Sowing pepper seeds for seedlings at home: planting rules

To get a chic harvest of sweet peppers, you first need to properly grow strong seedlings at home. The procedure for growing a crop is in many ways similar to eggplants and partly to tomatoes, but there are also cardinal differences. Pepper reacts sharply to temperature fluctuations (sharp drops) and unsuccessful transplantation (picking), due to which the level of its vitality is greatly reduced, and it slows down in growth.

Therefore, before you start sowing pepper seeds for seedlings, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features and rules of growing it. Next, you will find detailed step-by-step instructions on the preparation and direct planting of pepper seeds for seedlings at home, as well as useful photo and video materials.

How to pick a good variety of sweet peppers

Note! The site already has several detailed review articles about the most popular and best varieties of sweet peppers, which will definitely help you make the right choice:

• The best varieties of sweet bell peppers for outdoor and greenhouse cultivation (red).
• Yellow and orange peppers.

How to properly plant peppers for seedlings

It is very important to properly plant the peppers in the seedlings. And first of all, choose the optimal time for sowing, prepare and process the planting material itself, soil and containers. And, of course, sow the seeds themselves to the desired depth.

When to Sow Seeds: Optimal Sowing Times

Note! The site already has a detailed article about how to correctly calculate the timing of sowing pepper for seedlings, including indicated favorable days for planting in 2020, according to the lunar calendar.

How to prepare seeds for planting seedlings

Note! More complete information on the preparation and processing of pepper seeds before sowing for seedlings you'll find in this article.

To make the correct and effective planting of pepper seeds for seedlings, it is important to pre-prepare the seeds. This procedure will help disinfect the planting material, as well as activate its vitality in a shorter time.

Note! The shelf life of pepper seeds should not exceed 3 years. Further, germination is significantly reduced.

Important! On sale you can find pelleted (granulated) pepper seeds. Such planting material does not need any preparation: it is already processed and covered with a special nutritious shell. It must be sown exactly dry so as not to wash off the protective film.

Technology for preparing pepper seeds for sowing:

• disinfection (etching) in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (this is a very weak remedy), much better in a solution Fitosporin ("Alirin", "Gamair" is also suitable) for 20-30 minutes (in gauze), followed by rinsing under running water;

• soaking in a growth promoter, for example in "Epin" or "Zircon" (according to instructions) in order to enhance growth processes;

Alternatively, you can use an infusion of ash (1 tablespoon per 500 ml of water, let stand for 2 days), in which you need to keep the seeds wrapped in a gauze bag for 4-5 hours.

• germination (soaking) of seeds in water (you can add a growth stimulant) for their swelling and subsequent awakening (germination).

If you just submerge the seeds in water, then there will be no effect, because oxygen is required to awaken them. therefore seeds must be soaked in a damp cloth (namely a cloth or cotton pads, they can grow into cheesecloth with roots)so that the seeds have access to both moisture and air). For example, put it on a saucer, and cover it with a plastic bag (cling film)so that moisture does not evaporate quickly, in other words, create a greenhouse effect.

Wherein optimum temperature for seed germination pepper - +23-28 degrees. Therefore, it is better to put the saucer with soaked seeds in a warm place, for example, on the kitchen cabinet. 2-3 days before germination.

How to choose a substrate

In order for the seedlings to have all the necessary components for growth and development at the initial stage, a special soil should be selected.

The soil mixture itself should be loose, light and nutritious, and its acidity should be close to neutral.

If the gardener is not able to cook it on his own, you can solve the problem by buying ready soil for growing seedlings of pepper (which is generally also suitable for eggplant and tomato).

If desired, the necessary the soil mixture can be prepared by yourselfby combining and mixing the following components:

• garden (vegetable) land;
• peat;
• perlite, coconut substrate or river sand.

Important! Experts do not recommend adding humus or mineral fertilizers to the soil mixture at the stage of sowing seeds for seedlings, as this can lead to intensive growth of the aboveground part with further lodging of seedlings.

Some gardeners initially sow germinated seeds in pure coconut substrate (no soil), to be subsequently transplanted into pots with soil, although again you can mix earth with coconut. But the method is very risky, it is better to just experiment with it first.

Advice! Before sowing pepper seeds, the right decision is to preliminary disinfection of soil. For example, it can be steamed in the oven or microwave. Or spill it with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, or even better with a drug Fitosporin (according to the instructions).

