Hot pepper is a favorite spice for all lovers of savory and rich dishes, and for the gardener, its fruits on the windowsill are considered a real pride. However, not everyone can grow this vegetable at home, since he needs specific care and a lot of attention. From this article you will learn the main secrets of growing the Spark pepper, as well as what it needs for long-term fruiting.
Grade description
Pepper Flame is a perennial herb native to Mexico. It was obtained by direct crossing of acute Chilean and Cayenne varieties. Today, the fruits of the plant are considered one of the most common additives to cold and hot dishes.
The main characteristics of the variety:
- type - shrubby species, with a pyramidal structure of the bush;
- purpose - fruit and ornamental plant;
- total height can reach up to 40 cm;
- the plant belongs to mid-ripening crops; from the beginning of seedlings to ripening of fruits 115–125 days pass;
- small or medium sized leaves, saturated green tint, slightly wrinkled;
- in optimal conditions can bear fruit for 5-6 years;
- cultivar is grown both in open soil and on the windowsill;
- the culture is resistant to a variety of bacterial, fungal infections, as well as verticillin wilt;
- plants are resistant to changes in living conditions, as well as microclimate;
- the bush does not require garter;
- productivity is high, in one year one plant produces about 100 fruits;
- productivity from 1 m² is 3.5–4 kg;
- the fruits are small, elongated, foliate, slightly bent at the end, up to 5 cm long, up to 3 cm wide;
- the color of the fruit depends on the stage of maturity: young peppers are bright green, ripe - saturated red;
- the average weight of one fetus is in the range of 35–45 g;
- the taste of fruits is spicy, full-bodied, with a bright aroma and pepper flavor;
- peppers are characterized by an increased content of trace elements, vitamins and aromatic substances;
- the fruits are used in raw, dried form, and also canned separately, or in combination with other vegetables;
- The variety is ideal for home use as well as growing for sale.
Did you know? Spicy varieties of pepper fell into European culture thanks to the expeditions of Christopher Columbus. In addition, it was this discoverer that gave capsicum the world famous name "chili pepper"
Advantages and disadvantages
This fruit culture was admired by gardeners due to the many useful properties.
- The main ones are:
- the ability to grow both in the garden and on the windowsill;
- high decorativeness;
- increased productivity;
- the ability to bear fruit throughout the year (at room conditions);
- thanks to a complex of important vitamins and minerals, fruits have a beneficial effect on human health.
- Not without a twinkle and flaws - these include, first of all, the following:
- low resistance to direct sunlight;
- yield directly depends on the conditions of detention;
- the variety does not tolerate heat and low temperatures;
- when grown in a greenhouse, the plant requires constant regulation of temperature, light and humidity.
Did you know? Capsicum was not always burning - this property arose in his process of evolution, as a protective reaction. Thus, the plant scares away animals in the stomach of which its seeds gradually decompose, which impairs the ability to reproduce.
Benefit and harm
- The main useful properties of pepper:
- improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood;
- normalizes metabolism;
- reduces pain in case of headaches;
- relieves intestinal inflammation;
- contributes to the elimination of pathogenic microflora in the digestive tract;
- helps prevent colds and acute respiratory infections;
- saturates the body with a huge amount of vitamins and minerals.
Despite the great benefits to the body, this vegetable can be harmful.
- First of all, he:
- causes irritation of the mucous membranes;
- aggravates the course of arrhythmia and angina pectoris;
- leads to burns of damaged tissues of the stomach and intestines;
- during pregnancy can cause uterine hypertonicity.
How to plant pepper at home from seeds
Germination of pepper seeds on the windowsill will require a minimum of skills and knowledge, however, in order to get healthy and fruitful sprouts, you will have to try. The culture is thermophilic, therefore, its development will require optimal temperature and humidity, without which it is almost impossible to achieve high yields.
Sowing dates
Sprouting of pepper seeds often starts in early spring; the most suitable period is the end of February - the beginning of March. Such seedlings will successfully begin to bear fruit by the middle of summer, which in the southern regions allows it to be grown in open soil. If you grow a plant on the windowsill, you can germinate seeds at any time of the year. However, in this case, it must be borne in mind that seed germination will decrease significantly.
Capacity for landing
For germinating seeds use any garden utensils - both small cups and pots, and general containers (but not more than 10 cm deep). Such dishes can be made of any material that is safe and resistant to aggressive soil effects (glass, ceramics, clay, plastic, metal, etc.). The main requirement for such tanks is a good drainage and a functional hole for the drainage of water, without this, the roots of the seedlings will rot, and young plants will be infected with fungi.
