Hot peppers are a very widespread crop both in pots and in the garden, there are several varieties different in shape, color and degree of itching . To obtain good results in culture, it is very important to choose the right time to sow : If the pepper does not find enough summer heat, it may not be able to ripen.
Some of the hottest varieties are accustomed to tropical temperatures, requiring lots of sun and several hot days. To grow them, it is best to use a heated seedbed, to anticipate growth in relation to what the Italian climate would allow.
The decision of when to plant therefore depends on the characteristics of the type of pepper we want to grow, the climate of our region and the way in which we want to establish the crop. Using a grow box that allows seedlings to grow inside, for example, allows planting even in the middle of winter.
Contents [Ocultar]
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planting period
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How to plant peppers
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Seeds and the Moon
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Sowing and growing indoors
Contents
planting period
The chilli sowing period is included between January and April To be more specific, you need to know the variety you want to plant. Chilli is a typical southern crop: in Italy, the Calabrians are famous, but there are many varieties from other continents, for example, from Latin America. They are therefore plants accustomed to other latitudes, adapted to climates closer to the equator, in particular the capsicum chinense, like the habanero pepper.
For this reason, planting in April in many cases is not a good idea: some varieties take a long time to mature and require a lot of sun, starting in late spring means that winter could arrive before the fruits are ready to be harvested.
On the other hand, if you choose to plant in January or February, you will not be able to transplant until the temperatures are constantly above 15 degrees, even at night, so you must have a grow box in which to store the seedling, which will remain in pots for a few months.
How to plant peppers
You can buy chilli seeds, but without too much difficulty you can also decide to save them from the chilli harvested the previous year, in this regard I recommend the guide on how to save seeds.
The sowing of pepper is simple and resembles that of sweet pepper : start by filling a few jars or honeycomb containers with suitable soil, possibly mixing in a little earthworm humus, useful for allowing the young shoot to take root as well as possible. In the ground, the seed should be placed, which should not be buried more than a centimeter deep. At this stage, all that remains is to wait, taking care not to let the earth in the jar dry out: it will have to be watered gently every day. The temperature that allows germination is around 20 degrees, we generally recommend 18 degrees at night and 23/25 degrees during the day.
As an alternative to pots of potting soil, you can also choose to sow using the Scottex method, which has the advantage of exposing the seeds and therefore seeing the germ emerge. Seed germination usually takes 7-15 days. Some peppers have seeds that are a little more difficult to germinate, due to the very rigid seed coat that surrounds them. In this case, a bath in hot chamomile tea can help. After successfully sowing, you can start growing chilli, you will find useful tips in the chilli growing guide, to produce healthy vegetables, you must use only natural methods and follow the indications of organic farming .