How to plant pepper seedlings in diapers: the advantages of the method

Growing peppers is a simple process that brings immense pleasure. It all starts with choosing the variety, then pre-processing and preparation, and then it's time to plant the soil.

However, many gardeners are moving away from "standard" growing methods and trying new seed germination techniques. One such method is growing pepper seedlings in diapers. Let's discuss it in more detail.

What is this method?

Diaper (or snail) growing is not a very popular method for growing seedlings. However, it has many advantages that significantly simplify the main task – growing a high-quality and abundant harvest.

Advantages

This method is suitable for both experienced gardeners and beginners, as it doesn't require any serious preparation, special equipment, etc. The main advantages of the "diaper" method:

• Space saving. One diaper with a diameter of 40 cm can produce about 200 or more peppers;
• The ability to strictly control the entire process from start to finish, freeing the seedlings from weak plants;
• Pepper seedlings practically do not stretch;
• You will be able to clearly monitor the humidity level, which will help protect the plant from diseases;
• Pricking out is also greatly simplified. Simply unfold the diaper, and then remove the mature plant;
• The root system is not damaged during transplantation, since it does not need to be “freed” from the soil;
• The cost of materials is reduced and the possibility of reusing seeds becomes available.

The main (potential) drawback is plant elongation, which rarely occurs, and then only due to improper care. This is especially true if the seedlings received insufficient light and the soil was not sufficiently moistened.

Rules for growing seedlings

As with other crops, seeds need to be prepared before planting. They need to be sorted, discarding any empty seeds, those that have been "steam-damaged," small ones, and any that are the wrong color or damaged.

Now you can begin procedures that will significantly increase the germination rate of the plant:

• Soaking. This stimulates rapid seed growth. Place the seeds on cheesecloth, wrap them, and then place them in a prepared container filled with warm water.
• Then wait until the liquid cools (to better harden the seeds), and add warm water again. Continue alternating this for 2-3 days;
• Fertilizer soaking. Micronutrients also influence future harvests. A solution of potassium permanganate and wood ash are most commonly used. How do you prepare the solution?
• Dissolve 1 g of ash and 1 g of potassium permanganate in 100 ml of water and soak the seeds in it for half an hour;
• To ensure that plants receive sufficient light, you can use special ultraviolet lamps, which are sold in specialized stores;
• Disinfection. Used as a "vaccination" against diseases. A garlic-based solution is most often used for this purpose. It's prepared as follows: 40 g of crushed garlic is diluted with 200 ml of water, and then the seeds are soaked in this solution for 1 hour. They are then rinsed with water.

Now let's look at the technology itself and its various variations.

In diapers with soil

The procedure is divided into the following stages:

1. Take some polyethylene. About 25 by 30 cm. Alternatively, you can use shopping bags from stores;
2. Along the part of the polyethylene (the longest one), where the leaf blades will be, the edges of the bag need to be folded by 2-3 cm. (This is not necessary to do, but we may need the “reserve” later in order to later unfold this part and add a little more soil);
3. Now you need to measure 2-3 cm from the side and pour a little moistened soil (about 2 tablespoons) into the diaper and compact it lightly;
4. Using tweezers, take the planting material along with a piece of paper soaked in water, on which the seeds were germinated, and place it on the soil;
5. Cover the seedlings with soil. Remember the roots! When sprouting in diapers, the first roots will appear twice as fast as when sprouting using the traditional method. However, there's no need to cut off these roots.
6. Next, the diaper is rolled into a roll, and its edge is folded over slightly. This creates a narrow "cup" for the seedlings;
7. Then the plantings need to be secured. A regular rubber band or thread can be used for this purpose;
8. The bottom of the diapers is pierced with a sharp awl, which is necessary to remove excess moisture;
9. The rolls need to be placed in plastic cups, or use a large container - they will act as a tray;
10. It's best to use a separate container for each variety—this will make it easier to avoid confusion and label the seedlings. If you only have a small number of peppers, you can label them directly on the diaper;
11. As we've already mentioned, the soil should be moist, and there's no need to water the peppers for the first 2-3 days after planting. During this period, it's best to move the plants to a well-lit area. Avoid placing them on a windowsill to avoid direct sunlight and drafts.
12. Once the plants have strengthened and grown a little, add more soil on top. Don't unroll the diapers at this point;

Done! Now the pepper seedlings can be stored permanently, with soil added periodically until they're ready to be planted outdoors in the garden.

Moscow style

Another good method for "unconventional" pepper growing. We'll need a marker, plastic cups, plastic wrap, toilet paper, and, of course, the seeds themselves.

