Contents
Pepper is one of those vegetables that are most often found in vegetable gardens. It may seem that growing it is not so easy. Regardless of where this vegetable crop is grown, whether it be in the open field or in a greenhouse, it needs proper care and regular feeding. Peppers grown in this way will be strong and healthy, and most importantly, they will give a very generous harvest. In this regard, the question arises – how to feed the pepper after landing in the ground? In this article, we will look at what fertilizers to use at different stages of pepper growth. We will also see how the care of peppers in the greenhouse and in the open field differs.
How is landing in the ground
Transplanting pepper seedlings into the ground begins in the last week of May. At this stage of growth, the sprout should have at least 10 leaves, and possibly a couple of flowers. At first, it is better to place the pepper under cover, especially if May turned out to be cold. You can build such a shelter with your own hands from improvised materials. For example, some install metal or wooden rods in the shape of an arc over a bed of peppers. Then they are covered with a film or other material from above. The film should not be fixed too securely so that the seedlings can be ventilated in the future.
Also, before planting, it is necessary to prepare the soil. Nitroammophosphate and compost are added to it. Then holes are made in the soil. They should be 30 cm apart and 60 cm between rows. A large amount of water is poured into the prepared pits. You can also add quite a bit of potassium permanganate to the water. We place the seedlings of peppers in the pits and fill them with soil. The soil around the seedlings must be lightly tamped.
Pepper care after disembarkation
The first top dressing is carried out 2 weeks after planting in open ground. At this stage, the pepper can be fertilized with a solution of mullein. At the end of June, the period of flowering and active growth of bushes begins. At this time, the pepper especially needs top dressing. For these purposes, ordinary wood ash is suitable. It can be immediately diluted with water and watered or sprinkled on bushes, and then watered plants. After another three weeks, it is advised to fertilize with mineral fertilizers containing potassium and calcium. After the ovaries are formed, it is necessary to cut off the underdeveloped and small fruits. Thus, the remaining peppers will grow larger and stronger.
All care for peppers after planting consists of the following steps:
- pepper seedlings need abundant and regular watering;
- peppers should not overheat in the sun;
- the soil must be loosened so that moisture freely flows to the root system of plants;
- fertilizers based on calcium and potassium will help the seedlings have a higher resistance to various diseases. Their use is mandatory;
- in order to retain moisture and nutrients in the soil, it is advisable to mulch the row-spacings;
- if the peppers are under cover, then the thickness of the film should vary depending on the weather conditions. The greenhouse or shelter must be ventilated regularly;
- pepper cannot be planted in one place for 2 years in a row.
Feeding peppers in a greenhouse
Even before planting seedlings, it is necessary to properly prepare the soil. The soil for growing pepper should be loose, moist and well warmed. Carrots and onions are good predecessors for this vegetable.
The soil in a greenhouse or greenhouse before planting peppers should be fertilized with compost or rotted manure. If you do not have such an organic fertilizer, then you can pick up similar top dressing in specialized stores.
The next subcortex is carried out only one and a half or two weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground. The third feeding is done during the period of fruit formation on the bushes. It is advisable to carry out additional fertilizing of the soil in the greenhouse. For example, if you see the need of plants for some trace elements or when the seedlings are sick. The appearance of the plants will tell you when and what it needs.
The following signs may indicate a lack of trace elements:
- If the lower leaves turn purple, then the seedlings lack phosphorus.
- Grayish and dull leaves indicate a nitrogen deficiency.
- The presence of dry leaves may mean that the pepper needs potassium.
Each of these trace elements is responsible for a specific process in the growth and development of peppers. So to achieve a good result, you can only use them all as needed. Watching the growth and appearance of seedlings, this will not be difficult to do.
You can also add organic matter. In this case, you should be careful not to overdo it. Excess organic matter can negatively affect peppers. But a moderate amount of fertilizer will never be superfluous. Pepper seedlings respond very well to carbon. To saturate the air in the greenhouse with it, you will need to install a special tank. It breaks down manure and releases carbon into the air. To do this, the tank is half filled with manure and half with water at room temperature. Such additional top dressing will give strength to seedlings and help form strong and healthy shoots.
If the seedlings develop poorly, you can help her with fertilizers. In this case, it is better not to use organic matter, especially manure, as it can burn the plants. But if it is not possible to introduce mineral complexes, then wood ash or nettle infusion can be used for feeding. For these purposes, nitrogen or phosphorus is perfect. Nitrogen has a positive effect on the growth and formation of a strong root system. Nitrogen has a good effect on the leaves and the formation of ovaries.
