How to germinate sweet pepper seeds.

Red Bulgarian pepper for most of our country is a seedling culture, since planting sweet pepper seeds directly into the soil allows only the climate of southern regions. It should be noted that the plant does not always successfully transfer the transplant. Proceeding from this, it is recommended to grow seedlings either in pots or to sow with the optimum density, which excludes the picking. There are several ways of preliminary preparation of sweet pepper seeds for sowing, among which the most popular are:

- hardening by cold;

- germination;

- pickling;

- treatment with various growth stimulants.

Also in the environment of gardeners, the use of potassium permanganate is very popular: the seeds of sweet pepper are disinfected in 1% solution of this substance. In the event that the temperature conditions remain in the range of 22 to 28 ° C throughout the sprouting season, it is possible to sow with sprouted sweet pepper seeds. This type of planting is distinguished by special efficiency, which determines its popularity among gardeners. When these conditions are met, the red sweet pepper rises very quickly. Determination of the sowing period is carried out by taking into account the age characteristics of the seedlings: thus, early ripening varieties are recommended for planting in open ground not earlier than 45 days from seeding, middle-ripening varieties are ready for transplantation for 60-65 days.

Start preparing seeds of sweet pepper for sowing it is necessary already in February. To do this, the seeds are taken and their 30-minute disinfection in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate in the proportions of 1 g per half a cup of water, after which the seeds of Bulgarian pepper are required to be rinsed. Improve the quality of seedlings and accelerate the emergence of germination will contribute to the use of humic and oxygumate sodium, as well as succinic acid, which are physiological substances, growth regulators. Positive effect on the state of the seeds of their pre-soaking in a solution of wood ash, prepared a day before the process (proportion: 2 tablespoons of ash per liter of warm water). Seeds of sweet pepper are placed in the above solution in homemade gauze or tissue pouches for 3, maximum 6 hours. After soaking proceed to direct germination, for which it is required to cover the seeds with a damp cloth on top. Optimum for a comfortable state of seeds is a temperature of 20-25 ° C. For effective germination, it is possible to place the seeds in a plastic bag.

After 4-5 days, the seeds should become noticeably swollen and partially germinate. If all the conditions have been met and the final result is in line with expectations, it is required to sow in pots or boxes with fertile soil, compost or a special mixture of peat - 4/9, chernozem - 2/9, sand 2/9 and wood ash - 1 / 9. Seeds of Bulgarian pepper are required to be evenly decomposed in loose soil at a distance of 3 cm from each other in several rows, the intervals between which should be about 6 cm. Then the crops should be sprinkled with a layer of initial soil of 1 cm, slightly compacted and watered at room temperature. Watering is recommended with great care, so as not to wash the seeds. When the moisture has absorbed, to prevent the drying of the earth, it is covered with a film. The emergence of shoots requires a temporary decrease in the ambient temperature to 15-17 ° C - for 3-5 days, as well as the removal of the film. Further it is recommended to maintain a constant temperature: 20-25 ° C - in the daytime and 10-13 ° C - at night. At the initial stage of growth, the seeds require watering in a day or two, preferably in the morning. The further frequency of irrigation is determined by the state of the shoots. In addition, the soil needs to periodically break up.