When to plant peppers?

Sweet pepper is a rather capricious culture for the climatic conditions of the Russian Federation. Success is not least determined by the answer to the question of when to plant peppers in a greenhouse or outdoors.

Bell peppers should be planted on seedlings, taking into account the variety and ripening period. This crop has a long growing season. If you miss the deadline, the harvest simply will not have time to reach the stage of removable ripeness. Pepper seeds are also tightly similar: they can germinate in 2-4 weeks. Therefore, by the time indicated on the seed bag, you need to add not 1 week, as for tomatoes, but almost a month. At the same time, it is impossible to re-grow seedlings - early set fruits in conditions of a lack of light deplete the plant.

It is easier to decide on a landing in open ground. Experienced gardeners are guided by the local climate and long-term weather forecast. Peppers are very thermophilic, for growth they need a temperature of at least + 20 ... 23 ° C, without hesitation and jumps.

All factors affecting the timing:

• region;
• grade;
• growing method.

On average, pepper seeds in the Russian Federation are sown from February 15 to March 10. In the southern regions - at the beginning of February. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place in open ground no earlier than mid-May, in most regions - only at the beginning of June. Under film shelters, you can plant 2 weeks earlier.

At the time of disembarkation, the air temperature must be at least + 15 ° C. Below are the average recommendations for the regions of the Russian Federation. But you should focus on the climate in a specific area and even on a specific site. Dry, well-lit areas in higher elevations can be several degrees warmer than a neighbor's garden in a lower area.

Dates for planting pepper in open ground.

• South of Russia (Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region, Stavropol Territory) - from April 15.
• South of the middle zone (at the latitude of Saratov) - May 5-31.
• Central Russia, Moscow region, Moscow region (north in the middle lane) - from May 27 to June 15.
• North-west (in the Leningrad region) - from June, but in this region it is better not to grow peppers in unprotected soil. The average temperature even in the warmest month - July - is + 17 ... 18 ° C, and very sharp jumps are possible.
• In the Urals and Siberia - June 1-20. These are also very difficult regions for peppers. Plants will need periodic shelter, or a choice of the most unpretentious, hardy varieties is necessary.

All sweet pepper varieties are divided into several groups.

• Very early ("Lamuyo", "Trio", "Claudio", "Gypsy", "Pompeo", "Khalif", "Husky") - 90-100 days pass from germination to removable ripeness of fruits.
• Early ("Yellow Fence", "Red Fence", "Aelita", "California Miracle", "Grill Bomb", "English Boot", "Quinta", "Fio-Summer", "Chunga-Changa") - 101- 120 days.
• Medium early (Danelia, Alkmaar, Orange Lamuyo, Tequila, Funtik, Eroshka, D'Artagnan, Chocolate Round Dance) - 121-135 days.
• Late (Ingrid, Cornet, Grandee) - 136-150 days.
• Very late ("Swat") - over 150 days.

Since the early maturity of peppers is very much in demand, stores can describe them as early ripening, frankly late varieties. The ripening period is indicated not from seedlings, but from the moment of planting in the ground. And also technical and biological ripeness should be distinguished. The latter comes 10 days later.But for some varieties, this period can be very long. For example, the Swat variety ripens completely (biologically) after 150 days from the moment of sowing, but it can be removed for 120 days, but the Ingrid variety is best kept on the bush until the very end.

Seed germination can be stimulated by pre-soaking, preferably in growth stimulants ("Epin", "Zircon"), sometimes soaked in aloe juice and potassium permanganate. Ordinary vodka is also used - it disinfects seeds and promotes faster opening of the protective shell. However, the seeds can be kept in an alcoholic solution for no more than 30 minutes.

For friendly seedlings, crops need to organize the optimum air and soil temperature - + 25 ... 27 ° С. The soil is often neglected, so germination is delayed. But bottom heating works wonders. You can postpone planting seeds for seedlings and planting plants in the ground for a maximum of 1 week. Any delay will lead to the fact that the crop will not even have time to reach technical ripeness. All work will be in vain.

Sometimes for those who missed the deadline, recommend a rather extreme method of accelerating seed germination - processing the soil for planting with boiling water. The earth is well tamped, spilled with boiling water, and dry seeds are immediately planted in moist hot soil at 0.5 cm depth. Cover with black foil, put in a warm place. Processing, indeed, can spur the development of plants, they will germinate after 3 days, sometimes after a week, bloom in early May, the harvest can already be harvested in early July. The method is good for inexpensive or home-harvested seeds.

