Pepper lovers know the benefits of growing peppers in a greenhouse. Enough space for growing and growing in spring. In summer it is often harvest time four weeks earlier. And frost-sensitive plants find their perfect winter quarters under glass.
How to grow peppers in a greenhouse?
To successfully grow peppers in the greenhouse, choose a partially shaded to sunny location with loose, nutrient-rich soil. Maintain the plants at a temperature of 22-28° degrees, a humidity of 65-70% and water regularly. Pollinate the flowers artificially if necessary.
The optimal greenhouse size for peppers
In general: the right greenhouse size depends on the use. A small, inexpensive greenhouse is suitable for hobby gardeners who prefer only a few ornamental plants and a few vegetables or who want to grow them in a weatherproof manner. On the other hand, if you want to regularly supply a family of several people with fresh tomatoes and peppers, you should calculate with 7 to 15 square meters of usable space. Large potted plants that need to overwinter frost-free take up the most space.
Location and climate for a greenhouse with peppers
- partly shaded to sunny, warm and protected from the wind
- nutrient-rich, loose soil
- Soil with pH value 6.0 to 6.5
- no waterlogging
- Humidity 65 to 70%
- Temperature 22° to 28° degrees
Proper care for peppers in the greenhouse
At temperatures above 20° degrees, you can start sowing peppers from mid-February to March. Please note that you do not plant the plants deeper than in the growing container. Otherwise they easily become ill with a typical pepper disease, stem rot. After planting, do not water too much until flowering otherwise the flowers will be shed. Due to their small root mass, peppers have to be watered regularly, often but not too much.
The first young plants can be planted in the unheated greenhouse from the beginning/mid of May at temperatures over 15° degrees. Ideally, she has already set the first flower buds. Removing the royal flower encourages side shoot growth and increased fruit production. If you want to prune your peppers, you should stabilize and tie them with a bamboo stick. Because peppers with 2 shoots grow up to 1.5 meters high in the greenhouse.
Peppers do not tolerate mineral fertilizers. If you are a heavy feeder, you should fertilize them every 2 weeks in the greenhouse. The first peppers can be harvested from the end of July. A greenhouse with good ventilation ensures that the plants do not overheat in summer.
Pollination of peppers in the greenhouse
Not enough flowers or peppers in the greenhouse? If no bees come into the greenhouse, the flowers are pollinated artificially. To do this, simply shake the plants to distribute the pollen. Or carefully open the flowers with tweezers (€9.00 on Amazon) and use a fine brush to transfer the pollen from a pistil to the pistil of a plant of the same variety. For later seed collection, mark already pollinated flowers with a thread.
Tips & Tricks
To make peppers grow bushier and produce more fruit, pinch out the terminal bud (middle bud) or flower at the top of the plant shortly after planting. It is not necessary to pinch out the side shoots in the leaf axils.
