Sweet peppers are a member of the nightshade family (along with eggplants and tomatoes). This perennial plant species, the fruits of which are consumed both fresh and processed, is a shrub. Vegetable crops respond well to substances introduced into the soil. Peppers tolerate nitrogen and potassium especially well, but you need to be careful with chlorine - the vegetable does not like it.
What do bell peppers like?
In general, pepper is known as a rather whimsical plant, but you should not be afraid of this and refuse to cultivate the crop. It must be remembered that it does not tolerate excessive watering, as well as a lack of water. Peppers bear fruit well when the weather is warm and sunny. Loosening the soil should be done carefully, since the vegetable crop has a superficial root system.
It should be remembered that a vegetable crop such as pepper loves loamy and fertile soil. The plant does not tolerate heavy soil well because it is acidic. If this is the type of soil on the site, it should be lightened. To do this, use peat or sand, which is added when digging the ground. At the same time, you can add last year's organic mixtures, for example, cow manure or compost.
The composition of organic and mineral fertilizers added to the soil depends on factors such as the age of the seedlings, the type of vegetable, and weather conditions. You should also understand what exactly sweet bell pepper fertilizer is used for. For example, phosphorus supplements are necessary for the growth and development of a plant (before the fruit formation stage begins). During the period of active formation of ovaries, pepper requires potassium. Throughout the entire period, from development and growth to flowering, the vegetable crop needs feeding from calcium and nitrogen.
Did you know? During prolonged cloudy weather, the amount of potassium fertilizers should be increased by about 1/5. If it is dry and sunny outside, then on the contrary, their number should be reduced by 20%.
How to feed peppers to grow?
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Types of fertilizer for peppers
If the pepper grows poorly or does not develop properly, appropriate fertilizer must be applied. Sluggish leaves, dull color of the bush, thin stem, weakness of the branches indicate a lack of calcium, nitrogen, boron, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese, copper and some other elements. How to feed peppers to restore their appearance and speed up growth?
- Eggshells are most often placed in the ground when planting a plant, but an infusion can also be made. To do this, take the crushed shells of 2-3 eggs, fill them with 3 liters of water and leave them in a dark place for 3-4 days. Then it is used to water young and mature bushes. This product has especially proven itself when growing seedlings.
- An infusion of herbs contains an abundance of various elements. It will be useful for the growth and development of the plant, and will also significantly increase productivity. To prepare the medicine, you need to grind the leaves of plantain, coltsfoot, dandelion, nettle, woodlice and add water in a ratio of 1:5. Infuse the product for a week, and then use a liter for each bush.
Interesting!
Peppers are usually fertilized in the morning or evening, when the sun is not shining too brightly, it is not hot outside, and there is no rain.
- In order for young seedlings to develop quickly, you need to add a handful of ash to each hole when planting in a permanent place.
- Yeast promotes the growth of root and green mass, increases productivity, so you should not neglect this fertilizer, especially since it is natural and harmless. 1 kg of wet yeast is infused in 5 liters of water all day (preferably in a dark, warm place). Then 2-3 tablespoons of ash are added to the solution and used for watering.
Important!
Yeast fertilizer is useful, but it is used only in combination with ash, since the yeast itself leaches potassium from the soil.
For active plant growth, mineral fertilizers can also be used. During the first feeding, it is worth providing the plant with an abundance of potassium and nitrogen, using, for example, Kemira-Lux, Kristalon or GUMI Kuznetsova according to the instructions. If you wish, you can make fertilizer yourself. For a bucket of water, take 3 tablespoons of superphosphate, 3 teaspoons of potassium sulfate, 2 teaspoons of ammonium nitrate. During the second feeding, the same products are used, but the concentration is doubled.
Fertilizing in open ground
When the seedlings grow to the required size, they move on to planting them in open ground. Before this, peppers must be thoroughly fertilized. For these purposes, wood ash, potassium sulfate, as well as humus and superphosphates are used. To simplify the task, you can use a ready-made complex fertilizer for sweet peppers, which contains a balanced amount of nutrients. Fortunately, in the 21st century you can easily find such mixtures on the market. After planting seedlings in open ground, fertilizing should be continued at regular intervals until the stage of formation of the first fruits.
Rules for applying fertilizing
The use of fertilizers in open ground has its own characteristics. Correct application of the compositions will most effectively affect the development of the plant and the formation of fruits.
