Content
Pepper It is one of the most heat-loving vegetable crops. Because of this, for residents of the northern part of the country, growing this vegetable in open ground becomes impossible. After all, the quantity and quality of the harvest depends on the heat. Therefore landing pepper seedlings a polycarbonate greenhouse is the only option for these regions. Although, residents of the middle zone are also recommended to grow peppers in greenhouses; in such conditions they grow larger and ripen much faster. This happens due to the fact that no external factors interfere and do not slow down the growth of plants.
For the business to be successful, you need to follow some rules. Of course, skill comes with experience. But in order not to make mistakes, let’s try to figure out when and how to plant pepper seedlings in a greenhouse. And also how to care for planted seedlings so that they give a good harvest, are healthy and strong.
Preparing the greenhouse and soil
Good seedlings are only half the battle. It is very important that the soil and conditions in the greenhouse are conducive to good pepper growth.
First, it is necessary to disinfect the greenhouse and soil. This is done if the room has already been used for growing various vegetables. If the greenhouse is new, then we skip this step.The soil is cleared of plant residues and roots. The soil is also treated to remove pests and fungi. You can use regular boiling water in these cels. This stage should not be neglected, because parasites and pathogenic bacteria remaining on plant remains can destroy the seedlings.
After these activities, you can begin fertilizing the soil. The soil for growing peppers must be loose and moist. To improve soil quality, the following fertilizers are applied:
- ammonium nitrate;
- manure;
- humus;
- wood ash;
- superphosphate.
We fertilize the soil several days before planting, or at least one day. Remember that pepper seedlings do not like acidic soil. If you have just such a soil, you can regulate the acidity with dolomite flour. Usually it is applied directly during planting of pepper seedlings. After the holes with pepper are filled with soil, it is sprinkled with dolomite flour and carefully distributed with a rake. If you are afraid of touching the plants, sift the flour very evenly, then you can do without using tools.
If your greenhouse is new and has not yet been divided into beds, then you need to do it the right way. The length of the beds does not really matter; they can be short or stretch along the length of the entire greenhouse. But width is of great importance. Too wide beds are inconvenient to water, and it will be almost impossible to get to distant plants without hitting the previous ones. The normal width for a bed will be 80–90 centimeters.At this distance, you can place two or three rows of seedlings, depending on the variety and spreading nature of the bush. The distance between the beds should also not be too wide; it is better to save space and plant a few more rows of seedlings. The main thing is that you can comfortably move around the garden bed.
You need to think in advance about where to plant which varieties and label the beds. It is better to plant low-growing varieties of peppers closer to the walls so that they receive enough light, and tall ones - in the center of the greenhouse.
When to plant pepper seedlings in a greenhouse
Deadlines planting pepper seedlings in open ground and in the greenhouse, of course, they are different. In a greenhouse, plants are not afraid of wind and temperature changes. Therefore, planting can begin earlier. However, you need to be completely sure that frost will not return again. An important factor is soil temperature. It should be at least +15 °C. At this temperature, the pepper will stop growing and the ripening process will take much longer. If the spring is cold and the soil does not warm up naturally, artificial lighting methods can be used.
Typically, pepper seedlings are planted in a greenhouse in May. In warmer regions you can start from the beginning of the month, and in northern regions - towards the end. At the same time, consider the condition of your seedlings. By the time of transplantation, it should be fully grown and reach about 25 centimeters in height. Tall varieties of peppers are excellent for greenhouses. In such conditions they are easy to care for, and the yield is much higher than that of low-growing varieties.
Planting pepper seedlings in a greenhouse
If more than 10 leaves have formed on the pepper stem, it is considered suitable for planting in a greenhouse. Buds may be present, but not open. Such flowers will most likely wither while adapting to the new soil. And if they grow further, it will be more slowly.
About an hour before planting in greenhouse soil, seedlings need to be watered with plenty of water so that the soil softens and is easy to remove from the container. In order not to damage the root, it is necessary to remove the pepper with a complete lump of earth.
Before planting, it is necessary to loosen the soil again, since after transplanting the pepper will especially need access to oxygen. After which, the ground is leveled with a rake. You can also apply fertilizer at this time, or place it directly into the hole. Now you can start planting seedlings.
