16.09.2017
Even though it's cold outside, January and February are the perfect months to start growing hot chili peppers. Recently, this culture has become especially popular. Read tips on how to grow hot peppers on the windowsill and how to properly care for it - this is exciting and economical, because the plant will bear fruit year after year.
General information
This exotic, pungent herb can be used to make everything from pizza to pasta and sauces. Chile will make you feel the heat even in winter.
The pungent taste of pepper fruits is due to the chemical substance capsaicin in them, which has an incredible pungency. A drop of solution containing only 1/1000 mg of capsaicin can cause a long and intense burning sensation.
Varieties
There are many types and varieties of hot peppers that can be planted on the windowsill. Take a look at the range of seeds that are most often grown at home:
- Jalapeno - grows rapidly, forms compact bushes 50-100 cm high. Up to 40 fruits 5-8 cm long, 2-3 cm in diameter, weighing up to 50 g ripen simultaneously on a bush. The color is dark red, but green, unripe fruits are also used . The taste is fruity-burning, moderately spicy.
- Hot cherries - from sowing to the first harvest 85-90 days. The plant is small, compact, everything is dotted with small round red fruits 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter.
- Habanero is one of the hottest peppers. The plant is branched, fruits 3-4 cm long, up to 2 cm wide, uneven cone-shaped, red or orange color when they are in time.
- Burning Bouquet - Productive, delicious chili, great for cooking. The fruits are cone-shaped, curved, red.
- Spice Boys - small plants perfect for a 1 liter window sill pot. White, green, purple pods become orange, red, yellow as they ripen.
How to grow hot peppers from seeds on a windowsill
In the apartment, you can start sowing as early as January, as the sharpest varieties usually have a long growing season.
Soak the seeds overnight in warm water or epin solution.
Fill small low containers with ready-made soil for seedlings, sow the seeds (not too densely) and sprinkle with a thin layer of soil.
Peppers need a lot of heat in order to germinate, so first place the seed container in a warm, dark place and cover with a plastic bag. They germinate at a temperature of 21-28 C.
Shoots will appear about a week after planting. But don't worry if they're not in a hurry - peppers germinate well if the seeds were fresh.
After sprouting, move the hot peppers to a warm, sunny windowsill.
After the first true leaf appears in the seedlings, they are transplanted one plant at a time (dive) into pots with a diameter of 10-15 cm.
Care
As a rule, hot pepper grows quite successfully on the windowsill, develops well, blooms and bears fruit, but still there are important recommendations when leaving.
Temperature
Chilies are demanding on heat and die from even minor frosts, so the climate of the room is very suitable for them. In a pot on the windowsill, hot peppers can grow for many years. Most of all they like sunny windows facing south.
Make sure that the temperature does not fall below 15 C. Peppers do not tolerate sudden changes in heat and cold and abundant watering with cold water.
Watering
Peppers need to be watered regularly, not allowing them to dry out, but be careful not to "fill" them.
Lighting
Hot peppers need at least 6 hours sunlight in a day. With a lack of light, the plants stretch out, the leaves turn yellow on them, the buds and ovaries fall off.
If in winter the plants organize additional lighting, then they will bear fruit better.
top dressing
While light and water are the most important for the development of hot peppers, there are others. nutrients needed for growth and fruiting. These are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. But do not overdo it with fertilization!
After the plants bloom, you can feed them a little potassium.
If chili pepper leaves become wrinkled or dark spots appear on the tips of the pods, your plant is deficient in calcium and phosphorus.
Pollination
Peppers are excellent self-pollinators. Just shake the plants gently from time to time. This simulates the action of the wind that occurs in nature.
Transfer
As the plants grow, larger pots will be needed. The standard progression of diameters is 7 cm, 15 cm, and then the final 20 cm.
To transplant a plant:
- Fill the pots with fresh soil and lightly dampen it with water.
- Then make a large enough indentation in it.
