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Why pepper seedlings grow poorly, what to do
Pepper is a frequent visitor to vegetable gardens. It is planted by many summer residents, but not all of them can boast of a rich harvest. To avoid a garden fiasco, you should figure out why pepper grows poorly, how to care for seedlings and choose seeds to prevent this.
What to do if pepper seedlings grow poorly?
Why does pepper grow poorly?
Slow plant growth, lack of ovaries, sluggish seedlings and other problems are most often associated with one of the following reasons:
- wrong choice of seeds: when purchasing seeds, check germination. A healthy and strong plant will not grow from low-quality material;
- temperature regime – peppers are demanding on the weather and thermophilic. For their active growth, a temperature of at least 20 degrees is needed. Shoots in open ground must be protected from direct sunlight: they can lead to drying out of the shoots;
- overfeeding – many summer residents, seeing that salad peppers grow poorly, are too addicted to fertilizers. Overfeeding slows down the development of the plant even more, especially if there is an excess of nitrogen substances and a lack of potassium and phosphorus;
- Incorrect planting dates: If you plant the peppers in the open ground too early, ovaries will take longer to form. As a result, you will get a late harvest;
- soil problems – if your pepper seedlings are not growing well, you may have planted the seeds too deep. Check the soil: it should be soft and loose.
Choose fresh soil for planting peppers, on which no other vegetables or flowers have previously grown. Watch the temperature regime, avoid drafts or strong heat.
What to do if pepper seedlings grow poorly
If the vegetable grows too slowly, analyze the cause of the problem. When you eliminate all provoking factors, the situation will improve by itself.
Gardeners give the following tips on what to do if pepper grows poorly:
- provide sufficient temperature (23-25 degrees);
- in extreme heat, open the greenhouse doors;
- protect the plant from direct sunlight and drafts;
- do not rush to transplant seedlings into open ground;
- harden the seedlings before planting by exposing them to fresh air;
- apply fertilizers in two stages: after the appearance of the second leaf and before planting in the summer cottage.
Peppers are demanding on moisture, so water them daily with 2-3 liters of water. Morning watering is especially beneficial. Pour the liquid under the root, being careful not to touch the stems and leaves. Bring the water to room temperature beforehand.
Peppers need good lighting. If they don’t get enough of it, then they begin to reach up. This negatively affects the health of the plant and its yield.
For the first feeding, gardeners recommend using slurry diluted in water. A second time, use chicken manure to which you can add superphosphates.
Often the cause of lethargy and death of shoots is a bacterial disease. What to do if pepper seedlings grow poorly in this case? Remove plants from other plantings: otherwise, the “neighbors” in the area may become infected. It is almost impossible to save sick seedlings.
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