Planting hot pepper seedlings in 2024 according to the lunar calendar for different regions

Pepper

Hot peppers have a long growing season. It takes at least four months from germination to harvest. Therefore, in most regions of Russia, the vegetable is grown using seedlings. This method allows for earlier harvesting. Planting on favorable days according to the lunar calendar improves germination, resulting in healthy plants and a bountiful harvest. This article details the timing and process itself, step-by-step, from A to Z.

Sweet (Bulgarian)

2.17%

Spicy

97.83%

Voted: 46

Deadlines

The lunar phase, the growing season of the chosen variety, and the regional climate all have a significant impact on planting. The method of growing the vegetable—in open beds or in a greenhouse—is also taken into account.

According to the lunar calendar

For vegetables whose fruit grows above the soil surface (our case), favorable planting times occur during the waxing moon phase. At this time, under the influence of the Earth's moon's gravity, the movement of plant sap is directed upward.

Therefore, the aboveground portion of the bushes develops more actively. During the waning moon, the movement of fluids reverses. Therefore, hot pepper seeds planted at this time have difficulty germinating, and the seedlings grow weak.

Important!

The Full Moon and New Moon phases are considered transitional. During these periods, any planting is prohibited.

When choosing the right time for sowing hot peppers The zodiac sign through which the celestial body passes is also taken into account. The most fertile of these are considered to be Taurus, Cancer, Capricorn, Pisces, and Scorpio.

Month	Favorable days	Unfavorable days
January	12-24	11, 25
February	11-23	10, 24
March	11-24	10, 25
April	9-23	8, 25

By region

Another important factor to consider when choosing the right time for planting is the climate in the growing region. Peppers are heat-loving plants.

Planting vegetables early in unprotected beds in harsh climates doesn't produce the desired results. Even a brief frost can kill young plants.

Deadlines by region:

In the Moscow region and other regions of the central zone, early and mid-season varieties are grown. Beginning of March.
Siberia has a harsh climate. Late-ripening varieties simply don't have time to ripen even when grown from seedlings. Late March.
The Urals have climate conditions similar to those of Siberia. Early- and mid-season varieties are also grown here. Late March.
In the cold climate of the Leningrad Region, low-growing varieties with a short growing season adapt better. Mid-March.
In the Far East, only early peppers are grown in unprotected beds. Mid-season varieties can only be grown in greenhouses. Late March.
The southern part of Russia has a warm climate. All varieties of hot peppers grow well here. Seed sowing begins in February.

Timing of sowing seeds and planting seedlings

To successfully grow hot peppers from seed, it's important to consider the growing season of the chosen variety. Early-ripening varieties are sown later than others. They develop faster. If they are planted alongside mid- and late-ripening varieties, the seedlings will outgrow them.

Seedlings of early-ripening varieties are ready for planting in their permanent location at 60 days. An additional 6 days are required for seed germination. For mid-season varieties, this is 76 days, and for late-ripening varieties, 81 days. To determine the exact sowing date, consider when the air and soil temperatures in the region are suitable for transplanting the plants outdoors.

From the estimated planting date, count back the number of days needed for seedling development. This results in the estimated sowing date.

The basic process step by step

A ready-made potting soil mix is usually used for growing hot peppers. Suitable soils include those for peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, and other nightshade crops. These can be purchased at any gardening store. Alternatively, you can make your own potting soil mix using the following ingredients:

2 parts of turf soil;
1 part humus;
1 part river sand;
1 part peat.

Important!

Any soil intended for growing seedlings must be disinfected before use. This can be done by heating it in an oven, freezing it, or soaking it in a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

Seed preparation

Store-bought seeds don't need to be prepared before sowing. They've usually already been disinfected and treated with growth stimulants. They can be sown dry.

If you collected the seeds yourself, they need to be disinfected before sowing. First, discard any unsuitable seeds. To do this, soak the seeds in salt water for 10 minutes. Discard any seeds that float to the surface; they will not germinate. Rinse the remaining seeds in clean water.

