Growing pepper seedlings is a difficult process, but it brings a lot of pleasure. They start with the selection of high-quality seeds, prepare them in a certain way for planting. They stock up on soil, adapted containers, think over lighting. But the drawers take up all the free space in the kitchen.
Some of the inconveniences of growing seedlings are partially removed by a new method – the germination of seeds in a snail. With this method of cultivation, the seeds are, as it were, in diapers.
Advantages
The method is suitable both for gardeners with experience and for beginners to plant peppers for seedlings.
The main advantages of planting pepper seedlings in a snail are:
- compact and space-saving for growing plants. Get about 100 peppers from a snail with a diameter of 20 cm;
- control over seed germination and culling of weak plants;
- pepper seedlings do not stretch so much;
- soil moisture control. The soil is not covered with mold, and such care practically eliminates the “black leg” disease;
- simplifies picking work. The snail simply unfolds and the plants are easy to reach. In this case, the root system is practically not damaged;
- the cost of materials for growing pepper is reduced, and the possibility of their reuse.
The only possible disadvantage may be the pulling of seedlings, due to improper care. The reason may be insufficient lighting and waterlogging of the soil.
Having studied the advantages of this method, they begin to plant seedlings of pepper.
Seed preparation and planting
Before planting peppers, the seeds must first be prepared. When sorting seeds, empty ones that have a different color are selected and discarded. Then apply several tricks to increase germination.
One of them is soaking, which stimulates the germination of seeds. Seeds spread on a piece of gauze, wrapped and placed in a small container with warm water. For hardening, they are soaked in cold water, periodically replacing it.
Before planting seeds, they are soaked in water with the addition of trace elements. To do this, use wood ash, potassium permanganate. A 1% solution is prepared from wood ash and potassium permanganate and the seeds are soaked in it for about 30 minutes. The source of ultraviolet radiation is the sun’s rays or a special lamp. This method contributes to obtaining high-quality and healthy seedlings of pepper.
In order to sow pepper seeds, it is better to disinfect them. For this purpose, garlic infusion is used. 20 grams of crushed garlic is poured into 100 grams of water. In this solution, the seeds are soaked for one hour. After that, they should be washed with warm water.
The technology for arranging a snail and planting pepper in it is as follows:
- Cut off the necessary piece of false material and spread it on the work surface. The width of the stripes is 15-17 cm.
- Toilet paper is laid along the length of the strip. The paper layer is covered 1,5 cm below the top edge of the substrate. Seeds are sown at this depth for germination. Spray the paper with water.
- At a distance of up to 4 cm from the edge of the strip, pepper seeds are laid at intervals of 2 cm. When the planting material is laid, the snail is rolled up. It is important to bear in mind that peppers of different varieties have a different germination period.
- At this stage, the snail is placed in a prepared container, making sure that the seeds are in the upper part. We cover it in a film and put it in a warm place. In this way, the greenhouse effect is achieved.
- After a few days, we check the snail for seed germination. The seeds should have hatched by now. We put the snail on its side and carefully unwind it. We select not grown or weak seeds and sprouts and throw them away.
- The prepared soil mixture is laid across the width of the unwound strip. Its layer is 1,5 cm. Compact it and sprinkle it with water.
- The snail is rolled up again. It got much wider. If necessary, earth is added on top and watered abundantly. It is better to fix the roll with an elastic band, watching the compression force so as not to damage the root system of plants.
- The bottom of the container is covered with sawdust. Put a new snail in place and again cover with a film. After spitting the plants, the seedling box is placed in a well-lit place.
- With the appearance of two leaves, the film is removed. It is better to do this gradually, accustoming the seedlings to fresh air. In the snail, young plants are kept until picking.
Picking and planting plants
Picking pepper seedlings from a snail has its own characteristics. Despite the fact that the seeds are planted in the same period and under identical conditions, the seedlings may still be different. Some peppers can be healthy and strong, while others are weak and undergrown.
In this case, the snail is unwound again and large seedlings are selected. This is easy to do, as the plants are planted far from each other. Roll the snail again and put it in place.
The video shows what they pay attention to when planting pepper in a snail:
