Useful tips for growing bell peppers
Content:
Despite the whimsical nature of this culture, many summer residents set themselves the goal of necessarily planting peppers in the garden and vegetable garden, and then collecting the harvest from healthy, juicy fruits of sweet pepper. Where does this passion and desire come from?
Useful in all respects, rich in vitamins, aromatic and tasty, this southern vegetable was surprisingly able to take root even in the northern regions, where the greenhouse method is actively used for its cultivation. Sweet peppers in the garden and vegetable garden in our time have become almost a traditional culture, even if not everyone is able to cope with his whims.
Pepper varieties for planting in the garden
First of all, just before planting and growing peppers in the garden and vegetable garden, you should decide on the desired variety. An experienced and self-respecting summer resident will not plant "anything". In addition, the choice depends directly not only on taste preferences, but also on the subsequent purpose of the vegetable - do you want to eat it fresh or, say, can it be harvested? If they are aimed at the latter, then the varieties of the series are perfect here: "Ermak", "Victoria", "Merchant", but for consumption without any processing, one can note such as "Gift of Moldova", "Lemon Miracle", "Golden Mane a lion".
Bell pepper in the garden: planting
The process of planting bell peppers in the garden should be treated with special attention, because deviation from the rules can lead to failure in growing and harvesting.
You can either buy pepper seeds for planting in the garden or vegetable garden, or collect them yourself, but do not forget about the obligatory processing before planting: the seeds must first be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate, dried and soaked in warm water heated at about 40 degrees to accelerate germination. You should not overexpose - as a rule, the first seedlings manifest themselves after 3-5 days. If the seeds were purchased in a store, then often no additional operations and processing are required before planting.
The most favorable period for sowing bell pepper seeds in the garden and vegetable garden is the end of February - early March. In a greenhouse or greenhouse, seedlings are planted in mid-May, but the final planting in open ground is carried out in the summer. The first harvest is expected in the first half of August and continues until frost. The approximate germination time of seeds under favorable conditions varies from 50 to 60 days.
The choice of suitable soil for planting is very important. It is imperative that it be drained, structural, and contain organic matter (humus). Plants should not be planted too close to each other, the optimal distance is 30-40 cm.
Growing bell pepper in the garden and the nuances of care
Bell peppers require careful attention as they grow and mature if you want to get a decent harvest. Timely watering, feeding, garters, weeding is the key to success in growing. It is desirable that the landing site be protected from the wind.
It should be noted that there are several effective dressings for the plant - nettle tincture, mullein, bird droppings, which have a high magnesium content. It is often not worth feeding, the best option is 2 times per season.
As for protection against insect pests when growing peppers in the garden, here it is necessary to spray the bush with ash about 3 times per season.
Do not forget about loosening the earth in order to avoid drying out the plant and the death of the fruit.
Pepper in the garden: diseases and pests
Like any culture, bell pepper has managed to acquire its own “enemies” and ailments.
Fungal leg - a disease related to fungal infections appears at the stage of sweet pepper seedlings. The main sign and symptom is the blackening of the stem, which is where the telling name came from. Infection can be caused by lack of air, waterlogged soil, temperature failure and contamination in the soil. The treatment and salvation of seedlings in this case is disinfection with a solution of potassium permanganate, loosening the soil, dusting the seedlings with a mixture of copper sulfate and wood ash.
Gray rot - a disease also caused by a fungal infection and characterized by the appearance of wet brown spots in the lower part of the stem. At high air temperatures, it progresses quite rapidly, requires immediate treatment by destroying the affected fruits and plant parts, normalizing the temperature regime, microclimate. Treatment of the plant with a fungicide is encouraged.
Whitefly - small size greenhouse insect pest (about 3-5 mm). It perfectly disguises itself, covering itself on the inside of the leaves, which it harms with its own secretions, as a breeding ground for the reproduction of destructive fungal infections. The color of the leaves begins to give off yellowness, then there is a sharp blackening and dying off. In the fight against the pest, a stable temperature regime, disinfection of the greenhouse with sulfur checkers, bait of bright colors (blue, yellow) will help to attract pests to one place.
One way or another, having gone the hard way from seeds to ripe and ripe fruit, the effort expended is more than compensated for by the rich harvest of this amazing vegetable, suitable for various ways of eating, preparing dishes and snacks. Sweet peppers can be the pride of your garden!