How and when to plant pepper seedlings

Peppers are third in popularity among gardeners, second only to tomatoes and cucumbers. When to plant pepper seedlings depends on the conditions in which the crop will be grown, in a greenhouse or in open ground.

The experience of many gardeners has shown that large, high-quality yields can be achieved precisely in greenhouse growing conditions. Pepper is too fastidious a crop that does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, wind, or direct sunlight. Pepper also needs moisture, which can only be created in a greenhouse.

And yet, when to plant pepper seedlings? First of all, you need to wait until the end of the spring frosts, after which you can safely plant peppers in the greenhouse in the second half of May. Peppers are usually planted in open ground in the first ten days of June. Planting is carried out on a cool day or in the late afternoon.

An important point is proper soil preparation. The soil should be rich and light, for which it is dug up, organic fertilizers (humus, superfasate) are added, dug up again and loosened.

Pepper seedlings are planted in holes with a small addition of compost mixed with soil, and then watered with warm water. Peppers are planted quite often at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other, moderately deepened (approximately to the middle of the stem from the roots to the first leaves).

Throughout the entire period of growing plants, the soil must be loosened to a depth of 5-7 cm; also, once every two weeks, along with watering, the peppers are fed with complex fertilizers.

Water the pepper at the root with warm water, often, but not too much. To prevent the soil from drying out, you can mulch it with peat or straw.

The first buds must be picked, this will ensure a quick and rapid process of budding of the entire plant.

Another important point is harvesting. Peppers should be collected by carefully cutting them with scissors; under no circumstances should they be picked, as microtraumas lead to a delay in the development of subsequent fruits.