You can grow seedlings on the so-called peat tablets. They are a well-compacted substrate in the form of plates or cylinders and contain all the necessary substances for the growth of young seedlings, as well as vitamins and minerals. Peat tablets are often seeded with 1-3 seeds, and then placed in shared containers.
Suitable substrate
A suitable soil for germinating hot pepper seeds is a well-fertilized fertile soil with an average degree of moisture capacity. Any purchased substrate for seedlings or indoor flowers is ideal for this. But you can prepare the ground for the Twinkle yourself: for this you should mix turf, leafy soil, peat and sand (can be replaced with vermiculite or agroperlite) (1: 1: 1: 4). Before sowing, the soil must be sterilized - this helps protect young seedlings from pests, as well as infections.
Important! After sterilization, the substrate must be left for 7-10 days at rest, at room temperature. During this time, he will restore his structure, as well as the microflora.
The procedure is carried out using:
- freezing (2-3 days at -20 ° C ...- 25 ° C);
- roasting in the oven (15–20 minutes at + 125 ° С);
- steaming in the microwave (5-10 minutes at maximum power);
- abundant watering with 1% potassium permanganate.
Presowing seed treatment
Before sowing seeds necessarily require specific preparation. It is needed in order to increase the germination of seed, the quality and immunity of future plants, as well as to avoid damage to seedlings by fungi. The first thing to do with the seeds is to sterilize them.
To do this, they are optionally soaked in:
- 4% solution of table salt (5-10 minutes);
- 1-2% solution of potassium permanganate (15-20 minutes);
- 70% alcohol solution (10-15 minutes).
After sterilization, the seeds must be washed with boiled water at room temperature, otherwise the remains of sterilizing solutions can adversely affect the development of young plants. Further, the seed is dried naturally, after which it can be treated with growth stimulants. The procedure helps to achieve germination of shoots, as well as to increase the germination rate to 90-100%.
For this, the seeds are kept in solution:
- succinic acid (1 g per liter of water) - 12-24 hours;
- “Epin-extra” preparation (3 drops per 100 ml of water) - 2-3 hours;
- stimulator "Zircon" (3 drops per 100 ml of water) - 2-3 hours.
Before treatment with growth stimulants, seeds can be hardened. This procedure is optional, but with its help it is best to achieve high immunity of young peppers, as well as their resistance to a sharp decrease in temperature.
Did you know? To remove burning in the mouth from capsicum, you need to use any fat-rich product. Fat milk, cream or yogurt are best suited for these purposes.
There are two ways to harden:
- the easy way - the seeds need to be placed in a bowl and pour warm water, and after they swell, move them to the refrigerator (+ 2 ° C ... + 5 ° C) for 2-3 days. After this, the seed is dried and then stored at room temperature;
- complicated method - the seeds are filled with warm water, kept until swelling, and then for several days for 12 hours alternately kept in the refrigerator and at room temperature.
Sowing seeds
Seeds are sown in separate holes or in common rows, while the distance between the individual seeds should be at least 3-4 cm. When sowing in a row method, they are glad to cut parallel to the long side of the tank, this helps to facilitate subsequent care for the crops.
Pepper is sown to a depth of not more than 1.5 cm - this indicator must be approached strictly, otherwise the germination of plants falls at times. The seeds are not wrapped in soil tightly, with a layer no more than 1 cm thick, after which the container is watered abundantly with water.
Germination conditions
Sprout seedlings in a well-lit and warm place, at a temperature of + 22 ° C ... + 25 ° C. The southern, sunny windowsill is best suited for this. During this period, high humidity and temperature play a key role in the emergence of young plants, so containers with seedlings are covered with a protective dome made of polyethylene or glass. In such conditions, a local greenhouse effect is created that favorably affects the development of seedlings.
After the seeds germinate, the temperature must be lowered to + 20 ° C, which helps to get healthier peppers. So that the sun does not lead to burns, flowerpots are shaded with a transparent curtain or other shelter. At this time, you should also carry out the correction of the light regime: flowerpots must create a daylight hours of at least 12 hours, so they are highlighted with a table or a specialized garden lamp.
As soon as the first leaves appear on the plants, the protective dome must be removed. Do it gradually over several days. You need to start with a few minutes of ventilation, ending with the complete elimination of the protective coating. If necessary, weeding is carried out at this time, in order to avoid competition between adjacent sprouts (the distance between peppers should be at least 3-4 cm).
Humidify sown flowerpots as necessary, avoiding excessive moisture or oversaturation of the substrate with water, so water the seedlings daily, but in small portions. Use only clean and warmed up to room temperature water for this, otherwise the procedure will lead to inhibition of the sprouts.