The seeds are then immersed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. This treatment destroys pathogens on their surface. Disinfection is carried out at temperatures between 40°C and 45°C. Cool liquid is ineffective, and hot solutions kill the seeds.

Next, you can germinate the seeds. To do this, place damp cheesecloth in a container and spread the seeds on it. Cover the container with a plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect and place it in a warm, dark place. Once the sprouts emerge, you can begin sowing.

Sowing

It's more convenient to sow seeds in individual containers. Peat pellets or small cups made of thick paper or plastic work well. This method allows you to grow peppers without transplanting. Of course, you can also start seedlings in regular containers. Then, after the third true leaf has formed, transplant them into individual cups.

Fill 10 cm-high boxes with prepared nutrient-rich soil. Level the surface and make furrows 1.5 cm deep. Place the seeds 3 cm apart and cover with a layer of soil. When sowing in individual containers, place 2-3 seeds in the center at the same depth. After germination, select the strongest seedling.

The seedling tray is covered with plastic film to increase humidity. To ensure rapid germination, maintain a temperature of 25°C to 28°C. Keep the container in the dark until germination occurs. Once sprouts appear, move the containers to a well-lit location and lower the temperature to 18°C.

Important!

To ensure proper development, provide 12 to 14 hours of daylight. If necessary, install lamps for additional lighting.

Care

Hot pepper seedlings are watered regularly, monitoring soil moisture. Avoid allowing the soil to dry out more than 1 cm and avoid overwatering to prevent it from becoming acidic. Regular loosening is performed to prevent crust formation.

For humidification, use soft water at a temperature slightly above room temperature. Regular tap water can be used, but let it sit for two days first.

Before transplanting to their permanent location, the seedlings are fertilized three times. The first application is 15 days after germination, when two true leaves appear. The seedlings are fertilized again when another pair of leaves has formed.

The final portion of nutrients is added 5 days before transplanting to the permanent location. Fertilizers containing potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus are used.

Nitrophoska, which contains all the necessary nutrients in a balanced concentration, is suitable for this purpose. The fertilizer is applied in liquid form, dissolving 1 teaspoon of the product in 1 liter of water.

Peppers' root systems are very sensitive. Therefore, it's best to grow them without transplanting. If transplanting is unavoidable, transplant the seedlings with the root ball to minimize root damage. When transplanting into individual containers, do not plant the plants too deeply.

Transfer

The seedlings are transplanted to their permanent location when the air temperature rises to +15°C. In southern regions, this can happen as early as March, while in the Urals and Siberia, it's not until the first half of June. The seedling bed should be placed in a well-lit area protected from cold air. The site should be located away from the sweet peppers to prevent cross-pollination. The following should be added to the soil before planting:

10 kg of humus;
40 g superphosphate;
5 l of wood ash.

Plants are planted in 2-3 rows. The spacing between them depends on the variety, height, and spread of the bush.

Features of cultivation

After replanting, water the plants every 2-3 days, depending on the soil conditions. Water the bed when the soil dries to a depth of 2 to 4 cm. The next day after watering, loosen the soil. When watering, avoid overwatering the soil to prevent it from becoming waterlogged. Drip irrigation is the most convenient method.

Two weeks after transplanting the plants to their permanent location, apply the first fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is added to promote rapid growth and proper bush formation.

After three weeks, repeat the application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Nutrients are then applied according to the same schedule, alternating between the different fertilizers. Additionally, foliar spraying with micronutrient solutions is performed periodically.

For better fruiting, pepper plants are trained into 2 or 3 stems. For some varieties, this training begins at the seedling stage. This is accomplished by removing the crown bud that forms at the fork in the stem.

All leaves and flowers forming below this point are also removed. Up to 30 fruits are left on each plant. The growing points are then pinched and excess ovaries are removed. This will ensure that all the plant's energy is focused on fruit ripening.

Hot pepper seeds are sown for seedlings on favorable days, determined by the lunar calendar. The region's climate is also taken into account. To preserve the seedlings and ensure proper development, the grown plants are moved to their permanent location after warm weather sets in.