Top dressing of pepper depending on growth
Above, we examined the standard set of dressings for sweet bell peppers. But do not forget that the composition of the feed directly depends on the age of the seedlings. The growth process is influenced by weather conditions and soil composition. Therefore, the need for bushes in trace elements may differ. Some growth characteristics also depend on the particular variety of pepper. In cloudy weather, it is necessary to apply fertilizers, which include potassium. In such conditions, the pepper will need 20% more potassium than in warm sunny weather.
It must be remembered that the fertilizers of each of the groups act on pepper seedlings in different ways. Mineral top dressings can increase the growth rate of pepper. While organic fertilizers have a good effect directly on the fruits themselves and their quality. Thanks to organics, you can significantly increase the amount of yield. To do this, use top dressing, which includes mullein or bird droppings.
It happens that the pepper grows rapidly, a large number of leaves appear on it, but there are no flowers. In this case, the application of nitrogen as a top dressing should be stopped. It would be better to use a solution of superphosphate. A nutrient mixture can be prepared by combining the following components:
- 2 teaspoons of urea;
- 2 teaspoons of superphosphate;
- 10 liters of water.
All ingredients are thoroughly mixed. This solution is used for watering peppers as fertilization stimulants.
Pepper seedlings growing in greenhouse conditions need more micronutrients than outdoor peppers. Regular and timely top dressing will help grow strong and healthy peppers. It must be remembered that during the growing season, pepper needs the following elements:
- Nitrogen. Plays an important role in the growth and formation of fruits.
- Calcium. It is important for the growth of stems, as well as during fruit ripening.
- Phosphorus. Necessary for good fruiting.
- Potassium. Required for grafting bushes and fruit formation.
Feeding peppers in a greenhouse in spring
Growing sweet peppers in greenhouses is very common, because in most regions of the country it is very difficult to grow good peppers in the open field. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to properly care for peppers in such conditions.
Healthy seedlings at the beginning of growth must necessarily form a large number of ovaries. In the future, they will gradually fertilize and form fruits. After planting seedlings, peppers especially need top dressing with mineral fertilizers. Gardeners often use ashes to make the first feeding. It has excellent antifungal activity. It can fight the most common pepper disease – black leg.
In the early stages of growth, peppers need a lot of calcium. Without this important element, seedlings may begin to rot, and the ovaries will simply fall off. Lack of calcium can stop the growth of the plant. Burns resembling rust will appear on the leaves. If you do not make the necessary feeding in time, then the seedlings will begin to fade, and as a result, they will simply dry out. Similarly, a lack of magnesium can also affect the plant. Each of the trace elements is important in its own way, and if one is missing, the formation of fruits can be greatly delayed or not occur at all.
Feeding peppers in the summer
In summer, this vegetable needs both mineral and organic supplements. Mineral fertilizers are most often dissolved in a liquid, and then seedlings are watered with this solution. Some minerals are sprayed onto the leaves. You can also prepare combined dressings, combining organics with minerals. When preparing such mixtures, you need to be careful with the amount of certain substances. Too concentrated solution can only harm plants.
Combined feed mixtures are more suitable for outdoor pepper fertilization. In greenhouse conditions, organic matter and mineral fertilizers are usually used separately. It is important to saturate the air with nitrogen from time to time. To do this, use manure or litter, as described above. As an option, you can prepare a similar fertilizer from nettle. Such a plant can be found in any suburban area. It won’t take much of your time or effort. All that needs to be done is to collect green nettles and pour boiling water over it.
Top dressing of pepper in the open field
We figured out the cultivation of pepper in a greenhouse. Now you need to consider how to fertilize bell pepper seedlings in the open field. Seedlings require special nutrition during the flowering period. For those who prefer organic fertilizers, the following mixture is suitable:
- one kg of manure;
- half a kilogram of bird droppings;
- a bucket of water;
- two tablespoons of superphosphate.
All components must be displaced and left to brew for 5 days. Instead of superphosphate, monophosphate or potassium sulfate is also suitable. Add them to the solution should be in the amount specified in the instructions. The prepared mixture is added to water for watering seedlings of peppers. For 10 liters of water, you need one liter of solution.
Also during the flowering period it is very important to use nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. They have a positive effect on the process of fruit formation, and give the plants more strength during the fruiting period. To saturate the soil with calcium, you can use calcium nitrate. On its basis, a 0% aqueous solution is prepared. This top dressing will serve as an excellent prevention of blossom end rot.
For high yields, plants need pollination by insects. They can be attracted to your site using one simple method. From above, the plants are watered with a special solution, which is prepared on the basis of the following ingredients:
- Xnumx g of granulated sugar;
- 2 g of boric acid;
- 1 liters of plain water.