Pick
Seedling diving is carried out in the phase of 2-3 leaves - other periods for the procedure are not recommended, since in this case the percentage of survival of young plants is reduced significantly. Plants are transplanted into individual individual pots of at least 100 × 100 mm, which will later help get rid of the planned pepper transplant.
Further care
After the young peppers have taken root, it is necessary not only to create the optimal microclimate, but also to observe the general agricultural technique of growing indoor crops - the regulated regime of watering, feeding and additional care. This will help insure yourself against a low yield, as well as all kinds of infections.
Lighting
Variety Ogonyok belongs to the photophilous, therefore, for high yields, it will be necessary to create conditions for intense diffused light for the plant. The average daily norm of daylight hours for this culture is in the range of 10-12 hours, so in winter the flowerpots must be highlighted. With a lack of light, pepper can begin to fade, which not only has a detrimental effect on foliage, but also leads to the subsidence of even formed fruits.
Important! During artificial lighting, the lamps should be at a distance of at least 30 cm from the plantotherwise the foliage will get burned.
Temperature mode
The optimum temperature for growing the culture is + 20 ° С ... + 25 ° С. In summer, the plant can withstand heat up to + 30 ° C, but at the same time it must be shaded, as well as double the amount of watering. In winter, peppers contain at + 16 ° С ... + 20 ° С - lower temperatures are undesirable for them, as they lead to inhibition and withering.
Pollination
Although the Ogonyok variety is considered a fruit and ornamental plant, at home it is able to pollinate independently without the outside help of a gardener. Cross-pollination is extremely important for the yield and aromatic properties of fruits, therefore, in order to avoid reducing the quality of the future crop, peppers must be pollinated during the flowering period. To do this, carefully transfer the pollen from one flower to another.
The procedure is carried out with the help of a small brush: at one end, it is necessary to smoothly draw one flower, and then along the neighboring, most distant one. Thus, you need to expose each flower, involving the maximum number of them in the process. If you grow 2 or more bush peppers, pollination is carried out between neighboring plants.
Watering
Watering plants is carried out often, but in small portions. The spark does not like sudden changes in moisture, therefore, for abundant fruiting, he needs to create a moderate humidity regime: for this, the flowerpots are watered every 1-2 days, as the soil dries. A clear sign of the need of peppers for water is a small dry crust on the surface of the soil.
Top dressing
The first feeding of young peppers is carried out 2-3 weeks after planting in a permanent pot - by this time they will take root and will be able to fully use it. It is best to take organic fertilizers for this; the most effective of them is a solution of cow manure (1:10), or chicken droppings (1:15).
During the active vegetation, additional pepper fertilizer is carried out every 14–20 days; for this, only phosphorus-potassium mixtures (nitroammophoska, superphosphate) are used. Nitrogen fertilizers in this period do not apply - they lead to an intensive increase in the green mass of the bush, which always causes inhibition of flowering, and subsequently productivity. Replacing the mineral mixture will help top dressing with chopped wood ash: 3 tablespoons of the substance are carefully diluted in 3 liters of water, and then used for irrigation.
Pruning
Pruning is done as necessary throughout the growing season. The dried parts of the bush are removed as they wilt; bush formation is carried out only in early spring, before flowering. For pruning, use specialized garden tools pre-sterilized with 1% potassium permanganate or 70% alcohol solution.
Harvesting and storage
The first harvest of pepper Spark can be observed already 2-3 months after seedling. In the future, under optimal conditions, the culture can evenly bear fruit all year, for several years. For food purposes, the harvest is carried out during technical ripeness - in this phase, the fruits do not lose their elasticity, while becoming saturated red. If you want to use seeds for sowing in the future, picking peppers begins in the phase of full ripeness, when they become soft and fleshy.
Fruits are stored both fresh and pre-processed.Fresh peppers in the refrigerator, at + 5 ° C, can be stored for several weeks. To extend their savings, they are wrapped with cling film, or put in a transparent plastic bag. To extend the period of saving peppers for a longer period, most housewives resort to cooking fruits.
Most often them:
- dried naturally or in a dryer;
- clean and portionwise freeze;
- canned by hot method;
- pickled in vinegar;
- used for pickles, in combination with herbs.
Pepper Flame is a worthy replacement and an alternative to home flowers. This plant is not only distinguished by its elegant appearance and aesthetics, but also aromatic fruits that can decorate any dish. It is not difficult to grow it on the windowsill, but for pepper to bear fruit, he needs painstaking care and daily attention.Important! Spark fruits can be irritating to the skin, so rubber gloves must be used when processing them.