If planting peppers for the first time, it is better to choose dwarf or compact varieties. They can be used as a container culture, do without transplanting, and at the same time track the entire cycle of plant development in their own conditions.

Seedlings of peppers are planted in a permanent place in the following terms (taking into account the germination of seeds for 7-14 days).

• In winter greenhouses with heating, at the age of 60 days (sowing December 1-10) - in mid-February.
• In spring greenhouses with heating, at the age of 60 days (sowing - February) - in mid-April.
• In spring greenhouses without heating, under a film, under a covering material, in any greenhouse, at the age of 50-55 days (sowing in early March) - in mid-May.
• In open ground, at the age of 45-50 days (sowing late March - early April) - after the last spring frosts, 1st decade of June or later.

It is also important to assess the temperature of the soil outdoors. It should warm up to no lower than + 15 ° C. You can get an approximate value using a conventional outdoor thermometer. The measuring device is added dropwise at the landing site, held for 10 minutes. The displayed temperature will be several degrees higher than the real one. More accurately, you can measure the temperature of the soil using a thermometer with a probe.

Pepper is a crop with an active ground part, large, juicy fruits. It is planted on the days of the waxing moon. Favorable landing days in 2022:

• in March - 14-17;
• in April - 3-15;
• in May - 1-15 days;
• in June - 1-13.

On a full moon, plants are not planted. This is the peak of the moon's attraction. All plant juices are at their highest point. Saplings do not take root well, wounds are perceived more painfully. Full moons in 2022: March 18, April 16, May 16.

The days of new moons are also unfavorable. This is the most depressive period. Nature freezes and dies down. If during the full moon some garden work is still possible, for example, collecting raw materials for medicinal plants, then on the new moon it is better to abandon garden work altogether. The peppers planted at this time will be weak, passive. New moons in 2022: March 2, April 30, May 30.

Relatively good dates might be the days of a waxing moon in a suitable sign.

• Taurus is one of the three most fertile signs. Peppers planted on these dates have a strong root system, they are stocky, powerful, hardy, and the harvest is abundant. However, you should not plant on seeds these days, and it makes sense to bypass the varieties of peppers that are prone to disease. The seeds will sprout longer, but they will delight you with friendly shoots. Moon in Taurus in 2022: March 6-9, April 3-4, 30, May 1, 2, May 27-29, June 24, 25.
• Cancer is the most productive sign. Low-growing peppers will be delighted. Strong stems, strong plants, excellent taste and juiciness, bountiful harvest. Cons: the harvest will not be the most maturing, and the period will not be suitable if you need to collect seeds from the plants. Dates: March 11-13, April 8-9, May 5-7, June 1-3, 29, 30.
• Pisces is a very productive sign, one of the top three. The harvest will not be too soft, but very plentiful and tasty. The peppers will have a short, powerful stem, cluster fruits, and a strong root system. Days: March 30-31, April 26, 27, May 23, 24, June 19, 20.
• Scorpio is a very fertile sign. Plants are active, instantly growing strong, powerful roots. They resist disease well. The sign is loved by all nightshades: peppers, eggplants, tomatoes. Dates: March 21-24, April 17-18, May 15, 16, June 11, 12.
• Libra is a medium fertile sign, but very suitable for those who want to get not so much quantity as quality. The fruit will be tasty, perfectly calibrated, beautiful, thick-walled and brightly colored. The sign favors transplantation, the plants take root quickly. Dates in spring 2022: March 19, 20, April 15, May 12-14, June 9, 10.
• Gemini is an infertile sign, dryish, but pepper, as a representative of hot countries, loves him. Days: March 9-10, April 5-7, May 3, 4, 30, 31, June 26-28.
• Pepper has the same relationship with Sagittarius. This sign is generally considered unfavorable for plant transplantation, but the peppers perceive it well: March 23, 24, April 19, 20, May 17, 18, June 13, 14.

Gemini and Sagittarius are good for plants that stretch upward. Both signs give good speed, the plants will bloom quickly. On these dates, it is best to plant peppers for the purpose of harvesting seeds rather than for crops.

Aries and Leo may also be good for peppers.but both of these signs are difficult for plants, these days it only makes sense to choose if there is no other choice. This is 4, 5 March, 1, 2, 10-12, 28, 29 April, 8, 9, 25, 26 May, 4, 5, 21, 23 June.