Foliar feeding of peppers in open ground
Helps to quickly replenish the nutrient reserves of peppers grown in open ground. Leaves and stems of bushes are irrigated with aqueous solutions. A noticeable result will appear within a day. This type of fertilizing is used if it is quite cool outside or the soil is waterlogged. This method is also effective on acidic soils and during flowering plants. To stimulate the formation of fruits, you need to prepare an aqueous solution of boric acid (2 g per 10 l) and spray the leaf blades with it.
Attention! Foliar feeding in open ground is done only in the early morning (before sunrise) or late evening. If you do not follow this rule, burns will appear on the plants.
In windy weather, foliar feeding should be abandoned. A weak solution of fertilizers is prepared for young bushes; adult plants easily tolerate higher concentrations of active substances. It is not recommended to get carried away with foliar feeding with bell pepper. They are often used only in extreme cases, when there is an urgent need to compensate for the lack of key microelements.
Root feeding of peppers in open ground
The prepared solution in open ground can be poured directly under the root or around the stems. In the second case, the soil will be saturated over the entire area of the root system. Drops of liquid should not be allowed to settle on the root collar or leaves. This can lead to the formation of rot. It is also not recommended to apply fertilizers to dry soil; the risk of burns on the roots is too high. First, the soil is moistened, and then you can start fertilizing. In cold (maximum + 10 °C) and damp weather, it is better to use dry fertilizers. Also during this period, plants are acutely short of potassium. Beneficial substances are washed out very quickly from sandy soils. In this case, it is better to reduce the dosage of fertilizers, but apply them more often.
Attention! The first feeding in open ground is carried out 14-20 days after transplantation. Next, fertilize as needed, taking into account the appearance of the bushes and the growing season.
You can determine the deficiency of a particular element by the appearance of the plants:
- Thinning stems and a small number of shoots indicate a lack of nitrogen.
- Poor flowering and few ovaries - it’s time to add phosphorus.
- Leaf chlorosis develops if there is not enough iron or magnesium.
- Pepper bushes hardly grow - the plants require copper.
- A lack of boron greatly weakens peppers, making them vulnerable to diseases and pests.
- If the edges of the leaves dry out, the buds and ovary die off, you should take care of potassium supplements.
Adviсe
In general, the timing of the start of fertilizing pepper depends on factors such as planting time, volume, quantity and composition of the first fertilizers. For example, if you fertilize the soil in the fall, less mineral fertilizers will be required in the spring.
Sweet peppers planted in open ground are traditionally fed once every 3 weeks. Planting of seedlings is carried out when the plant reaches a height of about 15-25 centimeters, as well as when buds are formed. Approximately 2.5 weeks after transplanting the vegetable crop to a permanent place, it blooms. It is during this period that the first feeding is carried out.
To do this, use stale cow manure or a solution of bird droppings diluted in water. If there are no ready-made organic fertilizers, then the peppers are fertilized with a mixture of ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, and potassium dissolved in warm water.
Advice from gardeners
Pepper bed
Even fertilizing when growing peppers does not always give good results if done incorrectly. How to feed peppers was described above, and now it’s worth understanding the peculiarities of the procedure.
- Foliar feeding for peppers is never used! All fertilizers are poured directly under the bush. And if drops get on the leaves, you need to rinse them with clean water. Because it is very harmful to the plant.
- It is necessary to plant sprouts in a permanent place only in nutritious, fertilized soil, otherwise even good seedlings will quickly wither.
- Solutions and infusions are always made using warm, not cold water. Sometimes you need hot water, but only in certain recipes.
- If there is not enough sun, peppers are provided with additional fertilizers with an abundance of potassium (ash, banana peels). This is especially true for greenhouse varieties.
Finally, I would like to note that when growing peppers you need to be very careful. The plant reacts very sharply to a lack of elements: it worsens its appearance, reduces productivity, and leaves become dull or change color. And if such signs appear, you cannot postpone feeding. It is worth remembering that timely application of fertilizers to the bushes can not only increase the yield or improve the taste of the fruit, but also save the life of the plant, which will die in a matter of days due to a lack of vital elements.
Second feeding of pepper
After two weeks, after the first application of nutrients, a second feeding should be carried out. It occurs during the formation of inflorescences, right up to the formation of the first fruits. If mineral products were previously used, organic substances should now be used. For this you can use urea, bird droppings, as well as manure from last year. The ingredients are dissolved in water and infused for a week. Feeding is carried out as follows: five liters of liquid per square meter of area.
