Growing any vegetable in harsh climates requires a great deal of labor, let alone heat-loving crops like peppers. But thanks to the work of plant breeders, varieties and hybrids have emerged that produce very good yields even in the Ural climate.
True, you will have to grow pepper seedlings, since otherwise the crop simply will not have time to bear fruit.
Ural gardeners grow peppers in greenhouses, under covers (arches covered with film or non-woven material), and in hotbeds. In hot summers, peppers grow well in open ground, but such seasons are rare in this region, and frosts can always strike unexpectedly. Therefore, it's better to play it safe and grow the plants indoors.
Deadlines
Peppers, with their long growing season, require early sowing. Choosing the right variety is also crucial, as early and mid-season varieties are best suited for the Urals.
Seedlings should be at least 60-65 days old, taking into account climate conditions. Even in a greenhouse in these areas, it's best to plant peppers no earlier than late May. This capricious, heat-loving crop doesn't tolerate temperature fluctuations well, so it's best to wait for stable warmth.
When choosing varieties and hybrids, it's best to choose those that are suitable for growing in high-risk farming regions, are disease-resistant, and have early fruiting periods. The following pepper varieties and hybrids have proven successful in the Urals:
- Winnie-the-Pooh is a variety familiar to many gardeners: early, productive, and low-growing. The robust bushes can be planted closely together without reducing yield. The height of the bushes reaches 30-40 cm.
- Dobrynya is a very early sweet pepper, ripening up to 90 days. It has excellent flavor and is easy to grow.
- Latino is an early hybrid, with a harvest time of approximately 110 days.
- Topolin is also an early ripening variety with medium-sized fruits.
- Vesnushka F1 is an early hybrid with beautiful orange-yellow prism-shaped fruits.
- Montero is a tall, early-ripening pepper variety (up to 100 days). Very productive.
Among the mid-season varieties of sweet pepper, we note Bogatyr, Igrok, and Atlant.
When determining the timing of pepper planting, gardeners typically rely on special planting calendars (based on the phases of the moon). Although the best days for planting vary from year to year, there are certain standard planting times. In the Urals, the best time for planting is from February to March, although some gardeners begin seedling sowing as early as January.
Incidentally, you'll need to provide supplemental lighting for seedlings in February and even March, as heat-loving peppers require long daylight hours to thrive. Sowing seeds too early (in January) can result in the seedlings becoming stretched and prone to disease due to insufficient light. However, delaying sowing is also a good idea, as peppers won't produce their full potential in short summers.
When sowing, you need to take into account:
- time for planting seedlings in a permanent place (beginning of June);
- fruit ripening time (for early ripening varieties and hybrids – approximately 90-110 days);
- weather conditions of a particular season.
Also, when calculating, do not forget to add the time required for seed germination (from 5 to 14 days).
February sowing
February is the best time to sow sweet pepper seeds for seedlings. According to current regulations, this crop should be sown during the waxing moon. That means from February 11th to 23rd in 2024. The New Moon on February 10th and the Full Moon on February 24th are considered unfavorable. The remaining dates are considered neutral.
Therefore, choosing the best date for sowing according to the lunar calendar is the beginning of your pre-sowing seed treatment.
March sowing
During the first month of spring, the optimal sowing period is from March 11th to 24th. It's best to plant during this timeframe, as peppers can be planted in April, but due to the late season, not all fruits may even reach technical maturity.
The main thing is to avoid the "bad" days in March, which fall on the 10th (New Moon) and 25th (Full Moon). The rest of the time, you can also work on your garden; these periods are neutral.
April sowing
Sowing pepper seedlings in April is not suitable, especially for gardeners in the Urals. The crop's long growing season requires the seedlings to reach a certain age, specifically around 60-65 days.
In the event of force majeure (life happens), sowing is possible this month—from the 9th to the 23rd—but later days are not suitable. Only ultra-early hybrids and varieties are suitable, but there is no guarantee of success.
If the timing is so late, the pepper will not have time to produce a harvest, and all the work will be in vain.
Unfavorable days:
- April 8 - New Moon;
- April 24 – Full Moon.
All the rest are neutral.
Planting and care in open ground
So, to get a harvest of sweet peppers in the harsh Ural climate, it's crucial to choose the right sowing time. But seed preparation is equally important. Peppers are a demanding crop, and although many easy-to-grow varieties have been developed, basic farming practices must be followed.
It's also worth listening to the advice of experienced vegetable growers, who know some of the "secrets" to achieving excellent harvests even in the Urals. Incidentally, care here is no different from that in the central zone or the Northwest, where cold summers, frequent rains, and temperature fluctuations are also likely.
Pepper seeds take a long time to germinate, and pre-sowing treatment can speed up the process. These treatments ensure good germination and protect peppers from various diseases.
Seed preparation
Every gardener prepares seeds for sowing differently. Experienced gardeners have tried-and-true methods that allow them to grow strong, healthy seedlings.
It is recommended to perform the following with the seed material:
- etching;
- hardening;
- germination.
All of the above procedures are preceded by seed selection, which is conveniently done using a salt solution. Dissolve 1.5 teaspoons of regular table salt in a 0.5-liter jar of water and drop the pepper seeds into the solution. Only those that sink to the bottom will be suitable for sowing. Any seeds that float to the surface can be discarded.