Video: land for seedlings of peppers, eggplants and tomatoes

Choosing a container for planting

Which container is best used for planting a crop, each gardener decides for himself.

Naturally, if you are going to grow with a pick, then initially it is logical to sow it into a common container (wooden box, plastic container), and then sow it into individual containers. Although initially you can sow in small (0.1-0.2 liters) personal cups (pots or cassettes).

If without picking, then, of course, immediately into separate sufficiently voluminous containers (from 0.5 liters).

Important! The main requirement for the landing container is that it must have drainage holes.

Alternatively, you can also (optionally) fill the drainage layer with expanded clay or fine gravel.

To understand what are the advantages and disadvantages of one or another landing container, it is worth considering several options.

Plastic cups

The most popular and convenient container for growing pepper seedlings and other crops.

For planting and further picking, plastic cups with a volume of 100 to 500 ml are required.

Advantages: reusable, seedlings extraction without root damage, low cost.

Disadvantages: no drainage holes, the need for an additional pallet, instability, inconvenience during transportation.

Wooden box

The advantage of this container is that it is durable and you can make it yourself, saving your family budget. In addition, when transporting seedlings, no additional devices are required.

The disadvantage of a wooden box is that it is very heavy when filled. In addition, with further transplantation into the ground, it is almost impossible to pull out the seedlings without damaging the root system.

Therefore, the boxes, as a rule, are used only for the initial sowing of seeds, and in the future, individual containers are already used for picking.

Plastic cassettes

Cassettes are plastic cells that are interconnected. Now they are put up for sale in a very wide range, which allows you to choose containers of different sizes, complete with a pallet and a transparent lid.

As a rule, plastic cassettes are used for picking, but, in theory, they can be used for initial seeding.

The advantage of using them is that they are already equipped with drainage holes, are easily cut with scissors into separate specimens, and are also lightweight and allow you to easily remove seedlings from the cell (when transferring and planting in the ground).

The disadvantages of structures include fragility and relative inconvenience in the further transportation of seedlings.

Peat cups (pots)

They are round containers made of ecological material (peat and cardboard, ideally 70% and 30%).

Ideal for dives.

The main advantage is that they dissolve in soil and additionally nourish plants,while the root system is not damaged. In other words, seedlings are planted without taking out, but together with a pot burying it in the ground.

The main disadvantages of these landing capacities is that they have very moisture evaporates quickly, therefore, regular and frequent watering is essential. However, because of this, they often enoughgrow moldy (due to overflow). In addition, peat cups are relatively expensive.

By the way! There are also peat cassettes. 

Peat tablets

They are compressed peat, which is placed in a thin shell. Before sowing seeds for seedlings, you must first soak the tablets in water for about 10 minutes.

The tablets are easy to use, stimulate the development of a strong root system, as they have a balanced nutritional composition. The disadvantages include rapid evaporation of moisture, the need for an additional pallet and a high price.

By the way! Recently it has become popularly planted in snails. Indeed, this is convenient, but the peppers do not tolerate a dive well, and with this method, rather strong damage to the roots occurs when diving. Therefore, it is better to leave it for tomatoes, for which the transplant is not at all scary.

Landing scheme

When sowing sweet pepper seeds, it should be understood that over time, the seedlings will need more space, so they should initially be planted with a distance so that they can fully develop before the pick without interfering with each other.

Important! In the case of thickening of the plantings, the risk of developing diseases will increase: the seedlings will be excessively stretched and poorly developed due to lack of light and nutrition.

It is recommended to plant bell pepper seeds in rows at a distance of 1.5-2 cm from each other and with a row spacing of 3-4 cm... The more free space each seedling has, the longer it will be able to fully develop without picking. This optimal sowing technology will contribute to the normal growth of seedlings in the future.

Think! Some gardeners believe that it is better to grow pepper without picking at all, in other words, the seeds should be planted immediately in separate pots or at a greater distance (3-5 cm from each other, 4-6 cm in a row).

Video: growing pepper without picking

Direct landing

Step-by-step instructions for sowing sweet pepper seeds for seedlings:

• Pour the prepared soil into the container.
• Pour over warm water and allow moisture to be absorbed and the soil to settle.
• Make rows 1 cm deep with permissible row spacing.

By the way! Some plant pepper to a depth of 1.5 cm, but the recommended one is exactly 1 cm.