As mentioned above, peppers need various microelements throughout the entire period of development and growth. These include phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iodine, zinc, molydbene, manganese and boron. Foliar feeding is an ideal way to introduce nutrients. In other words, the pepper is sprayed with a solution containing the necessary elements.
Feeding schemes
Pepper feeding mode:
- Stage 1 – when planting, filling the soil (ash, phosphorus, organic matter or mineral nitrogen fertilizers).
- Stage 2 – 1-2 weeks after planting. Apply nitrogen fertilizers for abundant growth and formation of pepper bushes.
- Stage 3 – flowering and ovary formation. Use gentle nitrogen root fertilizers to support the bush.
- Stage 4 – harvest ripening. Calcium, magnesium, “fast” nitrogen (Urea) are necessary minerals for the full ripening of fruits.
What to pour on peppers to make them grow better
Once the seedlings have taken root, they need help. For good fruiting, the bush must be powerful and strong. The first fruit will “pull” nutrients onto itself. Weak bushes will stop developing. As a result, there will be no abundant harvest.
The best option is watering with slurry (mullein). Ammonia nitrogen contained in fresh mullein is quickly absorbed. Nettle tincture or any herbal fermenters are no less effective in terms of nitrogen content.
Slurry or grass concentrate is diluted in a ratio of 1:10. Consumption for watering - 1 liter for each bush of diluted solution.
Pepper fertilizer for a generous harvest
To prevent peppers from dropping flowers, nitrogen and potassium root feedings are needed, alternating with leaf spraying.
For fruit formation, flowers are sprayed with stimulating solutions:
- Bud;
- Ovary;
- Parthenocarpine Bio, etc.
For rapid fruit ripening
During the first fertilizing, nitrogen supplements were regularly applied. As you know, nitrogen acidifies the soil. Peppers may stop bearing fruit and stop growing.
For feeding use a nitrogen-calcium mixture:
- 1 liter of green fertilizer (concentrate) or 1 matchbox of Urea;
- 1 cup chalk;
- dissolve in 10 liters of water;
- for each adult bush - 1 liter of working solution.
Important point. To develop and preserve the ovary, the lower leaves of the bush are torn off.
Breaking off the lower leaves on the trunk of the bush (before the first fruit) ensures an increase in the volume of the fruits themselves. As a result, the crown continues to bloom, and the peppers grow larger.
We must not forget about abundant watering. At this stage, the bushes are watered deeply - 30-35 cm. Watering regime - once a week, 5-10 liters per bush, depending on the growth of the bush.
To prevent fruit rot, wood ash is scattered under the bushes, lightly mixed with the top layer of soil.
Fertilizing peppers in greenhouses
It’s a strange fact, but peppers that are grown in a greenhouse, and not in open ground, are fed with useful substances according to a completely different scheme. Thus, organic matter has a positive effect on the amount of future harvest, and minerals are responsible for the height and volume of bushes.
When planting peppers in a greenhouse, you should adhere to the following fertilizer application schedule:
- The first fertilizing is carried out 2 weeks after planting the seedlings. For this purpose, use bird droppings or cow manure mixed with water in a ratio of 1 to 10 or 1 to 15.
- After the peppers bloom, a second feeding is carried out. For this purpose, mullein is used, as well as minerals.
- The third application of fertilizers occurs after the ripening and harvesting of the first crop. It is carried out according to a scheme similar to that for the second feeding.
- If the greenhouse soil is depleted, a fourth fertilizing is carried out. Superphosphates are ideal for this case.
What to feed peppers at different stages for growth in open ground
Feeding bell pepper seedlings
You can grow pepper seedlings with other plants, except root varieties. The soil is fed using self-made fertilizers, or you can use a purchased product.
As a rule, experts recommend using compost, humus and 2-3 grams of urea per 1 liter of water.
You can also make other mixtures, for example, dilute 2 teaspoons of Kemira-Lux in a bucket of water. Or ½ tablespoon of superphosphate and 2 teaspoons of Foscamide per 10 liters of water.
It is allowed to use organic fertilizer made from manure and water, mixed in a ratio of 1 to 10. Although some experts do not recommend using this solution in the early stages.
Feeding emerging seedlings
After two weeks, the seedlings should emerge from the soil and already have two leaves. At this time, it is necessary to use a mixture of ½ teaspoon of urea per 1 liter of clean water. Or you can prepare a solution according to the following scheme: 35 grams of superphosphate and 7 grams of urea per 10 liters of water. The main thing is not to overdo it with watering.
