Pepper sowing and seedling raising technology

Peppers are widely grown in China. Cultivating healthy pepper seedlings is the key to achieving high quality and high yields. Strong pepper seedlings have the characteristics of high survival rate, rapid seedling recovery, strong disease resistance and vigorous growth. Therefore, the first step in planting peppers is to cultivate strong seedlings. Let’s learn the pepper sowing and seedling raising techniques below.

1. Determine the appropriate sowing period

Pepper is a crop that likes warmth. The best temperature for seed germination is 23-30℃. The seeds are not easy to germinate when the temperature is lower than 13℃ or higher than 35℃. The most suitable temperature during the growth period is 20-30℃. Growth will be inhibited when the temperature is lower than 15℃. The most suitable temperature during the flowering and pollination period is 20-25℃. Temperatures below 15℃ or above 35℃ can easily cause flowers and fruits to fall. The most suitable temperature during the color change period is 25-30℃ during the day.

When the local average daily temperature exceeds 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.

Note: During sowing, the temperature of the seedbed should be kept above 15°C and not lower than 13°C to prevent root rot caused by low temperature.

2. Select seeds

Choose varieties with high yield and strong disease resistance for planting. Excellent choices of different varieties include clustered peppers such as the three-cherry pepper, seven-star pepper, and scattered bullet pepper; lantern peppers such as the red Rodin and American sweet crown; long-horned peppers such as Xinhong No. 1 and Hongze No. 1; and ornamental peppers such as the colorful pepper and finger pepper.

When saving seeds for yourself, you should choose seeds that are plump, shiny and free of mold. The useful life of pepper seeds should not exceed 3 years.

3. Seed treatment

Pepper seeds are treated before sowing, including disinfection and germination, to reduce diseases and speed up emergence.

Seed disinfection: Expose the seeds to the sun for 1 to 2 days to use ultraviolet rays to kill some pathogens. Then soak them in 55℃ warm water for 10 minutes, stirring while soaking, to kill the germs inside the seeds. In large-scale breeding, the seeds can be soaked in potassium permanganate or copper sulfate solution.

Note: Seeds soaked in chemicals must be washed with clean water before sowing.

Seed germination: Soak the sterilized seeds in warm water for 8 hours, then wrap them with wet gauze or a wet towel and place them in a place around 25℃ for germination. Spray water twice a day. When 70% of the seeds turn white, they can be sown.

4. Preparation of nutrient soil

Peppers grow best in loose, organic-rich soil that is easy to drain and irrigate. You can mix 2/3 soil and 1/3 decomposed farmyard manure, sprinkle 50 grams of triple compound fertilizer per square meter of seedbed, and then you can sow after raking it flat.

Note: Avoid planting peppers in soil where peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes , and tobacco have been grown previously to prevent soil-borne diseases.

5. Sowing

After the nutrient soil is prepared, it can be sown. It can be broadcast or spot sowing. After sowing, cover with 0.5 to 1 cm of soil and water thoroughly. To speed up germination, sprinkle wood ash on the soil or cover it with a film, and remove the film in time after the seeds emerge.

Note: Mix fine sand and seeds well before sowing to prevent over-dense sowing. Water thoroughly before sowing, and generally do not water before seedlings emerge.

6. Water and fertilizer management during the seedling stage

Pepper seedlings require less water, and should be watered once every 5 to 7 days. Excessive watering can easily lead to excessive growth and root rot. Generally, no fertilizer is required during the seedling stage. If the seedlings grow weakly, you can sprinkle a small amount of urea and water after applying fertilizer to prevent root burn.

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 planting and provide shade within a week to prevent the seedlings from wilting and to help them 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.

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

In summary, cultivating healthy pepper seedlings is the basis for achieving high quality and high yield. Healthy pepper seedlings usually have green and shiny leaves, thick stems, short internodes, no diseases and pests, and a well-developed root system.