cups on the most lighted window sill, since pepper is very demanding on lighting conditions especially in the seedling period. The lack of illumination adversely affects the quality of pepper seedlings and the further development of the vegetative and reproductive organs of the plant. At the end of February - March, the days are still very short, and so that the pepper seedlings do not stretch out and do not "become thin", it is advisable to organize additional illumination so that the daylight hours are 14 hours.
Optimal for growing pepper seedlings is a temperature of 19 - 26 degrees, in sunny weather a temperature of up to 30 degrees is permissible. When growing pepper seedlings, it is advisable to control the soil temperature with a special thermometer, since the roots of the plant are especially sensitive to temperature. If possible, a cold window sill should be insulated and watering pepper seedlings should be carried out with warm water - 30 - 35 degrees. Pepper needs moderate watering as the earthen coma dries.
An important role in the nutrition of pepper during the cultivation of seedlings is played by the composition of the soil mixture. If you are not too lazy, you got acquainted with its composition by clicking on the link at the very beginning of the article. But do not forget about the top dressing of seedlings of pepper 1 time in 10 days with complex mineral fertilizers with trace elements. Ideal for feeding seedlings suitable Kemira - Lux and Agricola for vegetable crops.
To ensure good air access to the root system when growing pepper seedlings, the formation of a dense soil crust should be prevented, which inhibits the development of plants and impairs the consumption of nutrients. To do this, the soil around the seedlings of peppers must be carefully loosened after each watering and top dressing.
7-10 days before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, care must be taken to harden the plants.
Subject to the recommended conditions and terms for growing pepper seedlings, it should be strong, healthy, seasoned, have a powerful stem (3 - 6 mm. Thick), height up to 25 cm, 8 - 12 leaves and buds formed.