After the seedlings acquire a few more leaves, the composition of the feed changes. Approximately 1-1.5 weeks before planting seedlings, you need to mix 1 gram of potassium monophosphate with 1 liter of water.
Feeding bell pepper seedlings
Preparing the soil for planting in open ground and fertilizing
The soil for peppers should be loosened, since the plant's root system needs oxygen. You need to loosen the soil by about 8-10 centimeters. You should also use peat compost - about 4 kilograms per square meter of bed.
It is believed that peppers grow better in soil in which onions, cabbage, zucchini, pumpkins, cucumbers or carrots were previously planted.
In this case, plants should be fertilized about 5 times during the growing season. How this process is carried out can be seen in many videos available on the Internet.
After planting the seedlings in a permanent place, it is necessary to use special compounds that will help the plant strengthen, stimulate its growth and protect it from pests.
- To feed the plant . For each plant, 1 liter of a mixture of milk and warm water, in the proportion of 0.5 liters of milk per 10 liters of water.
- For enrichment with minerals. For each square meter, a mixture of 30 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of potassium chloride.
- To protect against parasites. For each plant, 35 grams of superphosphate and a small amount of ash are added to the soil.
- Complex positive impact. For 10 liters of water - 10 grams of potassium salt, 300 grams of humus or peat and 4 grams of superphosphate.
After two weeks of germination of the plant, it is necessary to use nitrogen nutrient mixtures. They are used according to the instructions. This is especially necessary for those plants whose leaves dry out and turn yellow.
How to fertilize peppers during active growth
The use of nutrient mixtures is necessary throughout the entire growing season of the plant. Preference should be given to potassium-based products.
For example, you can use 30 grams of potassium magnesium, which must be dissolved in 10 liters of water.
Feeding during active flowering
During this period, it is important to use fertilizers in which nitrogen is the main component. For example, ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium sulfate are used. The method of fertilizing can be different - drip irrigation, spraying or adding dry mixtures to the soil.
Feeding during fruit formation
As soon as the first rudiments of fruit appear, it is necessary to switch to fertilizers with calcium. For example, you can use a solution of calcium nitrate, which is prepared in the proportion of 10 liters to 20 grams.
This amount is enough to process 1 square meter of area.
Fertilizers for peppers when there are fruits
After fruits have already formed on the pepper stems, you can stimulate their greater growth and better development. For this purpose, fertilizers with a high phosphorus content are used. Superphosphate is considered the most successful (it should be used according to the instructions on the package), and do not forget about regular watering of the plants.
It is important to note here that feeding with phosphates stops 10 days before the start of harvest.
Feeding rules
There are a number of rules that must be followed when organizing feeding for sweet pepper seedlings:
- This vegetable crop does not tolerate fresh manure very well. The fertilizer from last year is best suited for these purposes.
- It is forbidden to feed seedlings after the picking procedure; you should wait two weeks.
- The fertilizer solution should be slightly warmer than room temperature.
- Fertilizing should be done carefully, avoiding getting on the stems and leaves of the pepper.
- The best time to fertilize peppers is early morning or evening after sunset.
Mineral fertilizers
This fertilizer for peppers in open ground is used in liquid form. When watering the plant, you should try not to get it on the trunk and leaves. Today, there are many types of mineral fertilizers in gardening stores, among which the following compounds are in particular demand:
- "Orton Micro Fe" - Used to increase vegetation and immunity in plants. Contains all the necessary substances for the normal development and growth of peppers;
- “GUMI” - This fertilizer contains potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and nitrogen. The drug well increases the stress resistance of plants during transplantation into open ground and weather unfavorable for growth;
- “Ideal” - An excellent stimulator for the development and growth of roots, strengthens the plant’s immunity to infections and pests;
- "Kemira Hydro" is a universal fertilizer that provides peppers with all the necessary substances in an easily accessible form. The application rate is 1-2 kg per 1000 liters of water.
The application of liquid nutrient solutions is carried out after abundant watering of the plantings.
Nitroammofoska
The drug is available in granules, its use helps to obtain a bountiful harvest. The first fertilizing with this fertilizer is carried out on the 14th day after planting the bell pepper in the ground. To do this, prepare a working solution at the rate of 40 grams of granules per 10 liters of water.
If you do not follow the instructions for using nitroammophoska, then nitrates accumulate in the soil. Vegetables from such a garden cannot be eaten.