- Carefully take the plant from the previous container, grabbing the roots with a clod of earth so as not to damage them.
- Place the pepper in a new pot, gently compact the soil around the stem, and water lightly.
pruning
To make the bush grow more lush, its upper shoots, which have reached 40 cm, are cut off. Chilies respond very well to pruning.
Pests
One of the main pests of chili peppers is the green aphid. Even one individual that accidentally got into an apartment from the street can infect your plant, creating a whole army of offspring.
To get rid of aphids, wash the leaves and stems with running water. Use chemicals wrestling is not recommended.
Video
Harvesting
After 60-70 days after sowing, the plants bloom, and later on they form fruits of various colors (depending on the variety) - from brown to bright purple or yellow. When the fruits ripen, in most varieties they turn red. It is better to cut them with a knife.
It is better to remove the very first fruits while still green in order to stimulate further fruiting.
You will be able to harvest fresh chili from late spring until December. One plant can give you over a hundred hot peppers.
- Chili can be planted any time from January to May, but the earlier date is more likely to start fruiting quickly. Sowing seeds in January, you will harvest in July.
- By mid-May, when warm enough, move the pepper pots to outdoor balcony or a veranda, but in a place protected from the sun.
- The hottest and most unusual varieties, such as the habanero, take longer to ripen.
- The yield of peppers increases in the second and third years.
- Check plants regularly to make sure there are no aphids and that the soil is still relatively fresh.
- After 4-5 years, the pepper crop will decrease, and it will be time to grow a new plant.
So, for growing hot peppers on the windowsill in winter, you will need a sunny window, a spacious pot with fertile soil and simple care. Compact bushes with many original bright red and green fruits are unusually beautiful and perfectly decorate the apartment.
In the cold season, you want to create a special comfort in the house, and edible and ornamental plants grown on the windowsill at home are ideal for this. Room pepper is no exception, it not only adds originality to the interior, but also allows lovers of spicy food to spice up their dishes.
Features of growing hot peppers in an apartment on the windowsill
Growing peppers on a windowsill is quite an exciting activity. As for the purpose of such an unusual landing, he o can be a big plus forinterior decorating,Kolka plant, densely strewn with bright ripened fruits, looks very decorative.
And, of course, it will not be superfluous when eaten.
Advice! You can use hot pepper for salting, pickling and canning, as well as a spicy addition to the first (soups) and second courses (especially meat).
For the successful cultivation of pepper on the windowsill, you need to create optimal conditions for its growth and development, because this culture is rather capricious. Therefore, it is required to familiarize yourself in advance with the features and preferences of the plant, as well as with the rules for planting and further care.
By the way! With proper care and regular feeding, indoor pepper is able to fully grow and produce a stable crop for 5-10 years, because it is a perennial plant.
To grow hot peppers at home, you need to consider the following factors:
- seeds suitable variety from a trusted manufacturer or freshly cut cuttings;
- the choice of the optimal place for the growth of the plant, its lighting, the need for additional lighting;
- selection of planting containers and a suitable substrate;
- features of watering and top dressing;
- knowledge of diseases and pests of pepper.
Important! Observing all the rules of care, from one plant you can get 10-20 or more fruits at the same time.
Choosing a bitter variety for planting in an apartment
The following varieties of ornamental peppers are ideal for growing on a windowsill in an apartment:
- Twinkle. This variety has long been popular due to its compact bush, which reaches a height of 40 cm. It was bred by crossing chili and cayenne pepper. It forms fruits up to 5 cm, which at the base have a diameter of 1-1.2 cm. As they grow, they change their color: green, yellow, red. The fruits ripen within 120 days.
- Aladdin. ultra early compact variety, the height of the bush reaches 35-40 cm at home. It forms cone-shaped multi-colored fruits, the length of which does not exceed 3 cm. In the process of growth, the shade of the fruit changes: green, purple, red. Fruit ripening occurs within 105 days.