And during the period of fruiting, it is advised to bring ashes into the ground. It is simply sprinkled on the ground. For one square meter you will need two glasses of wood ash. It is not necessary to carry out all the above top dressing. For the entire growing season, it is advised to fertilize the soil at least 2 times. The first time you can feed the soil with organic matter immediately 2 weeks after planting the pepper. For this, chicken manure or manure is suitable. As a mineral top dressing, ready-made complex fertilizers can be used. They are dissolved in water according to the instructions. For each bush of pepper you will need at least 1 liter of such a solution. After another 2 weeks after the first feeding, you can proceed to the second stage. This time it is better to add fertilizers containing nitrogen to the soil. During this period, pepper needs it the most.
Disease Prevention
All vegetable crops suffer from pests and various diseases. Peppers, for example, are often susceptible to spider mite infestation. In order to start the fight against this small insect in time, it is necessary to carefully examine the plants for signs of damage. In this case, white spots appear on the leaves. The mites themselves are very small, and it will be quite difficult to notice them with the naked eye. They usually hide under the leaves. To rid the seedlings of pepper from this harmful “inhabitant”, it is necessary to spray the bushes with special means such as derisse and malathion. To prevent the appearance of spider mites, seedlings should be regularly watered.
No less rarely, this vegetable is attacked by aphids. Tobacco infusion can help in pest control. To prepare it, it will take 3 days to infuse a mixture consisting of 10 liters of water and 300 grams of tobacco. This solution should be poured over the affected peppers. The tool is often used also for prevention purposes.
Another option for pest control is dandelion infusion. For its preparation, dandelion roots or the upper parts of plants are used. The plant is added to warm water and infused for three hours. Plants are sprayed with this liquid. For the prevention of viruses, you can spray the seedlings with skim milk. Such treatment is especially necessary for sprouts in the first half of the growing season.
Top dressing during fruiting
It is possible to determine whether the bushes need feeding during fruit ripening by the appearance of the peppers themselves. If the fruits are even and strong, and ripening is fast, then the plants most likely do not require feeding. Fertilizers should be applied in order to speed up the ripening process and make it more uniform. In this case, superphosphate and potassium salt are used. Such top dressing is carried out only after the first fruits have already ripened. You can also apply organic fertilizers, such as manure or chicken manure. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizers or solutions with urea are suitable as mineral supplements.
Top dressing during the growth retardation of peppers
If pepper is in your area begins to wilt or lose leaves, this can only mean one thing, that the bushes lack certain trace elements. Also, in rare cases, an excess amount of minerals can be the cause. In such a situation, it is necessary to carry out root and foliar top dressing of peppers. To determine what is missing seedlings, the appearance of peppers will help. Matte gray leaves may indicate a lack of nitrogen in the soil. In this case, the sprouts are sprayed with a solution of urea. If ovaries fall from the bushes, then the seedlings will need spraying with boric acid. Poor fruit development means that the plants I have enough phosphates. Also, the cause may be an excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizers. To eliminate the problem, it is advised to spray with a solution of superphosphate, and the amount of fertilizer containing nitrogen will have to be reduced.
Fundamental rules
When feeding pepper after planting in the ground, you need to remember a number of the most important rules:
- Planted seedlings should not be fed with a large amount of organic fertilizers.
- The bulk of mineral fertilizers are applied in the fall before plowing the soil. The next dressing is done before planting pepper. Next, we feed the plants several times during the entire growing season.
- Nitrogen is introduced into the soil during the formation of ovaries. It has a positive effect on the formation of fruits. But an excess of this mineral can lead to the opposite process, and peppers will ripen much later. It can also threaten to reduce resistance to diseases.
- Phosphorus in sufficient quantity significantly increases the rate of fruit ripening. In addition, it makes the roots stronger and more resistant to external factors. With a lack of phosphorus in the soil, pepper leaves turn purple.
- Potassium has a positive effect on the appearance of the fruit. Peppers become brighter and more colorful. The lack of this element is expressed by the fact that the edges of the leaves acquire a reddish tint.
- Magnesium deficiency is manifested by the fact that young leaves begin to curl and turn yellow.
- Before starting top dressing, it is necessary to conduct a special analysis of the soil in order to accurately determine which substances the seedlings need.
Conclusion
Planting pepper seedlings in a greenhouse or open ground is just the beginning of growing this vegetable crop. To get a rich harvest of these tasty fruits, it is necessary to enrich the soil with various organic and mineral fertilizers. Without such procedures, you can only count on small and not very beautiful peppers. But with a little effort, you can expect great results.