Types of fertilizers for peppers
Mineral fertilizers for peppers are used only in liquid form. It is customary to dilute the powders in water at room temperature to the required consistency, after which the composition is watered on the soil under the plant, without getting on the stems and leaves. Today you can find various mineral mixtures on the gardening market. Experts and experienced gardeners advise purchasing complex products that have a balanced composition.
As for organic fertilizers, the best option here is last year's manure and bird droppings. This type of fertilizing has a beneficial effect on the amount of the future harvest and its fruiting properties. The soil is fed with fertilizer in accordance with pre-designed schemes, so as not to overfeed the vegetable crop.
What types of feeding are there for peppers?
You can feed peppers like this:
:
- Organic fertilizers. This is manure, compost, peat, humus, ash.
- Mineral fertilizers, which contain only one component. For example, urea.
- Complex fertilizers, which also have a mineral origin. But they usually contain 2 or more basic elements. For example, ammophoska.
- In folk ways.
- Water at the root (root feeding).
- Spray on the leaf (foliar).
Folk remedies for fertilizers from ash and shells
- Feeding with ash. Ash is a natural source of useful microelements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium. This substance turns acidic soil into suitable soil for planting vegetables. In addition, ash prevents the risk of developing fungal plant diseases.
In order to prepare fertilizer from ash, you should dilute a spoonful of the mixture in two liters of water and leave to infuse for 24 hours.Important to know Before using ash to feed peppers, you need to make sure that it is obtained by burning clean wood that has not been dyed.
- Eggshell. This type of fertilizer is easy to prepare at home. A supply of shells is kept throughout the winter so that by the beginning of the gardening season there is a sufficient amount of fertilizer available. When the substance is soaked, hydrogen sulfide is released, which has a positive effect on the growth of the foliar part of peppers. It is also common to add eggshells to compost.
In order to prepare fertilizer from eggshells, you need to follow a number of steps: Grind the shells; - Pour the resulting powder into warm water;
- Infuse for 2-3 days in a warm place, covering with a loose lid.
Advice If you place the fertilizer you are preparing next to the pepper seedlings, the hydrogen sulfide released into the air will have a positive effect on the plant, stimulating its development. Before applying the resulting solution, the soil should be thoroughly fluffed.
Signs of Fertilizer Lack
Main features:
- Slowing the growth of a bush or seedling. The sprout weakens and becomes sluggish. The color turns from bright to pale. Leaves wither or fall off.
- The plant stem does not fully develop. Its growth is very weak. The second option is that it began to turn yellow, which indicates a low amount of nitrogen.
- The vegetative part becomes dull. A “marginal burn” appears at the tips of the leaves. The leaf blade turns pale and becomes wrinkled. The leaves are deformed and curled. These are clear signs of potassium deficiency.
- A purple-colored vegetable crop indicates a lack of phosphorus. Other signs of deficiency of this microelement are a bronze tint of the leaves. Red spots may appear near the stem, which can turn purple.
- Falling leaves and ovaries is a sign of calcium deficiency. New buds stop forming. Already formed leaves curl and die.
The appearance of blossom end rot on fruits indicates that the plant is experiencing a calcium deficiency or its complete absence. If the leaves are small or begin to deform, this is a sign that microfertilizers need to be applied.
How to fertilize with yeast
Adding yeast to the soil has a positive effect on the composition of the soil, completely rebuilding its structure. Feeding microorganisms contribute to the rapid growth of seedlings and also increase the yield of vegetable crops.
In order to prepare the dressing, you should mix the following ingredients: 10 grams of dry yeast, a bucket of water, 4 tablespoons of granulated sugar. The resulting solution is concentrated, so before fertilizing the soil it should be diluted with water in a ratio of one to ten.
Experienced gardeners sometimes replace yeast with wheat grains. To do this, they should be filled with water and left in a warm place for a day. During this time, the grains will swell, after which they need to be ground into a paste and mixed with sugar. Before using fertilizers, the mass is also diluted with water in a ratio of one to ten.
Peppers grow poorly. What to do?
Despite all the seemingly correct care, until yesterday everything was fine with the plants, but today it’s a pity to look at the plantings. What is the problem and how to solve it? There are only two reasons for “artificial” pepper diseases: the gardener did not pay enough attention to the beds or the bushes lacked microelements. In the first case, you will only need further proper care. In the second case, the necessary fertilizers are applied. About what signs to determine what is missing and what fertilizers to correct the situation are described in the article devoted to growing tomato seedlings.
Additional fertilization
Sometimes it happens that a vegetable crop requires additional fertilization in addition to the basic feeding scheme and norm. This can happen in cases where the soil is too acidic and the pepper bushes grow very slowly.
Additional feeding is carried out in accordance with the following rules:
- If the pepper grows well, but does not bloom well, you should add superphosphates diluted in water and exclude nitrogen from the fertilization scheme.
- If you notice that the leaves of the plant have begun to curl, you need to immediately feed the soil with potassium.
- If the leaves of the plant have become dull gray on the inside, we can safely say that there is a lack of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil.
- During the growing season, peppers need additional spraying of the bushes, so this step should not be neglected.
- You need to be careful with fertilizer. The rule “the more the better” does not apply here.
Overfeeding the soil can negatively affect the fertility of peppers.
How to choose fertilizer?
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Pepper feeding
If a gardener does not have time to prepare fertilizers, dilute them, measure them and maintain the correct proportions, he simply purchases complex fertilizers for peppers: “Ideal”, “Kemira-Lux”, “Aquadon-micro”, “Orton-Fe”. They provide the plant with a minimum or maximum of useful substances (depending on the type and concentration), and fully justify their use. Pepper grows well, produces a harvest, and becomes more resistant to diseases and growing conditions.
Important!
You should only purchase complex fertilizers, minerals or other ready-made fertilizers, even if they are organic, from trusted sellers or specialized stores.
The choice of mineral preparation should be based on the characteristics of pepper planting (greenhouse, open ground), crop problems (no harvest, weak shoots, loss of color, etc.) and other similar points. Therefore, before purchasing and before feeding the pepper, you need to carefully study the composition so that it does not turn out that the substance does not contain the elements necessary for the plant.
It’s easier with organic fertilizers - they can be made from grass and foods stored in the refrigerator. As for humus, compost, manure and even wood ash, it is advisable to buy them from large farms with a good reputation. After all, bad manure, like other fertilizers, can be infected with pests, diseases, or be of poor quality.
Some useful tips
When fertilizing and feeding sweet peppers, you need to understand how this or that substance affects the plant, as well as what consequences an overdose may have:
- Do not overuse organic fertilizer before planting seedlings. The bulk of the nutrients remain in the soil from last season.
- The recommended dosage of fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium is applied before winter, as well as during sowing and during the growing season.
- Nitrogen fertilizing has a positive effect on the size of future pepper fruits, as well as the number of ovaries. An excess of fertilizers leads to a decrease in the crop’s resistance to diseases and fungi, and a deficiency leads to suppression of the root system and loss of fertility.
- Nitrogen is added throughout the growing season according to a pre-designed scheme.
- Phosphorus promotes the timely ripening of peppers, as well as the development of a strong root system. If there is a lack of this beneficial substance, the leaves become purple in color.
- The necessary potassium content in the soil contributes to the formation of balanced pepper fruits containing all vitamins. A deficiency of the substance is easily determined - the leaves of the plant turn red.
- If there is a lack of magnesium, pepper leaves turn yellow and curl.
- The need of pepper for any mineral substance is influenced by the weather outside the window. For example, when the summer is cold and rainy, the soil needs potassium. The most inexpensive type of potash fertilizer is wood ash.
- Before applying any fertilizers, experts recommend conducting a soil analysis in order to know exactly what substances the vegetable crop needs.
Mineral fertilizers
Many vegetable growers use ready-made mineral complexes to feed pepper plants at different stages of the growing season. Such preparations are convenient because their composition is selected taking into account the needs of the vegetable crop and already contains the necessary elements in the correct dosage. The gardener can only dilute the product with water and water the plants.
After the flowers bloom, use the Bio-Master preparation. It stimulates the formation of ovaries. When the first fruits appear, Agricola-Vegeta is used to increase their quantity and improve the taste. Additionally, at the same time, nitroammophoska is used as a top dressing. The drugs are diluted according to the instructions indicated in the description on the package.
The complex preparations include phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen necessary for plants, as well as other microelements. But if necessary, such compositions are made independently:
- At the stage of active growth of root and leaf mass, pepper is fertilized with urea with the addition of phosphorus fertilizers. To do this, prepare a solution of 10 liters of water, 10 g of urea and 5 g of superphosphate. The liquid is poured under the root, 1 liter per plant.