When digging holes, keep in mind that the correct planting pattern is important for peppers. The rows must be at least 60 cm apart from each other. Between bushes of low-growing varieties of pepper we leave from 20 cm to 35 cm, and between tall varieties - from 30 cm to 40 cm. At 1 m2 You should get up to five plants.
The holes should be of such depth that the seedlings fit completely together with the earthen ball. Try not to make it too deep, as this will slow down the growth of the pepper. Pour up to 1 liter of water into the dug hole, let it soak in a little and place the sprout there. You need to fill it with soil up to the first leaves on the stem. You can put fertilizer at the bottom of the hole.For these purposes, compost or humus is used. Store-bought fertilizers are also popular.
It is better to install the support for the planted pepper immediately. And as soon as the plant requires garter, you can easily do it. You can also mulch the soil right away, because you can’t water the seedlings for the first week, but mulch will help retain moisture longer. Dry leaves, straw, tree bark, and sawdust are perfect for this. The coating will retain heat and help the soil remain loose longer.
At first, the beds with seedlings must be covered with film. For convenience, you can install the arcs in advance. Such a device will save the pepper from nighttime temperature changes, and when the weather outside is stable and warm, the film can be omitted. If you want to do without additional costs, then it is not necessary to install arcs, since now there are many thin films that will not harm the seedlings.
Pepper feeding
For feeding, 2 types of fertilizers are used: mineral and organic. Both of them have a very good effect on the growth and development of pepper seedlings. If you applied fertilizer when planting seedlings, do not rush to re-fertilize. Too much fertilizer is just as detrimental to peppers as a complete lack of nutrients. It is recommended to carry out the next feeding after the ovaries appear, and the plant especially needs strength.
The following mineral fertilizers are suitable for pepper seedlings:
- nitrogen. Promotes growth and formation of fruits;
- phosphorus. Good effect on fruit growth and size;
- calcium. Supports stable growth of pepper from planting to fruit ripening;
- potassium. Particularly important for fruits, their formation and growth.
These minerals are used by all experienced gardeners to obtain a good pepper harvest. But some people prefer exclusively organic fertilizers. Let's consider options for preparing the most popular fertilizers:
- Bird droppings or manure. The solution is prepared in the same way in both cases. In one container, mix 10 liters of water with 1 liter of litter or manure. Let the solution sit for a day and pour it under each bush. If the solution is prepared from manure, then you will need about a liter of the mixture, and if from litter, then half a liter.
- Herbal fertilizer. Nettle, horsetail, plantain, wood lice and tansy are combined in equal proportions. Next, the whole thing is filled with water and left for four days for it to ferment. The mixture should rise to the top, after which it must be stirred and wait for it to rise again. Now add water to the herbal mixture in a ratio of 1:9. We water the pepper with this solution in the same way as the previous method.
Pepper feeding is done 2-3 times during the entire growth period in the greenhouse. But, in addition to this, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the seedlings, the color of the leaves and the size of the resulting fruits in order to timely apply the necessary fertilizer, which the pepper lacks. You also need to maintain a stable temperature and not allow it to drop to +10 °C. If you see that the plant’s condition is deteriorating and the leaves begin to wither, most likely the pepper lacks potassium. Many people mistakenly think that the reason is insufficient watering and begin to overwater the seedlings, which has an even worse effect on the sprouts.
Insufficient magnesium is indicated by spots and yellowed leaves.The quality of the fruit also deteriorates. A solution of magnesium and potassium will help correct the situation. And if the fruits begin to rot, then the pepper needs calcium. When using this mineral for feeding, you need to be very careful, because an excess of this fertilizer can completely destroy the crop.
Conclusion
As you can see, when growing peppers you need to know and follow many nuances. Improper care can completely destroy the seedlings. But, pepper planted using all technologies will give a very high yield and will be pleasing to your eyes. By growing peppers in a greenhouse, you make your work easier in many ways. After all, the greenhouse itself will create the necessary conditions for good growth, and all that remains for you is watering and feeding the plants. And you can clearly see how to do this in the video.
For me, it's the opposite. In the open ground, albeit in high beds, peppers grow well, the yield is good, and they don’t get sick. And I don’t treat them with anything. But in the greenhouse it is constantly covered with something and the harvest is not very good and the same with Eggplants. In general, everything grows better in open ground than in a greenhouse. There are really no problems with tomatoes. They grow well everywhere for me.