Bright, fragrant, juicy and insanely delicious, Bulgarian pepper came to Europe in the distant 15th century and since then has firmly won the hearts of millions. It is marinated and canned, stewed and stuffed with various fillings, added to salads and simply eaten raw. The species of this remarkable plant is about 2000, and although it is rather capricious, it is successfully grown not only in greenhouse conditions, but also in the open ground. It is about the cultivation of pepper in the open ground and will be discussed in our article.
Pepper for open ground - which one to choose?
So, it's decided - we grow pepper in the open ground. But which grade is better for this than others? Of course, for planting in the open ground it is better to choose pepper of early ripening varieties, so that it will be guaranteed to ripen. In addition, the choice of variety depends on the purpose of future fruit. If the pepper is grown on salads, then it is worth giving preference to varieties of large-bodied and thick-walled: Winnie the Pooh, Californian Miracle, Gift of Moldova, Gladiator, Litsedey. For canning, small-fruited varieties are more suitable: Victoria, Ermak, Kupets, Kornet, Zaznayka.
Planting pepper in the open ground
After identifying with the variety, we begin to prepare the beds. For peppers it is necessary to choose a site with a fertile ground, protected from the wind. Ground for pepper should be prepared in advance: fertilize it with organic fertilizers for a year before planting at the rate of 5 kg per square meter. In autumn, before digging a garden bed, we put in it 50 g of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Immediately before planting pepper seedlings, decontaminate the soil with a solution of copper sulfate (one spoonful of vitriol per bucket of water). After the bed has passed all the processing stages, put the pepper in the ground. Even in the warmest southern regions, pepper is planted in the soil in the form of seedlings, and not sown with seeds. Seeds for seedlings are sown in mid-March in small cups, and seedlings are planted in the soil usually at the end of May. The distance between the bushes of seedlings is maintained at 40-50 cm, and the aisles are left at least 50 cm. When planting different varieties of peppers it is important to remember that it is very easy to over-spray. That is why different varieties should be planted at maximum distance from each other.
Growing pepper in the open ground
Caring for peppers includes weeding, gartering, top dressing and timely watering.
- The first time pepper is fed, when on its seedlings will appear 1-2 real leaves. It is done this way: in one liter of water 3 grams of superphosphate , 1 gram of potassium fertilizers and 0.5 grams of ammonium nitrate are mixed. After 14 days, pepper is fed secondarily, doubling the dose of mineral fertilizers.
- Pepper needs timely abundant watering. And water it preferably warm and well-maintained water. Watering with cold water will cause the pepper to slow its growth, and flowering and fruit formation will be postponed. Before the pepper starts to bloom,
water it once a week. After the appearance of flowers, pepper is watered 2 times a week, not allowing both overdrying and excessive soil moisture. - In order for the pepper bush to be neat and lush, you need to remove the top from its main stem. This is done when the plant grows to 20-25 cm. After that, the bush immediately starts branching. The next stage will be the removal of excess lateral shoots - pasynkovanie. Here, too, has its own characteristics. Passing pasynkovanie only in hot and humid summer. If the weather is dry, the lower shoots are left to protect the soil from drying out.