Pepper sowing method and sowing time

Peppers are widely grown in my country, and cultivating strong seedlings of the right age is the key to achieving high-quality and high-yield peppers. Robust pepper seedlings are characterized by high survival rate, rapid seedling recovery, strong resistance to diseases and pests, and vigorous growth. It can be said that the first step in growing peppers is to cultivate strong seedlings. Let’s learn how to sow peppers and when to sow them.

1. Suitable sowing period for pepper

Pepper is a warm-loving crop. The most suitable temperature for seed germination is 23-30℃. The seeds will not germinate when the temperature is below 13℃ or above 35℃. The most suitable temperature during the growth period is 20-30℃, and growth will be hindered when the temperature is lower than 15℃. The best temperature for flowering and pollination is 20-25℃. Temperatures below 15℃ or above 35℃ will easily cause flowers and fruits to fall. The most suitable temperature during the color change period is 25-30℃ during the day.

When the average daily temperature is above 15℃ for 5 consecutive days, sowing can be carried out. Open field sowing is usually from the end of March to mid-April; seedling cultivation in small greenhouses can be carried out from February to March. When sowing, the temperature of the seedbed should be controlled above 15℃ and not lower than 13℃ to prevent root rot caused by low temperature.

2. Select seeds

Choose varieties that are high-yielding and resistant to pests and diseases. The excellent varieties of different types of peppers include three-cherry pepper, seven-star pepper, scattered bullet pepper, red Rodan, American sweet crown, Xinhong No. 1, Hongze No. 1, five-color pepper, finger pepper, etc. When saving seeds for yourself, choose seeds that are plump, shiny and free of mold. The useful life of pepper seeds should not exceed 3 years.

3. Seed treatment

Seed treatment is carried out before sowing, including disinfection and germination. Disinfection reduces diseases, and germination helps to ensure uniform and complete seedlings and speeds up emergence.

Disinfection: Sun-dry the seeds for 1 to 2 days, soak in 55°C warm water for 10 minutes, or soak in potassium permanganate solution or copper sulfate solution for 5 minutes.

Germination: Soak in warm water for 8 hours after disinfection, wrap with wet gauze, place in a 25℃ environment for germination, spray water every day, and sow when 70% of the seeds are white.

4. Preparation of nutrient soil

Peppers grow best in loose, organic-rich, well-drained soil. Mix 2/3 soil and 1/3 decomposed farmyard manure, sprinkle 50 grams of triple compound fertilizer per square meter of seedbed, rake it flat and then sow. Avoid repeated cropping. The soil where peppers, eggplants , tomatoes, etc. were planted previously is not suitable for planting peppers again.

5. Planting seeds

After the nutrient soil is prepared, sowing can be carried out. It can be broadcast or spot sowing. After sowing, cover the soil with 0.5 to 1 cm and water thoroughly. To speed up germination, you can sprinkle wood ash or cover the seedlings with film, and remove the film in time after emergence from the soil. To prevent overcrowding, mix the seeds with fine sand before sowing. Water thoroughly before sowing and do not water before seedlings emerge.

6. Water and fertilizer management during the seedling stage

The seedling stage requires less water, and watering should be done once every 5 to 7 days. Too much watering can cause excessive growth or root rot. No fertilizer is generally applied during the seedling stage. If the seedlings grow weakly, you can sprinkle a small amount of urea and water after applying fertilizer.

7. Transplanting and planting

Pepper seedlings can be transplanted and planted when they have more than 8 leaves. Water them thoroughly the day before transplanting. When digging up the seedlings, damage the roots as little as possible and carry more soil with them, and handle them with care. Water thoroughly after transplanting and provide shade within a week to prevent wilting and help the seedlings to grow. The root system of peppers is underdeveloped and they are neither drought-resistant nor water-resistant. Water them less during the seedling stage and more during the fruit expansion stage.

8. Post-management

The seedlings will be fully grown 7 to 10 days after transplanting. If the plants grow weakly after 20 days, urea can be applied. During the flowering and fruiting period, there is a great demand for nutrients. Apply triple compound fertilizer and spray 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate every 10 days to increase yield.

To sum up, by sowing at the right time, selecting seeds, disinfecting and germinating seeds, scientific sowing, and strengthening fertilizer and water management, you can easily cultivate healthy pepper seedlings.