Planting salad peppers for seedlings in 2018 according to the lunar calendar
Planting of pepper seedlings in 2018 will begin soon. It is necessary to correctly determine the timing of its implementation, to provide the necessary care for the seedlings, to follow the technology of growing crops in a permanent place - in the open ground or in a greenhouse.
Planting salad peppers for seedlings
Sowing dates for peppers
The timing of planting pepper for seedlings in 2018 will be determined by the peculiarities of the development of culture, the influence of various natural factors on its growth and development.
Gardener's calendar
When to plant pepper seedlings in 2018? The growing season of the culture is quite long: from germination to reaching the technical ripeness of the fruits, it takes (depending on the variety) from 95 to 145 days. Biological ripeness occurs about 10-15 days later. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place at the age of 60-75 days.
Thus, if you live in the southern region and plan to plant in open ground in mid-May, then:
- sowing seeds should be carried out in late February - early March: 10 days should be added to the age of the seedlings (the average time for seed germination);
- if you plan to dive seedlings, then you need to add another 7-10 days for the adaptation period;
- planting in a greenhouse, perhaps, is supposed to be at an earlier date, then it is necessary to sow in mid or even early February.
Depending on the climatic conditions of the area, the growing season of the selected varieties or hybrids, the named dates must be corrected. It is important to remember that pepper is a thermophilic plant. Sweet (Bulgarian) and hot pepper seeds may not germinate at temperatures below 15 ° C. The optimum temperature for planting in open ground should be at least 18 ° C.
In the Moscow region, for example, this weather is set in the second half of May. For cultivation in the open field, mainly varieties of early and medium ripening periods are chosen.
Lunar sowing calendar
In addition to the calculation based on the timing of the growing season, you can focus on folk signs.
If earlier such an opinion was considered superstition, now there is a scientific explanation for the influence of the moon:
- on the full moon, the day before and after it, no landings are carried out;
- on the new moon and a few days after it, "tops" are planted - crops that are grown for fruit in the aerial part;
- the waning moon is the time for planting (sowing) root crops, because these days, the outflow of accumulated nutrients occurs to the roots.
They also pay attention to the presence of the moon in a particular sign of the zodiac. All signs are divided into fertile, conditionally fertile, sterile, etc. The most fertile are Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, Taurus. Leo, Virgo, Aquarius are considered sterile.
Sowing according to the lunar calendar
Consider when the planting of peppers for seedlings is carried out in 2018 according to the lunar calendar. Let's start with the days that are defined as unfavorable (the phases of the new moon and full moon, when it is undesirable to sow and plant plants):
- in January - 1-3, 16-18, 30 and 31;
- in February - 14-16;
- in March - 1-3, 16-18, 30 and 31;
- in April - 15-16, 29 and 30.
Planting pepper for seedlings in January 2018 is recommended on the most favorable days of the month - the 24th-25th. These days, the growing moon is in one of the most fertile signs of the zodiac - Taurus.
Planting peppers for seedlings in February 2018 will give the best result if you choose the 26th for this. On this day, the growing moon is in the sign of Taurus. Astrologers consider it to be the most fertile day of the month. You can sow seeds for seedlings on February 6-7, 11-12. The moon is waning these days, but being in the sign of Scorpio and Capricorn gives hope for good germination and rapid development of the horse system of seedlings.
In March 2018, planting peppers for seedlings should preferably be carried out from 5 to 7 (the waning moon, but in Scorpio), 20-21, 24-25 (the growing moon in Taurus, later in Cancer). In April, sowing seeds for seedlings is best on the 17, 20-22, when the night star is in the growth phase in the fertile signs of the Zodiac.
In special editions containing more detailed information about the position of the moon, they also indicate the exact time of day when it is desirable to carry out certain work. For example, from 20.30 on March 5 to 04.40 on March 7.
Features of growing seedlings
Seed and container preparation
Seeds need to be selected zoned, i.e. most suitable for the climatic conditions of a particular region. It is believed that the best yield can be obtained from seed material 2 years after harvest. For the best germination, the seeds are prepared for planting in this way:
- for disinfection, it is treated in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (20 min.);
- for pecking, they are placed in water (wet napkin) for 2-3 days;
- to stimulate growth, use special preparations (Epin, Vympel, etc.) or home remedies (for example, aloe juice);
To saturate the seeds with the necessary nutrients, wood ash is added to the germination water. Such work is not recommended to be carried out when the night star is in “barren” signs. In February it is 14-15, 27-28 (in the signs of Leo and Aquarius), in March -1-2, 13-14, 26-29, in April - 9-10, 23-26.
Containers for growing seedlings should be opaque, made of a material with low heat transfer. It is better if the walls of the tray are dense, non-creasing, so as not to damage the root system of young bushes when rearranging.
Sowing
Peppers love fertile, loose, well-aerated soil. In terms of composition, sod land is suitable in half with humus with the addition of sand. Before planting the seeds, the soil is calcined or steamed in a water bath for preventive purposes. The soil layer should be no more than 15 cm. Before sowing, the soil is watered with warm water.
We sow grains to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The distance between the holes in a row is 4 cm, between rows - 6 cm (if a pick is planned, it can be as small as possible). Planting in peat cups gives a good result. The container is covered with foil or glass and placed in a warm place (25-27 ° C) for germination.
Seedling care
Seedlings will appear in 7-10 days. Peppers love moisture, do not tolerate drying out of the soil. Watering should be moderate to maintain soil moisture levels, but be careful not to let the water stagnate or rot the roots.
Seedlings need sufficient sunlight. Therefore, trays are placed on southern windows, balconies, or illuminated with fluorescent lamps for 14-16 hours a day. The daytime temperature is maintained at 20-22 ° С, the nighttime temperature - 16-18 ° С.
The dive is carried out 2-3 weeks after germination, when the plant forms a pair of true leaves. The bush must be planted in a container that will provide a feeding area of 10x10 cm, and buried in the soil up to the cotyledonous leaves. Pots with dived plants during the adaptation period are shaded to protect from direct sunlight.
Seedlings are fed every 10 days with complex mineral fertilizers, alternating with organic ones. The first time - after the formation of the first two true sheets.
Transplanting
When 6 true leaves have formed on the bushes, they begin to prepare them for planting in a permanent place - in open ground or in a greenhouse. For this, hardening is carried out: pots with plants are taken out into the street. Choose a place protected from drafts. The first time - for an hour, the time is gradually increased. In the last days before disembarking, you can leave in the fresh air overnight.
The most favorable time for landing in a permanent place in May is 18-19, when the waxing moon is in the sign of Cancer. If it is not possible to plant on these numbers, it is recommended to choose any others when the moon is in a fertile sign, to avoid only the new moon and the days closest to it - 14-16.
The optimal placement density is 40x60 cm. Depending on the size of the bush, the distance can be reduced or increased. A well 6-8 cm deep is well filled with water. A seedling is placed in the resulting earthen slurry along with a clod of earth, you can deepen it to the first true leaf. To preserve moisture, the garden bed is mulched with straw, sawdust. For several days, sweet peppers are not watered, they give an opportunity to take root.
Conclusion
To get a good harvest in the 2018 season, it is important to know when to plant seeds and transplant seedlings to the garden bed. Everyone will make their own calendar based on their own knowledge, experience, preferences and capabilities.
Since proper care of plants is important to obtain a result, the calendar should include watering, loosening, fertilizing, and preventive measures against diseases and pests.