• Spread the seeds at a distance.

• Sprinkle with soil and moisten the surface with a spray bottle.
• Cover the container with a transparent lid or cover with a plastic bag (film) to create a greenhouse effect.
• Put in a dark and warm place until shoots appear when temperature + 25-27 degrees, for example, on a kitchen cabinet.

Video: sowing pepper seeds for seedlings

And the next video shows an even more detailed process of sowing sweet pepper seeds for seedlings:

Care for pepper seedlings after sowing

In order to eventually grow strong seedlings, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules for the care and cultivation of peppers.

Note! The site already has a detailed article about how to care for pepper seedlings at home.

Temperature and light conditions

When the seedlings become friendly, it is recommended to rearrange the container on the window sill (or under phytolamps) and lower the temperature regime for several days (3-5) (to + 20-22 during the day and + 14-16 degrees at night).

In the future, for the stable growth of the aboveground part not to the detriment of the development of the root system the air temperature during the day should be within + 22-26 degrees, and at night - + 16-18 degrees... Optimal soil temperature - + 19-21 degrees.

Pepper is a short day plant.

Therefore, in order for the seedlings to fully develop, daylight hours should only be about 9-10 hours (and even less for later varieties).

Becausesowing for seedlings occurs early enough, then, of course, it is optimal to place the seedlings on the southern windowsill, but the western or eastern window (or even better the southwest or southeast) is also suitable.

However, if your windows face the north side or you often have cloudy weather, then you cannot do without additional illumination of the seedlings.

Watering

To water pepper seedlings at home should onlywhen the topsoil dries up, avoiding overflow and drying out of the earth (especially wilting of plants).

Important! Water for irrigation of pepper seedlings should be separated and warm (+ 25-30 degrees) or at least room temperature.

Picking

Pepper negatively tolerates any damage to the roots and recovers for a long time after transplanting, so the pick should be done very carefully.

Attention!More on how to correctly conduct picking pepper seedlings, read here.

How to care for seedlings after picking

Further care for pepper seedlings is similar: you need to maintain temperature and light conditions, as well as watering on time and, if necessary, start feeding.

Top dressing

Top dressing is an important element of caring for pepper seedlings at home. However, if you originally used nutrient soil, then, as a rule, you can do without additional fertilization. But if the appearance of the seedlings causes concern, then feeding is simply necessary, it will help the plant to develop normally.

By the way!If your young plantsneed additional nutritionthen all information about feeding pepper seedlings you'll findin this article.

Preparation for planting in the ground - hardening

Since the seedlings are grown at home, before planting seedlings in open ground, they should first be adapted to more severe environmental conditions (for example, to sudden temperature changes, direct sunlight) so that after transplanting they do not get into a strong stressful situation.

To do this, 2 weeks before planting seedlings in a permanent place in open ground, you should start preparing it, in other words, hardening it, gradually bringing the seedling containers to the balcony or greenhouse.

When and how to plant pepper seedlings in open ground: optimal timing

Planting pepper seedlings in a permanent place should only be when minutes the threat of recurrent frosts, and the air temperature will not be lower than +15 degrees, regardless of the time of day. Wherein the soil should warm up to at least +10, and better + 12-15 degrees.

As for the requirements for appearance, the pepper seedlings by the time of planting should be strong, with a well-developed root system and have 8-12 true leaves. In addition, early cultivars should have pronounced first-formed buds.

Thus, the approximate timing of planting pepper in the ground in the South of Russia is the second half to the end of April, in the Central zone (Moscow region) - the second half of May, and in the northern regions (Ural, Siberia) - not earlier than 3 decades of May - early June. At about the same time, peppers are also planted in the North-West (in the Leningrad region).

Naturally, it is possible to plant in the greenhouse earlier (by 1-2 weeks), because the soil in closed ground warms up faster.

The very procedure for planting pepper seedlings in open ground is standard: you transfer the seedlings into pre-prepared planting holes, preserving the integrity of the earthen coma, and then spill it well.

Thus, even a novice summer resident is able to grow strong and healthy pepper seedlings at home, which in the end can give a generous and tasty harvest. It is only necessary to comply with all the requirements for sowing and the conditions for keeping seedlings, and also not to ignore the basic rules for its cultivation.

Video: growing pepper from A to Z - from sowing seedlings to planting in open ground and harvesting