How to save frozen peppers
Often, after planting seedlings, repeated frosts return. If you do not protect the seedlings, they will suffer. Many damaged plants are thrown away. But there is no need to resort to radical methods. When the pepper is frozen, you should try to save it. There are several effective and versatile ways to revive culture.
Rescuing Frozen Pepper
Spraying with cold water
One of the simplest and most affordable methods. Its essence lies in the fact that plants will thaw slowly, since at sub-zero temperatures, the water in the cells turns into ice. During self-thawing, the process is faster and not always correct. When the sun hits the frozen pepper, the ice in the cages does not have time to thaw. They are torn apart from the inside.
Plants are sprayed with water. In order not to harm them even more, the liquid must be necessarily cold. Otherwise, the culture can no longer be saved. The procedure is performed before sunrise. If you miss this moment, there will be no effect from the processing. For spraying, an irrigation hose is used, on which a fine spray is installed. For this purpose, a spray bottle is also used. The next step is shading the plants. For protection from sunlight, take thick paper, cardboard or other items that are at hand.
Spraying with special preparations
There are many products that have anti-stress properties. The more popular one is Epin-extra. Treatment of plants with the drug is allowed to achieve the following results:
- mobilization of internal resources of pepper;
- stimulation of the natural physical processes of seedlings;
- the development of sprouts resistance to unfavorable weather conditions, they will become less sensitive to temperature jumps.
To prepare the product, take chilled boiled water. You do not need to boil it, but then you should acidify it, because tap water is alkaline. And Epin in such an environment loses its qualities. For this purpose, you can add 5 ml of vinegar or a little citric acid to it. 1 ampoule (0.25 g) of the substance will require 5 liters of liquid.
When to process
Frozen plants need to be fed
Plants are treated in the early morning or evening, since the active substance of the drug quickly evaporates in the sun. It is desirable that the weather is dry, as the product is absorbed by plants for 2-3 days. Spray all parts of the frozen pepper, paying attention to the leaves from the inside. The treatment is repeated after 7-10 days until the sprouts are fully restored.
Analogs
Instead of Epin, you can use another well-known drug called Zircon. This is an effective remedy that will help save plants that are frozen even at temperatures down to -8˚С. The solution is prepared as follows: 1 mg of the substance per 10 liters of water. Spraying rules are the same as for Epin. Processed at least 4 times every 7 days.
If there is an opportunity to purchase more preparations Zdorovy Sad and Ecoberin (sold in the Natural Farming Centers), then they can be combined with HB-101 and Epin. The mixture will help to quickly restore frozen pepper seedlings and stimulate their growth. Some gardeners, after processing, place the plants under cardboard boxes.
Fertilization
Feeding is one of the ways to resuscitate frost-damaged plants.
For this purpose, complex preparations are used. Agricola-Forward can be used as an example. Such a fertilizer contains three essential components in a form accessible to peppers: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. Their proportions are appropriate for the culture. It also contains many macro- and microelements. Consumption of complex preparations - 10 g per 1 sq. m.
If the pepper is frozen, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are often applied. 4 and 5 g, respectively. Top dressing helps to enhance plant growth. But you need to carefully monitor the amount of substances introduced. It is better to add minerals in small doses, because with an excess of them, the situation can worsen.
Prevention measures
In order for the pepper not to freeze, you must follow the recommendations:
- do not rush to plant seedlings at a permanent place, because the May nights are still cold and there is a threat of repeated frosts;
- if the planting is complete, and the temperature is dropping, it is worth covering the bed with plastic wrap.
Conclusion
If you could not avoid troubles and the peppers froze, you need to take measures to reanimate them. Often carrying out various manipulations gives an effect and the plants come to life. The main thing is to do them until complete recovery comes. The culture also has the property of natural regeneration. Peppers shoot side shoots and leaves from the stem. When freezing, they are not removed, if the frost was not on the ground. To return them to their previous state, it is necessary to provide the sprouts with additional care.