- Next time, pepper bushes are watered with nutrients during flowering. The solution is prepared from 10 liters of water, 1 tbsp. l. potassium nitrate, 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 2 tbsp. l. urea.
- At the stage of fruit formation, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are used for peppers, avoiding nitrogen ones. The solution is prepared from 10 liters of water, 1 tbsp. l. potassium salt and the same amount of superphosphate.
When adding mineral compounds, they are guided by the condition of the soil. If the soil is fertile, 2-3 procedures are sufficient. If the content of nutrients is low, the number of treatments is increased to 4-5.
Conclusion
Pepper is undoubtedly a popular vegetable on the Russian table. It is consumed raw (adding to salads), as well as processed - stewed, pickled. Thanks to its unique taste and beneficial composition, the vegetable has won the love of gardeners.
To summarize, it should be noted that feeding a vegetable crop such as pepper has a great influence on its yield. It is important to fertilize according to the schedule and within the recommended norm, without overfeeding the soil. And remember, a plant that has been properly cared for will definitely thank you with juicy fruits.
Options for feeding peppers
Preparing the soil for planting pepper seedlings
Before deciding what to feed the pepper for growth, it doesn’t hurt to prepare the soil. Seedlings from pots are prepared for planting either in the spring, immediately before work begins, or in the fall. In the case when the bed is prepared at the end of the season, the soil is fertilized twice: once before winter, and again in spring. Moreover, if organic matter was added the first time, minerals are taken for the second time.
From organic matter, 10 kilograms of humus or compost are added per 1 m2 of garden.
From chemicals per square meter they fall asleep:
- wood ash – 1 cup;
- potassium sulfate – 1 tsp;
- superphosphate – 1 tbsp. l.
In the spring, the beds are fertilized with one thing, but according to the same rule, that is, subsequently alternating chemicals and organics. After the fertilizers are scattered, the soil is dug up, watered and covered with film. In the greenhouse the bed is left to “gain strength” for 2-3 days, and in the open air for a week and a half.
How to replace mullein and droppings
Cow manure and chicken manure are ideal fertilizers for peppers, but getting it can be problematic, especially for urban residents. They can be replaced with other organic substances containing useful components - ash, herbal or yeast infusion.
Herbal infusion
Remove weeds from the area (nettle, dandelion, plantain, wood lice) from seeds and roots, and grind into pulp. Take 6-7 kg of raw materials per 100 liters of water, add a glass of wood ash, mix well and let stand for a week. Product consumption is 1-2 liters for each bush.
Nettle is especially useful for peppers. It contains essential microelements and has an antiseptic effect - it destroys pathogenic microorganisms and fungi.
Yeast feeding
Fertilizing based on yeast has a complex effect on plantings.
To prepare the solution, place a kilogram of rye bread and 10 grams of raw yeast in a bucket of warm water. Leave the mixture in a warm place for 48 hours to ferment. You can add crushed banana peels, which contain the potassium necessary for peppers (in this case, the cooking time increases to 3-4 days). Dilute the resulting solution with water in proportions of 1 to 1 and pour a liter under each bush.
Ash fertilizer
Wood ash is another source of beneficial microelements. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 5 liters of hot water and 3 tablespoons of ash, mix and leave for 24 hours. The consumption of the working solution is 1-2 liters for each plant. Ash is especially useful for acidic soils, where pepper grows extremely poorly.
Expert opinion
Mishina Valentina Georgievna
Gardener with 20 years of experience and rich experience
Which recipe is better to choose? It is difficult to answer this question, so you will have to act experimentally. Monitor the condition of the plantings and, if necessary, add additional fertilizing.
Recipe from an expert
The author of the recipe is Oktyabrina Ganochkina, candidate of agricultural sciences and famous TV presenter. Pour a bucket of bird droppings into a 100-liter barrel, add two glasses of nitrophoska, add water, and stir. Leave for 5 days, before use, stir again and pour 1-2 liters per plant. The result is an excellent complex fertilizer that “works” no worse than purchased products.
How to determine what peppers are missing by appearance
Peppers will grow and develop successfully only if the soil contains exactly the nutrients they need and if they are balanced. A lack or excess of chemical elements can be determined by the appearance of plants. If the peppers:
- The leaves have become pale green, yellowing has appeared on them, and there are few flowers on the plants themselves, which means that they lack nitrogen. Pour mullein solution over them.
- Yellow-gray specks appeared on the leaves, and they began to curl into a tube - calcium deficiency. Stop feeding them nitrogen and potassium.
