How to sow pepper seedlings correctly

Growing pepper seedlings has its own unique challenges. To ensure strong and healthy plants, you need to consider a number of nuances and strictly follow the rules. Everything is important, from sowing timing to preparation for planting.

Let's figure out how to properly sow sweet pepper seedlings and how to care for them.

Preparing seeds for sowing

The future harvest directly depends on the initial seed preparation, which involves several important steps. Experienced gardeners have long since determined the optimal sequence for pre-sowing preparation, and they are happy to share their experiences and offer valuable advice to novice gardeners. Let's review all the techniques for proper seed preparation in order. Of course, you don't need to use them all; choosing a couple or three options is sufficient.

Sorting

Dense and heavy seeds will grow into strong, vigorous seedlings that are resistant to various stresses. Seeds are culled in a saline solution (one teaspoon of salt per cup of water). The mixture is thoroughly mixed for 2 minutes and left to settle for 15 minutes. Empty and small seeds will float to the surface and are discarded, while the settled seeds are rinsed with water and dried in a sieve or on a paper towel.

Disinfection

Seeds should be disinfected immediately after sorting. There are two options: treating the seeds in a 1% potassium permanganate solution or in a 2-3% hydrogen peroxide mixture; the latter is currently the most popular. Another option involves using Fitolavin.

Soak the seeds in any solution for at least 10 minutes; use store-bought solutions according to the instructions. Store-bought seeds that say they're already disinfected don't need to be treated, although additional protection, especially with unfamiliar brands, is a good idea.

Warm-up

This procedure is useful for those storing seeds in unheated rooms and is carried out a month before sowing. The packets containing the seeds are heated initially at a temperature of 20°C, gradually increasing to 80°C. Another method involves heating the seeds on a radiator.

Treatment with growth stimulants

This is a favorite method of seed preparation for many gardeners. However, some believe that stimulants can force even the weakest seeds, which would otherwise fail to produce strong sprouts, to germinate. This is correct, so this procedure is only performed after sorting.

To stimulate growth, you can use special preparations or choose from folk remedies, such as aloe or potato juice, an infusion of onion peels and wood ash, honey, etc.

Soaking and sprouting

Pepper seeds take a long time to germinate. To speed up the process, soak them in a cheesecloth or cloth bag and place them in warm water for 10 to 12 hours. Every four hours, remove the seeds briefly and change the water.

Germination is carried out at a temperature of 20–25°C. Prepare a wide, shallow container, line it with gauze or a paper towel soaked in water, and spread the seeds on top. Make sure the material doesn't dry out, and don't let the seeds completely submerge in water. Once the seeds sprout, sow them immediately.

Hardening

Peppers thrive in warmth, so it's best to prepare them for unusual conditions in advance. Seedlings grown from hardened seeds will be more compact (squat) and more resilient to slight temperature fluctuations. This procedure is performed with sprouted seeds: overnight, they are transferred to a room where the temperature is maintained at 10–15°C in the same container in which they were soaked.

Sowing dates

The time to sow seeds for seedlings depends on the region and location (open or protected soil). More precise information can be found on the packaging, but if you collected the seeds yourself, follow these guidelines:

• seeds are sown 60, 70 or 80 days before planting;
• Peppers are planted outdoors when the soil warms up to 15 degrees Celsius, typically mid-May. Seeds can be sown in late March. If the weather worsens, cover the plants with plastic wrap.
• for heated greenhouses, seeds are sown at the end of February, and seedlings are planted in April;
• In unheated greenhouses, seedlings can be planted in the first half of May, and seeds should be sown in mid-March.

If you're planting pepper seedlings for the first time, it's best to consult with someone who has been growing peppers in a particular region for a long time. Weather can be fickle, sometimes throwing up unexpected surprises, so it's impossible to give a precise planting date that will suit everyone.

Sowing seeds

You can use any container, but first, wash it thoroughly and disinfect it with a potassium permanganate solution. Don't fill the containers to the top with potting mix; leave a 2 cm rim to allow for additional soil later.

The seeds are spaced 1.5 or 2 cm apart. They shouldn't be more densely packed, as the young seedlings will crowd each other, creating shade. Now, cover the seedlings with soil (up to 1.5 cm), compact them slightly, and water with warm, settled water. To prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly, you can build a small greenhouse and cover the container with plastic or glass. The seedlings should be kept in a room with a temperature of at least 25°C.

Caring for seedlings

Once the seeds sprout (after 5 or 7 days), place the container on a bright windowsill, remove the cover, and reduce the room temperature to 15 or 17°C. Water the seedlings moderately and only with warm water. The soil should be moist but not waterlogged.

To prevent the shoots from bending toward the sun, rotate the container relative to the window during the day or provide additional lighting with special lamps. No additional care is necessary until the two true leaves form.

Picking

This is a rather complex procedure that must be carried out very carefully. The best option is to sow the seeds in individual containers. Not everyone has this opportunity, and not every gardener would agree with this; some consider pricking out the seeds essential.

Transplant the seedlings when they have two true leaves. Water the soil thoroughly; once the water has drained, carefully remove the seedlings from the container, holding them by the leaves, and transfer them, along with the root ball, to a separate container (100 to 150 ml). Plant the stems no more than half a centimeter deep. Firm the soil slightly and water the seedlings, adding more soil as needed.

In professional greenhouses, transplanting is done differently: seedlings are planted at the cotyledon stage, with the entire stem buried. This method of transplanting peppers is easier for them, but it's rarely used at home, as the seedlings require specific, optimal conditions.

Caring for seedlings

Immediately after transplanting, the seedlings should be placed on a bright windowsill, but it's advisable to provide some shade for the first few days. Now, the peppers need to be watered occasionally (moderately) and provided with a comfortable environment. The soil shouldn't be cold; the optimal soil temperature is 15°C.

The first feeding is done two weeks after transplanting, and the second 14 days later. Fertilizers should be applied only in liquid form; it's recommended to use special fertilizers for seedlings, which can be purchased at any seed store.

In late spring, the seedlings should be transplanted (transplanted along with the root ball) into larger containers, ranging from 0.8 to 1 liter. Two weeks before planting, you can begin hardening off the peppers by bringing them outside or opening a window, initially for 10 or 15 minutes and gradually increasing the time. During the hardening off period, keep the plants away from direct sunlight and drafts.

Growing pepper seedlings isn't easy, but if you do everything right and follow the advice of experienced growers, you can confidently expect good results. Peppers thrive on attention and care; there's no reason to deny them!

Reviews

Igor. I start preparing for planting pepper seedlings in the fall, gathering soil. I grow the crop in a greenhouse, so I start preparing the seeds at the end of February. Peppers are a fickle vegetable, but growing them isn't as difficult as it might seem, especially if you do it year after year.

Alena. I learned all the nuances of growing pepper seedlings through trial and error. My pre-planting preparation consists of sorting, disinfecting, and soaking. I only treat rare seeds with growth stimulants. Initially, the most difficult process for me was transplanting, but then I got the hang of moving the plants without disturbing the root ball; it turns out you just need to thoroughly moisten the soil.