How to Grow a Good Pepper Crop: Tips on Soil Preparation and Planting Seedlings

In order to get a good harvest of peppers, you need to not only grow the seedlings correctly, but also prepare the soil for planting them.

Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, reminded us what you should not fertilize potatoes with.

Today you will learn what to put in the hole when planting peppers to provide them with optimal conditions for growth and development.

Preliminary soil preparation for planting pepper seedlings

Pepper loves fertile, loose and moderately moist soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.

Therefore, before planting pepper seedlings, it is necessary to carry out preliminary soil preparation: dig it to a depth of 25-30 cm, removing weeds and stones; add organic fertilizers (compost, humus, peat) in the amount of 5-10 kg per 1 sq. m; add mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium salt, ammonium nitrate) in the amount of 30-40 g per 1 sq. m; lime the soil if necessary (with increased acidity) at the rate of 200-300 g per 1 sq. m.

What to put in the hole when planting pepper seedlings

When planting pepper seedlings directly, add the following to each hole:

• 1-2 tablespoons of wood ash or 1 teaspoon of crushed eggshells. These fertilizers contain calcium, which is necessary for the formation of a strong stem and healthy fruits, as well as magnesium, which improves flowering and fruiting;

• 10-12 g of complex prolonged fertilizer OMU or AVA (according to the instructions). These fertilizers provide the plant with all the necessary macro- and microelements throughout the growing season;

• half a glass of water with the addition of 1 teaspoon of honey or sugar. This promotes rapid rooting of seedlings and stimulates their growth.

Caring for pepper seedlings after planting

After planting the pepper seedlings, you need to water them well with warm water and, if necessary, cover them with agrofibre or film to protect them from cold and wind.

It is also advisable to mulch the soil with peat or straw to retain moisture and prevent crust formation.

Conclusion

Pepper is a tasty and healthy vegetable that can be grown on your plot if you follow the rules of planting and care.

The main thing is to prepare the soil, add the necessary fertilizers to the hole and provide the seedlings with comfortable conditions. Then you will be able to enjoy your pepper harvest and please your loved ones.

Previously, we talked about what exotic crops can be grown in the middle zone .