Planting hot pepper seedlings - timing and features

Pepper

Along with such common vegetable crops as cucumbers and tomatoes, the cultivation of hot peppers, both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions, has become very popular in the temperate climate zone.

This species is a heat-loving crop, so it should only be planted from seedlings. Hot pepper seeds should be sown for seedlings in February or March, depending on the region and variety, as it takes approximately 100-120 days for this plant to produce fruit.

Characteristics of the crop and growing conditions for hot pepper seedlings

This pepper variety requires abundant sunlight, consistent warmth, and proper watering with warm water. The best time to plant it is February. However, it's best to sow late-season varieties early in the month, and early-season varieties at the end of the month.

During the germination period, it's important to keep the top layer of soil constantly moist and the temperature above 25 degrees Celsius. If necessary, mist the soil with a spray bottle. As soon as the first shoots appear, move the plant to a brighter location.

Advice!

To prevent shoots from becoming too elongated, pinch off their tips. This stimulates the growth and development of lateral branches.

Seedlings can be planted once the stems reach 15 cm in height and six leaves have appeared. It is recommended to plant no more than five plants per square meter. Sweet and bitter varieties should be separated, planting them in different areas of the garden. Otherwise, the sweet variety will taste bitter. After planting the seedlings in the ground, tie the tender, fragile stems to stakes.

After planting, ensure regular watering, weeding, and fertilizing of the seedlings. During the growing season, the plant needs magnesium and phosphorus most, and before the fruit ripens, watering intensity and nitrogen fertilizer application should be significantly reduced.

For actively growing and flowering plants, remove the terminal flowers and the tops of the main shoots. This will accelerate their growth and development.

Choosing the most suitable vegetable variety

There are approximately 3,000 varieties of bitter peppers. These fruits are used as a seasoning in various cuisines around the world. Some varieties are characterized by a pungent taste, while others have a milder spiciness. In addition to this characteristic, pepper varieties are classified by ripening time and are classified as early, mid-season, or late.

When choosing the best variety for specific conditions, it's important to consider several important plant characteristics. For example, spiciness depends on the growing climate. In a warm, humid environment, the peppers become spicier and more pungent. Foreign-bought seeds are marked on the packaging with the abbreviation SHU, which indicates the degree of spiciness. The higher the number, the hotter the pepper.

Note!

The most suitable varieties for planting in open ground are those with a growing season of 90-105 days.

The best varieties are characterized by high germination rates, good yield, resistance to adverse environmental influences and pathogenic microflora.

Variety	Peculiarities	Productivity	Fruit
Double abundance	Good tolerance to high temperatures, resistance to viral diseases	Up to 5 tiers in a greenhouse, 40 fruits per plant	The peppercorns are trunk-shaped and 18-21 cm long, weighing 50-80 g.
Miracle of the Moscow Region	Strong aroma, tall stems with few leaves, no shaping required	20 fruits per bush, 3.6-3.9 kg/square meter	Conical, smooth, glossy, up to 3 cm in diameter, 20-25 cm in length, weighing 45-50 g. The pepper's taste is characterized by mild pungency.
A fiery bouquet	Suitable for open ground and greenhouses. It has a robust bush up to 50 cm tall that requires no staking.	Good yield, unpretentiousness	The pods are cone-shaped, 10-12 cm long, weighing 15-25 g. The bright red ripe pepper has a spicy taste and a pleasant aroma.
Chinese fire	Bush height up to 65 cm, high resistance to viral diseases, good transportability	High yield, pods ripen in just 100 days	A cone-shaped, downward-curved pepper up to 25 cm long, weighing 70 g. Strongly pungent taste.

Rules for sowing hot pepper seeds for seedlings

The optimal time for sowing seeds for seedlings depends on climate conditions. For example, in areas with a mild climate, where the soil warms up to 15 degrees Celsius by early May, seeds can be sown in January or February. For other regions, February or March is optimal.

Seed preparation

Before sowing, you need to sort the planting material. To do this, you can fill a glass of water and place the seeds in it. Any that float should be discarded as "empty" seeds and discarded. The remaining seed material should be disinfected. This can be accomplished through chemical or thermal treatment.

