Seedling of Pepper - rules of cultivation

Seeds of pepper sprout even at a temperature of 13-15 degrees, with shoots appear the sooner, the higher the soil temperature. The optimum temperature is 20-25 degrees, with her sprouts appearing after 12-15 days. Before planting peppers on seedlings, you need to know that it has a long vegetation period, so seeds for seedlings need to be sown earlier than for tomatoes. Optimum seeding time for seedlings in the middle of February for greenhouses and at the end of March for open soil.

Soil, prepared for seedlings, should absorb moisture well, there must be a sufficient amount of minerals in it. The soil should not be acidic, there should not be pathogens and pests in it. Soil should be mixed in the proportion: humus 2 parts, peat 1 part, sawdust, processed with boiling water 0.5 part. If the pepper seedling is then planted in clay soil, one part of the sand should be added. It is recommended to water the soil with water before planting, which should be mixed in the proportion: a bucket of water 1 tbsp. Spoon of superphosphate, 1h. Spoon of potassium sulfate and urea, half a glass of wood ash.

Seeds should be sown in a not very moist soil, in too wet soil, oxygen will not suffice. After sowing, the surface is sprinkled with wood ash or sifted soil. Seeds of pepper are grown for 40-50 days. Before germination of seeds, the soil temperature should be maintained within 24-25 degrees, the humidity should be 80-90%. After germination, it is necessary to reduce the temperature to 12-14 degrees at night and 16-18 degrees during the day. This is necessary for better development of the root system, and the plant will not be stretched too much. It should be noted that pepper seedling is not afraid of lack of light and does not stretch out like tomato seedlings. After 3-5 days the temperature should be increased again: in cloudy weather to 18-20 degrees, with the sun to 22-28 degrees, at night, enough temperatures of 15-18 degrees.

When the first real leaf appears on the shoots of the sweet pepper seedlings , they begin to pike. It is necessary to dive with a lump of earth to the same depth at which it grew, trying not to disturb the integrity of the root system. It should be dived in pots of peat or other material soluble in the soil. You can make pots by yourself: wrap the polyethylene film in the form of a sleeve with a diameter of 60 to 80 mm and thread it manually or on a sewing machine. Then cut the sleeve into separate pieces of the same size as the diameter and get ready-made cups. When disembarking into the ground, it is then quite easy to cut the plastic film with a blade from the side.

Seedling pepper needs fertilizing with mineral fertilizers as it develops. The very first feeding should be done after picking no earlier than two weeks. A solution for top dressing - for 10 liters of water 30 g of superphosphate and 5 g of urea. The flow rate of the solution should be the same as in conventional irrigation. 3-4 days before landing in the open ground, a second feeding is carried out: 10 grams of water 50 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium salt (can be replaced with potassium sulfate). Feed in better in the morning, then ventilate the planting to protect against disease. Immediately after picking, and in the future, pruning seedlings from direct sunlight should be avoided. Prepare for the action of sunlight should be gradually: substitute for sunlight for a short time, then continue to constantly increase.

It is desirable to regularly "show" the seedlings to the sun and wind in the open air, so that it quickly strengthened. On cloudy days and in the evenings, whenever possible, it is necessary to illuminate the seedlings with daylight lamps , this will accelerate its development and will enable plants to get used to a longer light day. Watering should be done often and abundantly, but not waterlogging so that the roots do not rot. For planting in the open ground seedling pepper is ready, when it has a height of 20-25 cm and 10-12 of these sheets. Usually it happens at her age of 40-50 days.