Disinfection of peppers is also essential. This can be done using potassium permanganate or special preparations. This method boosts the plants' immunity and prevents various diseases. In the harsh Ural climate, heat-loving crops are more susceptible to disease, so it's best to take preventative measures in advance.
Soak the seeds in potassium permanganate for approximately 20-30 minutes; the solution should turn pink. The proportions are: approximately 2 grams of potassium permanganate per 500 ml of water. You can also disinfect the seeds with Maxim (follow the instructions).
Many gardeners also harden seeds by placing them in the refrigerator for 8-10 hours. The temperature should be below -1°C. Before hardening, the seeds should be soaked to allow them to swell slightly.
Submerging peppers in special solutions containing growth stimulants produces good results. This procedure is important for this crop, as peppers have a long germination period.
Soaking can be done in an ash infusion (20 grams of ash per liter of water), in Epin or Zircon.
Observe the dosage and soak time of the preparation. For ash infusion, 24-26 hours is sufficient. Follow the instructions for using the preparations.
All these methods do not take much time, but you can hope for good seed germination and healthy seedlings.
Traditional sowing methods
Traditionally, pepper seeds are sown either in large wooden boxes or directly into individual containers (pots, cups). When sowing in large boxes, the plants will need to be pricked out, which is done when they have developed 3-4 true leaves.
Since this crop's seedlings don't tolerate transplanting well, many gardeners sow the capricious pepper directly into cups or pots. They plant two seeds in each container, and when the seedlings grow a little, they leave the strongest one and cut off the other.
Sweet peppers require containers at least 12 cm high and about 8 cm in diameter. It's best not to sow directly into large individual cups, as this will impede root development.
You can use peat pots or pellets for sowing, but in this case, you'll need to monitor the moisture level. Peat absorbs water quickly, and the plants may not get enough moisture. A good option is to plant pepper seeds in peat pellets, and later, when the seedlings have three true leaves, transplant the pellet directly into a cup of soil.
When using plastic cups, make a hole in the bottom to allow excess moisture to drain. The cups themselves are placed in trays.
Seedling containers and soil should be prepared in advance. They should also be disinfected (using potassium permanganate).
During the seed germination period, it is important to maintain an optimal temperature regime (+23ºC…+25ºC), and to create a better microclimate for the peppers, the containers are covered with glass or film.
When the first sprouts appear, the film is removed and the containers with seedlings are placed in a lighted place.
After this, the temperature is reduced to 18ºC…20ºC to prevent the seedlings from stretching. The peppers are kept at this temperature for approximately 5-6 days, and then the temperature is returned to 23ºC…24ºC. Further care includes watering, fertilizing, and loosening the soil.
We use homemade paper cups
Planting time is a busy time for gardeners, requiring, among other things, financial expenses. Using homemade paper cups—inexpensive, simple, and convenient—will help you save on seedling containers.
This method is also convenient for peppers because when replanting, you don't need to remove the plant from the cup; you can place it directly in the hole.
Containers can be made from any paper (newspapers can also be used) by wrapping the sheets around a plastic cup or bottle. The bottom is made by folding the paper inward. When using newspapers, it's best to use double-layered materials. Don't be alarmed by the printing ink; with modern printing technologies, it poses no harm to plants.
Fill the cups halfway with soil, sow the seeds, and then add more soil as the plant grows.
When planting in a permanent location, the paper can be easily removed. You can also plant peppers directly in cups; the paper will quickly and easily rot in the soil.
In conclusion, it should be noted that there are no special techniques for preparing and planting pepper seedlings in the Urals. The determining factors are sowing time and the selection of varieties and hybrids that are resistant to the region's climate.
Reviews
Olga, Izhevsk
I've been struggling to grow peppers for years now. My tomatoes are growing well (in a greenhouse), but my peppers are a disaster. Either the seedlings are weak, or the summer is too cold, and my peppers are just blooming and haven't had time to set any fruit. I read up on growing tips and realized I'd been doing a lot of things wrong. I learned not to sow too early, and it's even better to choose hybrids.
Igor, Perm
Our peppers grow under hoops in the garden bed. I sow 'Lastochka,' 'Zdorovie,' and 'Vinnie-Pukh.' Last year we tried 'Pervenets Sibiri,' but I didn't really like the fruit; the walls were thin and the flavor was so-so. But there were plenty of them. I've been growing seedlings since mid-February, using square paper juice boxes. Even in unfavorable seasons, we still have peppers. I pick them green, and then they ripen at home.
Vera, Chelyabinsk
I always grow Winnie-the-Pooh and California Wonder, and last year I bought two more peppers (recommended). They were Siberian Format and Siberian Bonus. These peppers are fantastic, I absolutely loved them. They're perfect for lecho and stuffing. Bonus also has beautiful orange-colored fruit. I grow them in my greenhouse, and they're both productive and large. These are mid-season varieties; Siberian Format produces larger, water-pod-like fruits, while Bonus's are slightly smaller (about 300 grams). The flavor is good, but the aroma isn't particularly strong. I gutted a couple of peppers in the fall, and I'm getting ready to sow my own seeds this year.
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