Soak — In the first case, you should prepare a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate and place the seeds there for 1-2 hours.

The thermal method requires immersing the seeds in water heated to 50 degrees Celsius for 15-20 minutes. Afterward, cool the seeds under running water. After both procedures, it's recommended to soak the seeds in a special solution for half an hour to nourish and stimulate growth. Zircon or Humate are best for this purpose.

When purchasing planting material online or in specialty stores, it often doesn't require any additional processing. However, in such cases, it's important to carefully read the instructions. Seeds are often coated with a special membrane that loses its properties when wet. Therefore, placing them in any aqueous solution can completely ruin them.

Selecting soil and container

To germinate seeds, you can use cotton pads, which should be kept constantly moist. As soon as the seeds begin to sprout, they should be transplanted immediately, without waiting for sprouts to appear.

Careful consideration should also be given to selecting the right soil. When planting seedlings, you can purchase a special substrate, which is available at many specialty stores. Many experienced gardeners recommend preparing the optimal soil for hot peppers.

Algorithm for planting seeds and care before picking

Sowing seeds doesn't require much physical effort or time. However, during this period, constant attention and timely care are required, depending on the plant's condition. Pepper seeds are planted in prepared soil at a depth of 1 cm in individual containers or special communal seed trays.

To grow hot pepper seedlings, follow the following algorithm:

First, water the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Place the prepared seeds into small parallel furrows in a staggered pattern to a depth of 1 cm, lightly cover and compact. To maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity, it is recommended to cover the box with glass or transparent film. Place the seedlings in a warm place with a temperature of at least 25 degrees Celsius.
A container with sown seeds under film
The first shoots should appear above ground within 10 days. After this, the covering material should be slightly lifted to prevent condensation from accumulating. Once the main mass of stems has aligned and the first two leaves have emerged, the glass is completely removed.
It's important to keep the soil constantly moist. Water with settled, room-temperature water. Avoid overwatering. It's also recommended to mist the plants periodically.
Provide adequate lighting using clean, south-facing windows, reflective foil screens, and fluorescent lamps. In total, daylight hours should be at least 12-14 hours.
Rules for planting seeds
After the first leaves appear, it's recommended to fertilize the plant with ammonium nitrate every 10 days. A complete fertilizer is recommended before planting.

Correct planting times

It's believed that planting peppers is best done on the right days, which should be chosen based on weather conditions, the lunar calendar, and the characteristics of the plant variety. February is a favorable month for this purpose. Including a week for seed preparation, the growing season for early-ripening varieties is 66 days, mid-season varieties 76 days, and late varieties 81 days. The sowing date varies depending on the climate of a particular region. For example, if you plan to plant seedlings on May 15th, subtract the growing season for the specific plant from that date.

Month	Favorable days	Unfavorable dates
January	10, 11, 18, 31
February	1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 24	3, 4, 20
March	3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 26	3, 5, 31
April	2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 16, 25	5
May	7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15	20, 29, 30
June	4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 18

Frequently asked questions about growing hot pepper seedlings

Which varieties of hot peppers can be planted directly in open ground?

The most hardy and popular varieties of hot pepper for open ground are Astrakhan 147, Impala, Danube, Yellow Hungarian, and Ukrainian Chili.

What is the best way to sow peppers – in a common container or directly into individual cups?

To quickly determine the quality of seedlings and save money, you can sow seeds first in trays and then transplant the seedlings into individual cups. If space allows, you can plant peppers in both a shared container and a separate container at the same time.

If I sow peppers in March, can I expect a good harvest?

Seedlings are transplanted outdoors when there's no risk of night frost. For best results, late varieties of this pungent vegetable should be planted in early March, and early varieties in mid-February.

When should you water seedlings with fertilizers?

Just a week after transplanting the seedlings from the tray into a larger cup, they are fertilized. The next feeding is done 14 days later, combined with watering.

Hot peppers are a healthy plant. Proper planting and cultivation, taking into account their characteristics and needs, will ensure a bountiful harvest of high-quality peppers.