More and more garden owners are becoming enthusiastic about peppers, chili and hot peppers. A large selection of varieties and the variety of flavors from sweet to spicy arouse the desire for the home-made brand. If you want to grow and propagate peppers yourself, you need patience. Therefore, start growing peppers at the right time.
When and how do you start growing peppers?
Start growing peppers on the windowsill or in the greenhouse at the beginning of March by sowing the seeds. After 2-3 weeks of germination and with sufficient light, temperature and humidity, remove the cover and keep the substrate moist. Plant the plants outdoors after the last night frosts.
Prepare pepper cultivation well and get it off to a perfect start
When the time is right, growing peppers offers several advantages. The plants produce flowers earlier and produce ready-to-harvest pods more quickly. In addition, the peppers on the windowsill are protected from wind, weather and snail attacks.
Sow the seeds from the beginning of March and start growing them on the windowsill or in the greenhouse. If you want to sow earlier, you can start in January. However, the plants need a plant light after germination due to the lack of daylight (€79.00 on Amazon).
The germination time depends on the quality of the pepper seeds and external conditions such as light, temperature and humidity. 2 to 3 weeks later, when the first cotyledons sprout, remove the cover. Now it is important to keep the substrate moist during cultivation without causing waterlogging. Because both waterlogging and drought are fatal for the tender young peppers. After the last night frosts, you can carefully acclimate the peppers in the garden to the outdoor temperatures. To do this, select the optimal location with sufficient planting distance in good time.
Space requirements, soil and watering during cultivation
When the plants have formed the second pair of leaves, they should be pricked out for cultivation. The pH value of normal potting soil is usually 5.5 to 6. This is too low for peppers. Therefore, mix in some primary rock powder and loamy garden soil. This raises the pH value slightly. Use lukewarm rainwater for watering and let the pot ball dry again and again.
Pepper cultivation in summer
From mid to late May is the right time to bring the plants outdoors. But beware! Do not leave the peppers in direct sunlight. The delicate leaves have to get used to the sun slowly, otherwise there is a risk of sunburn. After hardening, place peppers in a sunny and wind-protected place.
Tips & Tricks
Sort out pupils who are weak or deformed during the breeding phase. They are not suitable for cultivation. Place powerful young plants outdoors for a few hours longer each day to harden off.
