Time to sow your own peppers. A step by step manual

Mid-February is the best time to sow peppers. So, if you haven’t started yet, you should do so as soon as possible because that is the only way you can to grow beautiful peppers early. In the following lines, we shall focus how you should proceed – step by step. We will also describe the sowing process in detail and, of course and we show you some pictures.

You should plan ahead

Here are few things you should consider:

• do not sow too early,
• choose the right substrate,
• protect plants against fungal diseases,
• give your seedlings enough space,
• maintain the required temperature.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

When is the right sowing time?

The date of sowing is basically set. Mid-February is ideal for peppers that you want to transplant into a unheated greenhouse.If you plan to use a heated greenhouse you should sow already in mid-January, and peppers that you want to grow outdoors are usually sown at the end of March. One week before or a week after is still ok. Nothing terrible will happen of course.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Use high-quality substrate

The substrate for sowing should have a rather low nutrient content and pH adjusted for sowing. The soil pH should be between 6 and 8. Watch out for more acidic soils and mixtures that contain fertilizers. An excellent choice is moistened agroperlite.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Sufficient humidity and temperature

The substrate should be sufficiently moist, and the temperature should be around 26 to 30 degrees Celsius during the day and between 20 and 22 degrees at night. After the first embryonic leaves appear maintain the temperature between 20 and 22 degrees, or between 14 and 16 degrees. When ready, transplant seedlings into the substrate to give them enough nutrients.

Required space

Seedlings need sufficient space to develop properly. One plant should have 40-60 cm2 and the planting pattern should be 8×5 to 8×8 cm.

Preview photo: Radek Štěpán