Pepper - preparing seeds for sowing and soil for planting, growing seedlings

Pepper is the collective name for a genus of plants in the Solanaceae family. In nature, this crop can be found as vines, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. First brought from Central America, this vegetable quickly found its niche in gardening. Today, it's hard to imagine a garden plot without a bed of neat little bushes bearing colorful conical fruits.

Botanists know more than 2,000 varieties of this plant. Regardless of the type of pepper, the color, or the size of its fruit, growing this vegetable requires a serious approach. One of the most important aspects of this process is preparing the sweet pepper seeds for sowing. Following the proper preparation procedure guarantees a high germination rate and a high yield from the plants.

Why is it necessary to prepare seeds for planting, basic rules and timing

Peppers are hardly an easy-to-grow plant. Even experienced gardeners face a number of challenges when growing this vegetable. Peppers are very sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, so many gardeners prefer to grow them in greenhouses.

The plant's fruit ripens over a long period: from 150 to 200 days. Throughout this period, the pepper must be provided with suitable conditions for growth and development. Therefore, in open ground, the vegetable is grown from seedlings, which can be purchased at the market or grown from seeds.

Thanks to it, seeds have a higher germination rate, and the pepper bushes that grow from them are highly resistant to infectious diseases and weather conditions.

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Proper preparation involves several steps. First, the seeds are calibrated and tested for hollowness. Then, the selected seeds are disinfected and enriched with the nutrients necessary for normal growth. Just before planting, they are soaked and hardened at low temperatures.

Planting times depend on the pepper variety. Early hybrids are planted in late February. Late-ripening peppers are planted in early March. The size of the future harvest depends on the correct planting time.

Algorithm for preparing pepper seeds for sowing

Preparing seeds for sowing Pepper gardening consists of several stages. Some are mandatory, while others are optional. Regardless, experts recommend following all recommended procedures to ensure good growth and high yields of peppers.

Seed selection

The selection of pepper seed material takes place in 2 stages:

1. By size. To ensure simultaneous germination, seeds are sorted by size. It's known that small seeds take much longer to germinate than large ones. Therefore, before planting, the seeds are poured onto a sheet of paper and sorted by size.

   

2. By fullness. Hollow seeds are unsuitable for planting due to lack of germination. Therefore, before sowing, the seeds should be checked for empty seeds. To do this, soak them in a glass of salted water and let them sit for 30 minutes. After this time, remove any floating seeds, and wash and dry any sunken seeds, then prepare them for planting.

Seed selection saves planting space. This procedure ensures uniform germination of peppers, with nearly all seeds sprouting.

Disinfection

Seeds disinfected before planting are much better protected against viral and fungal infections. To disinfect, place the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and soak for 15 minutes.

There are also alternative disinfectants. Products such as "Maxim," "Fitosporin-M," and "Vitaros" are highly recommended. These products should be diluted according to the section on fungal infection prevention in their instructions.

Many agronomists add growth stimulants to the disinfectant solution. This trick significantly increases the germination rate and growth rate of seedlings. The growth stimulant "Epin" is extremely popular among gardeners.

Nutrition

Many gardeners consider this step unnecessary. But those who follow the seed nutrition procedure before planting are satisfied.

There are two ways to feed planting material with microelements:

1. Place the seeds in special mineral mixtures, which can be purchased at the store.
2. Conduct feeding using folk methods.

It contains about 30 useful microelements and is considered one of the best fertilizers for this plant.

Dissolve 20 grams of ash in 1 liter of water. Let the mixture steep for 24 hours. Wrap the seeds in a piece of gauze and soak them in the ash solution for 5 hours. After removing them, dry them on a piece of paper.

Soak

Peppers need to be soaked before sowing. To do this, wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and leave them to swell. Germination time depends on the variety. Early hybrids can germinate in a week, while late varieties can take up to 15 days.

You can sow both swollen seeds and seeds that have sprouted. It is not recommended to over-germinate the seeds, as planting can easily damage the fragile sprouts.

Hardening

Gardeners have mixed feelings about hardening off seeds. Some consider this procedure essential, while others say it can damage the seeds. Therefore, whether to harden off your planting material is a personal decision.

The hardening procedure involves creating a stressful situation for the pepper by abruptly moving it from a comfortable room temperature to a cold one.

Hardening enthusiasts note that seeds that have survived a sudden temperature change tolerate planting better. These peppers will be more resilient to adverse environmental conditions.

Preparing the soil for planting seeds for seedlings

Good soil for pepper seedlings meets the following requirements:

1. Looseness. The soil should have a light, porous structure to ensure good gas exchange for the root system and prevent moisture stagnation.
2. Fertility. The combination of minerals such as nitrogen, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, and phosphorus with organic compounds is one of the essential soil requirements.
3. Acidity. A pH level of 5 to 7 protects the plant from blackleg.

Preparing the soil for planting involves disinfecting it. There are several methods for disinfecting the soil:

1. Treating with fungicides and insecticides. This method is guaranteed to protect against all pests and infectious diseases. Many gardeners avoid it due to its high toxicity and recommend treating the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Heat treatment. The soil can be heated in an oven or steamed in a water bath. The downside of this method is the destruction of beneficial bacteria.
3. Freezing. Experienced agronomists leave pre-prepared soil mixtures out in the cold.

You can buy a potting mix for seedlings at the store or make your own. Mix equal parts sand, peat moss, humus, and leaf mold.

Rules for sowing pepper seeds and growing seedlings

Growing pepper seedlings This is a rather lengthy and labor-intensive process. An inexperienced gardener needs to follow existing recommendations to ensure the seedlings grow large and strong.

The seeds are planted at a depth of 2-3 cm. Wet seeds are placed in pre-moistened soil, while dry seeds are placed in slightly dried soil, then moistened with a spray bottle. The container with the seeds is tightly covered with plastic, glass, or a clear plastic lid. Germination is carried out at a high temperature. Once the sprouts have grown slightly, the film is removed.

Caring for seedlings requires following 3 regimes:

• lighting;
• glaze;
• top dressing.

Peppers are considered sun-loving plants. They require at least 12 hours of daylight. The light should be diffused, as direct sunlight can damage young plants, especially if the containers are located on a south-facing surface. If the plants begin to stretch their stems, this indicates insufficient light. In this case, the gardener should install supplemental lighting for the seedlings.

Water the seedlings as needed: moisten the soil as the top layer dries. In addition to watering, peppers should also be misted 2-3 times a day. This will help maintain the high humidity levels needed by the plants.

Fertilizer can be introduced starting two weeks after transplanting. The need for fertilizer depends on the soil quality: if the soil is properly selected, gardeners may not need to apply fertilizer. Peppers growing in poor soil require nitrogen-rich fertilizers.

How to avoid mistakes when growing peppers

Slow growth, poor development, and seedling death are often caused by improper actions. The most common mistakes are:

1. Lack of or improper preparation of seeds for planting.
2. Using a soil mixture that is not suitable for peppers or planting seedlings in depleted areas.
3. Planting too early will cause the seedlings to overgrow, and such bushes will adapt worse after transplantation.
4. Late planting is accompanied by delayed plant growth.

   

5. Lack of light causes stems to stretch and bushes to weaken.
6. Failure to comply with the temperature regime leads to a slowdown or cessation of pepper growth.
7. Mechanical damage to the root system during picking negatively affects the rate of growth and development of seedlings.
8. Incorrectly organized watering and fertilizing significantly affect the quantity and quality of the harvest.

The most dangerous mistake gardeners make is neglecting pests and diseases. Seemingly harmless bugs can cause significant damage to a plant, and a single plant infected with a fungal infection can infect an entire pepper garden and other nearby crops.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Growing peppers is a rather complex process. One of the key aspects is preparing the planting material. It shouldn't be neglected, as the harvest largely depends on it.