Bitter (hot) pepper: planting, growing and caring in open ground

Growing hot pepper seedlings

As a rule, hot peppers are grown through seedlings.

Sowing time for seedlings

They directly depend on the timing of transplanting seedlings into the ground (more on them below). It should be taken into account that its age should be approximately 50-75 days from the moment of the appearance of full shoots (it depends on the ripening period of a particular variety). And also 10-15 days are added to this period when calculating, which usually pass from sowing to germination. The method for calculating the timing of sowing hot pepper seeds for seedlings can be found here. Additionally, you can adjust the estimated dates with the recommendations of astrologers. In 2022, favorable days will be the following:

January - 17-19;
February - 1-3, 6-7, 24-29;
March - 1, 4-6, 25-28, 31;
April - 1, 2, 7, 24, 25, 28, 29.

Preparing seeds for planting

Some manufacturers offer for sale seeds that have undergone pre-sowing preparation under production conditions. Most often they are inlaid, that is, covered with a special brightly colored coating . In any case, information about such preparation will be indicated on the bag. Such seeds can be immediately sown in the ground, but all others, including those collected independently, should preferably be prepared for planting. For this:

The fullest and heaviest seeds should be selected. The easiest way to do this is by immersing them in lightly salted water for 20-30 minutes. Full-fledged and heavy seeds will sink to the bottom - they are used for sowing.
At the second stage (some combine it with the first), disinfection is carried out by treatment in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 10-15 minutes. This allows you to get rid of pathogens located on the surface of the seeds.

Treatment in a pink solution of potassium permanganate allows you to get rid of pathogens located on the surface of the seeds

If there is a suspicion that the infection is inside, then it is worth carrying out heat treatment. To do this, place the seeds for 10-15 minutes in hot water at a temperature of +45-50 °C. It is important to know that a lower temperature will not have an effect, and a higher temperature will lead to the death of the seeds. After this, the seeds can (but not necessarily) be germinated. For this:

They are laid out on damp gauze or cotton wool, placed on a saucer or in a container.
They create a greenhouse effect by placing a saucer with seeds in a bag.
Place for germination in a dark and warm place.

After hatching, the seeds are sown in prepared containers with nutritious soil.

After pipping, the seeds are sown in prepared containers with nutritious soil.

Sowing hot peppers

More often, hot peppers are sown immediately in individual containers (peat or plastic glasses with a volume of 0.3-0.5 liters, pots, peat tablets) without subsequent picking (transplanting into a separate container), or into common containers. To fill them you will need nutritious soil.

Suitable soil mixture

More often, ready-made soil from the store is used for sowing seeds.

If desired, you can prepare it yourself by mixing suitable components available to the gardener. For example, we can recommend the following composition:

turf soil - 2 parts;
humus - 1 part;
peat - 1 part;
sand - 1 part.

How to choose a variety

The process of selecting seeds for planting should be taken seriously. The main criteria for selection are the following.

The ripening period is the most important parameter. The vegetative period of most varieties is 4-5 months, and the duration of summer may not be enough for the development of the crop. You need to first obtain data on the duration of the summer period with a favorable average temperature for pepper in your region. Then compare it with the duration of ripening of a particular variety. Most likely, you will need to purchase an early ripening variety and plant it as seedlings.
Resistance to viruses, low light and temperature changes is an important characteristic of the variety. The fact is that pepper does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature and may die. In addition, pests also love to feast on chili peppers, in particular, aphids love it. Plants with weak resistance will be weakened by constant attacks of parasites and will not be able to produce crops in the garden on time.
The degree of fruit bitterness and yield are consumer properties of the crop. The Scoville heat rating should be used to avoid acute poisoning. According to this parameter, the fruits vary from mildly hot to hot due to the presence of the substance capsaicin in them, which is responsible for the pungency of taste. Yield allows you to plan the expected volume of product from the sown area.

If you correctly take into account the above parameters, you can choose the optimal variety for growing in the country.

Important! The growing season for most pepper varieties is 4-5 months.

Planting hot peppers in open ground and caring for them

Transplantation of seedlings is carried out on previously prepared beds, into the soil of which the following must be added for digging:

5-10 kg/m2 of humus or compost;
30-40 g/m2 superphosphate;
3-5 l/m2 of sifted wood ash.

It is convenient to form a bed 1-1.2 m wide, on which to place 2-3 rows of plants at intervals depending on the tallness of the planted variety. Often information about planting density is indicated on the seed bag. When choosing a place for a garden bed, you need to place it as far as possible from the place where sweet peppers are grown, otherwise they may acquire bitterness as a result of cross-pollination, and bitter ones, on the contrary, may lose it.

It is convenient to grow hot peppers on strip beds

Landing dates

Hot pepper is a heat-loving plant. Its seedlings are planted in the ground at a steady air temperature of at least +15 °C, which occurs within a time frame depending on the climatic characteristics of the region and growing conditions.

Favorable neighbors in the garden

When growing any vegetables, it is very important to know which crops are recommended to be grown next to them in order to speed up their growth, and which should be planted at the other end of the garden. Let's talk about which crops are the most favorable neighbors for hot peppers.