The film should be approximately 10 cm wide. The rolls are cut into strips of the required length (45 cm is ideal). Toilet paper is then laid out on them in a single layer.

The seeds are spread evenly along the entire length of the roll, approximately 5 cm apart and approximately 2 cm from the edge. This is most easily accomplished with tweezers. Now the seedlings are covered with plastic film of the same width.

The resulting "truss" should be rolled into a roll and secured with thread or rubber bands. You can also add markings. Then, as in the previous version, the rolls are placed in glasses and filled with water to a depth of 3-4 cm.

The glasses need to be covered with film or simply placed in bags (if you are not using special containers with lids), and small holes should be made for ventilation.

After the first shoots appear, add all necessary fertilizers to the soil. However, the amount should be half the usual amount. Humic fertilizers are the most suitable in this case.

It's important to constantly monitor the water level in the containers and add it regularly. The seedlings should be fertilized again immediately after the first relatively strong leaf blades emerge.

Once the seedlings have reached a normal size, they can be prepared for transplanting into open ground. In our case, with peppers, they can be pricked out after one leaf appears.

Each plant should be carefully cut off, along with the paper, so as not to damage the roots. The seeds that are still growing are returned to the glass to ripen and then returned to their original location. Each seedling can be transplanted along with the paper. After replanting, the plant should be watered generously.

Using a substrate

The most popular option is a coconut-based substrate. It has gained widespread popularity due to its unique properties. Here are just a few:

• Absolutely safe organic product;
• It can absorb, retain, and release moisture in a volume seven times its own weight. Thus, by dissolving in liquid, all the nutrients are retained by the substrate and gradually released to the plant's root system. This reduces the risk of overwatering.
• Allows the roots to receive a full amount of air, as it can retain oxygen;
• During the entire period of use, the substrate does not lose its properties and does not decrease in weight;
• The top of the product is completely dry, which does not allow the development of various fungal and other infections;
• Coconut substrate maintains acidity at a level of 5.5-6.5, and can be used not only for growing pepper seedlings, but also together with the vast majority of other crops and plants;
• Contains phosphorus and potassium, which have a positive effect on the plant and provide it with all the conditions necessary for normal development;
• Even at the production stage, the substrate is impregnated with special fertilizers, which are selected depending on the crop being grown;
• Coconut "tablets" can be used for 4 years or more, as their fibers decompose very slowly. They can also be used as a leavening agent;
• Used nuts are very easy to dispose of.

We prepare soil based on a coconut mixture

Before preparing the substrate, carefully read the instructions on the packaging. As an example, let's consider a substrate based on a 1 kg block of pressed coconut coir.

1. We open the package with the substrate;
2. We lower its contents into a 10-liter container with clean warm water (about 5 liters);
3. We wait until the block completely absorbs the liquid and swells (there is no need to stir anything);
4. After 20-30 minutes the substrate will rapidly “grow”;
5. Now cover the container with a plastic bag and leave for 2-3 hours;
6. The mixture is ready to use for growing peppers!

The coconut mixture is completely eco-friendly, easy to use, and highly effective. Besides peppers, it can be used to grow flowers, pots, and other crops. This substrate is a 100% guarantee that seedlings will sprout, develop strong roots, and be strong and healthy.

Sowing pepper seeds without soil

Another "diaper" method. It's great because we don't need soil to germinate the seeds. The gist of it is this:

• Carefully cut the polyethylene bags into strips 10 cm wide;
• We lay out the cut diapers on a flat surface and put strips of toilet paper of the same width on top;
• The seeds are planted at a distance of about 3 cm from each other and 1 cm from the edge;
• The top of the seedlings is covered with the same layer of toilet paper and plastic as the bottom. This is necessary to create a more "greenhouse" environment for the seeds;
• The ribbons are rolled up and placed in a small container. Water is then poured into it (the edges with the seeds should be on top);
• Don’t forget to check the liquid level and gradually add water;
• After the first leaves appear on the plant, it can be transplanted into a container in the same way as when using diapers with soil.

Reviews

Anastasia Viktorovna, 27 years old, Voronezh

"I use the methods described quite often. The advantages include: it saves a lot of space, prevents the seeds from drying out, and allows you to clearly monitor their germination and replant them promptly.I most often germinate without soil—it's less "dirty work." This method is especially useful for rare pepper varieties, as the results are visible almost immediately. I recommend it for beginners.

Anton Vladimirovich, 40 years old, Saratov

"I think the 'Moscow way' is the simplest. But the first time I tried it, for some reason almost all the seeds failed to sprout. The second time, everything worked out perfectly. I don't know what I did wrong, because I followed all the recommendations exactly."