Pepper hilling process
Pepper hilling is one of the crop care items. There are different opinions about the need for this procedure.
Pepper hilling process
Process description
Hilling is one of the methods of loosening, after which the earth is shoveled with a mound on the base of the stem. Only the top layer of the soil is plowed. For many garden plants, hilling is beneficial. This exercise has a beneficial effect on the root system. New roots are formed, as a result of which the culture becomes more resilient and receives more nutrition. Plants also have access to oxygen. During the period of heavy rains, the soil layer is not washed out.
Many people use this technique to prevent disease. It is useful to produce it before the upcoming frost or cold snap. This prevents the culture from freezing.
Benefits
The root system of pepper, like that of eggplant, is located in the upper layers of the soil - it is superficial. If you huddle plants, you can achieve the following results:
- oxygen access to the roots increases;
- the growth and development of culture is intensified;
- the biological function of microorganisms contained in the soil increases: they affect the health of vegetables, reduce the risk of developing pathologies.
When hilling, weeds are always removed, so it does not have time to harm the culture.
disadvantages
It is easy to damage the roots when hilling peppers. You have to be extremely careful not to hurt them. Also, the root system of the plant has a neck, so it does not need to develop additional roots. This manipulation contributes to the retention of moisture in the soil. Plants are threatened by decay of the roots and trunk.
When to huddle
In such a plant, adventitious root suckers are formed only on a green stem. The process takes place before the formation of cotyledon leaves, therefore it is effective to huddle during this period: the culture receives growth stimulation.
After planting seedlings, it is not worth hilling
It is not necessary to carry out this agrotechnical process after the plant stem has already become stiff. When dumping the earth, the root collar is deepened. Vegetables react negatively to loosening. The risk of damage to the root system increases. Also, it is not necessary to hilling after transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place. For about 2 weeks, the culture stops development. At this time, the roots are strengthened.
How to spud
If the choice is made in favor of this procedure, it is done with the utmost care. The sensitive root system should not be affected, otherwise the plant will die or discard ovaries and flowers.
Loosening is done with a hoe when a dry crust forms, which vegetables do not accept. Movements should be smooth. Peppers are huddled in 4 stages:
- 1-2 days after the second watering, the ground is covered to a depth of less than 6-8 cm;
- during flowering - no more than 10-12 cm;
- during the formation of ovaries - up to 14-16 cm;
- when mass fruiting begins - by 6-8 cm.
The plowing depth can be increased if the crop is grown on heavy soil. By this action, warming and airing of the soil is achieved.
When the salad peppers are piled up, the soil is slightly loosened every time it rains. During the manipulation, weeds are removed. After it, the plants are mulched with compost or straw.
Loosening the soil when hilling
The crop responds well to inter-row loosening, no matter where it is grown: in unprotected soil or in greenhouses. During the growing season, up to 5 such procedures are performed. There are certain rules that must be followed when plowing the land:
- loosening depth should be 10-12 cm during flowering;
- when the ovaries are formed - no more than 15 cm;
- during fruiting - up to 20-25 cm;
- if the distance between the rows is small, the soil is not loosened during flowering.
Such manipulations also help to cope with weeds. It is covered with a small layer of soil, under which it perishes. When growing crops in greenhouse conditions, loosening should be accompanied by ventilation.
Conclusion
Hilling has a positive effect on many crops. If peppers are easy to huddle, it promotes rapid growth and good nutrition for the plant. By combining the action with other stages of care, you can achieve high yields.