Surprisingly, herbs will be positive neighbors for peppers; this does not mean that the entire garden bed should be covered with it - there should be grass in moderation. Chamomile, coltsfoot, etc. are ideal for proximity to chili peppers - they significantly accelerate the growth of fruit ripening. Grass can be planted along the edge or between the rows. An excess of grass will take away all the useful elements from the soil.

We must be removed, as they carry destructive diseases and insect pests.

Cilantro, dill, and basil will also go well with pepper - they will add more flavor to the pepper. Please ensure that there is no shading; pepper may have a negative effect on this.

According to the crop rotation table, the proximity of hot peppers to tomatoes will affect the rapid growth of both crops; eggplants, carrots, cabbage and onions are also perfect for proximity.

If you plant garlic next to hot peppers, the second one will repel all insect pests.

Features of agricultural technology of hot peppers in a greenhouse

In comparison with open-ground agricultural technology, growing hot peppers in a greenhouse has some features:

In the greenhouse, it is important to maintain an optimal level of air humidity at 70-80% (measured using a hygrometer). If there is excess humidity, it is regulated by ventilation; if the air is too dry, containers with water are placed in the room.
Recommended temperature range is 23-28 °C. At a higher temperature, the greenhouse is ventilated, and when it decreases below +12-15 °C, additional heating may be necessary.
For the formation of ovaries, artificial pollination will be required, which can be done manually (simply shaking the bushes) or using a fan to create an air flow.
When planting, a slightly denser placement pattern is chosen, which may result in a reduction in the number of stems during formation.
Fertilizing is carried out according to the standards for open ground, but the amount of nitrogen is halved.

Features of growing hot peppers on the windowsill

At home, hot peppers can be grown as a perennial crop, but some important nuances should be taken into account:

Plants need a lot of light, but without direct sunlight.
In winter (December - February), peppers are put into a dormant state. To do this you need to: stop applying fertilizers;
remove flowers and ovaries;
reduce water consumption during irrigation;
reduce the temperature to +15-18 °C;
reduce the light level.

Ventilate the room periodically, but avoid drafts.

Monitor the condition of the root system, replanting plants into larger pots if necessary.

Hot peppers at home look very decorative

Possible errors and difficulties

A capricious crop does not always produce the expected volumes or quality of the harvest. In most cases, the cause of such problems is certain growing errors:

premature planting of seedlings - provokes slow growth and development of bushes due to insufficient heat; to avoid the problem, young growth should be covered with polyethylene material until the arrival of heat;
lack of lighting - causes a decrease in the number of fruits, the area for the crop should be located in areas without constant shade;
lack of supports - even small bushes need them;
injuries to the root system - occur due to careless transplantation;
stagnation of water - experienced gardeners prefer to grow crops using a drip irrigation system;
deep loosening - leads to damage to the roots, the procedure should be carried out without deep digging, 2 times a week;
simultaneous planting of sweet and bitter varieties of pepper.

During care, it is necessary to ensure that excessive density does not appear at the base of the bushes. The foliage of the first internode must be removed. The only way out is to carry out manipulations in the morning so that the wounds have time to dry before sunset.

Mandatory procedures include watering, removing weeds, loosening the soil, introducing fertilizers and creating the shape of the bushes. If the instructions are followed exactly, the gardener can be confident of a bountiful autumn harvest and preservation of the quality characteristics of the fruit.

Propagation of hot peppers by cuttings

Hot peppers propagate well from cuttings - this is especially true when growing hybrid varieties at home, which retain their varietal characteristics using this method. The process is simple:

From young shoots, cuttings 8-10 cm long with one or two leaves are cut.

From young shoots, cuttings 8-10 cm long with one or two leaves are cut

Several longitudinal scratches are applied at the bottom of the cuttings at a distance of 4–5 cm. Soak the lower ends in Zircon solution (3 drops per 100 ml of water) for 12-24 hours. Prepare glasses with a capacity of 0.2-0.3 liters, filling them with the nutrient mixture. One cutting is planted in each glass and moistened well.

One cutting is planted in each glass and moistened well.

Glasses with cuttings are placed in a seedling box and covered with film to create a greenhouse effect. Rooting usually lasts 2–3 weeks, during which time you need to maintain a temperature of +23–25 °C. Periodically (every 1-2 days) the film is removed for ventilation and the soil is moistened if necessary (it should not dry out). Further care is the same as for ordinary seedlings.

Video: propagation of hot peppers by cuttings

Top dressing

To avoid spoiling the grown seedlings, it is recommended to feed them. The main fertilizer is nitrogen. To prepare it, take 15 g of the finished product and mix it with 10 liters of water. If treated during the formation of true leaves, this will provoke active growth of eggplants and peppers.

Approximately 10-12 days before transplanting to a permanent place of growth, feed with a solution of potassium sulfate and water in a ratio of 15 g per 10 liters. Thanks to this, the plants will increase their immunity and resistance to pests. It was also noted that peppers and eggplants especially love foliar feeding.