- The leaves turn yellow, wither and fall off, and the ripening fruits are too small - this means that there is a lot of calcium in the soil. Add nitrogen to the soil.
- Pale green leaves - lack of nitrogen. Water the plants with urea or mullein.
- Dark green leaves with a reddish or bluish tint indicate phosphorus deficiency. Apply superphosphate to the soil.
Do not forget to monitor your charges and be attentive to their needs, and for this they will delight you with an excellent harvest of tasty and juicy fruits.
Feeding depending on the period
The frequency of fertilizing bell peppers depends on the type of soil on the site. If the soil is fertile, fertilizers are applied less often than if the crop is grown on poor soil. In central Russia, podzolic soil with low fertile qualities predominates. In such conditions, it is advisable to apply fertilizing at least 5-6 times during the growing season.
Frequency of fertilizing bell peppers:
- The first is carried out after the formation of the third true leaf of the seedlings after sowing the seeds for seedlings. For this purpose, fertilizers with a high concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen are used.
- Second, fertilizers are applied again 11-12 days after the first feeding of seedlings, when the seedlings have 4-5 true leaves. For the second procedure, you can use organic compounds.
- The third - helps the seedlings prepare for transplantation to a permanent place. It is carried out 5-7 days before the transplant.
- Fourth, pepper seedlings are fertilized 12-14 days after planting in the beds. For successful rooting and adaptation to a new location, plants require nitrogen in combination with magnesium.
During bud formation and fruit formation, peppers require potassium, nitrogen and calcium. For feeding, you can use both organic and mineral fertilizers containing these elements.
Seedlings after picking
After picking, pepper seedlings need nitrogen and phosphorus. If the first element is necessary for young seedlings to quickly grow green mass, the second strengthens the root system and ensures its full development.
To saturate plants with these elements, it is advisable to combine pepper picking with root feeding with superphosphate. The solution for watering seedlings should have a weak concentration - no more than ½ tbsp. l. superphosphate per 5 liters of water. Additionally, you can add 1 tsp to the fertilizer. ash and ½ tsp. saltpeter.
The prepared fertilizer is used when picking pepper seedlings, as well as 10-12 days after transplanting to a permanent place.
When planting in open ground
In order for pepper seedlings to quickly take root and fully develop, you need to correctly select and prepare the soil for planting. It is also necessary to take into account the “neighborhood” in the garden bed and its predecessors.
Bell peppers cannot be placed on a site where vegetables from the nightshade family - potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants - were grown.
How to prepare a site for planting peppers:
- Loosen the area well - this will improve the supply of oxygen to the deep layers of the soil.
- To disinfect the soil, spill it with a solution of 10 liters of hot water and 1 tbsp. l. copper sulfate.
- Prepare the planting holes for the pepper seedlings by adding fertilizer to each handful. Wood ash with humus would be a good option.
- It is best to place the holes on the south side of the greenhouse or vegetable garden - this way the heat-loving plant will quickly adapt to the new place.
Hot peppers must be planted separately from bell peppers, since the crops are cross-pollinated.
As fertilizer when planting peppers in open ground, you can use rotted mullein (1 kg) with wood ash (400 g) and superphosphate (80 g) or a mixture of calcium nitrate (30 g) and superphosphate (80 g).
After 12-14 days, the stronger pepper seedlings need to be fed - this will ensure rapid growth of green mass. To do this, you can use mullein solution, nettle infusion, Nitroammofoska or urea.
For growth and harvest
For active growth and high productivity, you need to follow the feeding schedule for bell peppers and be sure to take into account exactly what mineral elements it needs at each stage of development.
- For the first feeding, which is carried out at the stage of active growth before flowering, you can use a mixture of superphosphate (5 g) and urea (10 g) per 10 liters of water.
- During the second feeding in the flowering phase, pepper requires a full range of mineral elements for high yield. A composition of urea (2 tablespoons), superphosphate and potassium nitrate (1 teaspoon each) per 10 liters of water has a good effect.
- The third feeding during the fruiting period should not contain nitrogen. At this time, it is best to use a solution of potassium salt - 1 tbsp. l. for 10 liters of water.
During active fruiting, peppers can be fed with organic fertilizer. To do this, pour 1 kg of manure, 50 grams of nitrophoska into a bucket or barrel with 10 liters of water. Leave to infuse for 7 days, then water the pepper bushes, using 1 liter of solution for each.