- Garda Firevox. One of the new indoor varieties. Forms compact bushes 30 cm high. The length of the pods is 5 cm. The peculiarity of the pepper is that the fruits stick out with their tips up. As they ripen, they change their color, so the plant can simultaneously have fruits of green, lilac, orange and red. The ripening of the pods occurs within 115 days.
- Explosive Ember. The unusual variety is that the foliage of the plant has a dark purple color. It forms cone-shaped small fruits 2.5 cm long. As they grow, the shade of the fruit also changes: purple, pink, scarlet. The bush is formed compact, 30 cm high. The variety is considered early ripening, fruit ripening occurs after 115 days.
Also suitable for growing at home are such varieties of bitter pepper as Black Prince, Five-Colored, Medusa, Ornament, Orange Round, Phoenix, Fakir, Falcon's Beak, Queen of Spades, Salute.
Depending on individual preferences, you can choose one or more varieties at the same time.
As a rule, the most popular varieties for growing on the windowsill are peppers Ogonyok and Chile.
Important! You can not use seeds from a store-bought pod to grow pepper on a windowsill, as it is an industrial variety and it needs completely different conditions.
Video: decorative indoor hot pepper - review different varieties
Features of planting bitter pepper at home - step by step instructions
To grow Pepper Spark on the windowsill, you need to prepare for the procedure by studying the preferences and features of growing this crop in room conditions. Only by observing all the stages of the landing, you can finally achieve the desired result.
Sowing Timing: When to Sow the Seeds
It should be understood that hot pepper grows for a very long time, as well as any pepper, for example,
In the case of growing indoor hot peppers, you can start sowing it at any time, that is all year round. For example, if you sow in the winter, in December-January, then you can get a harvest in the summer - in June-July.
Choosing the right place and creating optimal conditions for growing
Hot pepper is very picky about light and heat, so for its full growth and development it is necessary to choose south or southeast (or west) window sill. During the period of active sun in spring, the plant needs light shading. In summer, the plant should be taken out to the balcony or loggia, but it is recommended to exclude drafts.
Important! Pepper does not tolerate cold drafts, so when airing the room, it is best to keep it away from the open window. You should also repair (glue) all holes if you have old window frames.
For full growth and development, the plant needs 12-16 hours of daylight. During the period of short days from early October to March, hot peppers are especially in need of in additional lighting with phytolamps or full-spectrum LED lamps in the morning and evening, as well as on cloudy days.
Important! The lack of light is manifested by a light shade of foliage, which can eventually lead to leaf fall. In this case, the duration of artificial supplementary illumination must be increased.
For normal plant growth winter time air temperature should not fall below +18 degrees, and starting from spring, the optimum temperature is +20-24 degrees.
Do not forget! In summer, pots of indoor pepper can, and even need to, be taken outside.
planting container
Hot pepper forms a relatively compact root system, which is located closer to the soil surface. For growing indoor pepper, it is recommended to select pots with a volume of at least 3 liters, and preferably 4-5 liters.
Important! Pepper is grown, as a rule, with a pick, therefore, for the initial sowing, very shallow wide (rectangular) containers (4-5 centimeters in height) are first harvested. Of these, the grown plants are subsequently transplanted into already larger individual containers, and then to a permanent place (in large pots).
The prerequisite is drainage holes in the bottom of the pot which helps to remove excess moisture. Before planting on the bottom, it is necessary to fill the drainage with a layer of 2-3 cm, which will prevent stagnation of water in the pot.
Suitable substrate
For sowing hot pepper seeds, you can purchase seedling substrate in a specialized store. But you can prepare a nutrient mixture for planting yourself. This will require the following components:
- 2 parts of peat;
- 1 part river sand, perlite or vermiculite
Immediately before planting hot pepper seeds, it is necessary to disinfect the soil by spilling it with a biofungicide or potassium permanganate, which will prevent the development of fungal diseases. And you can disinfect the soil in advance by heating it in the oven.
Pre-sowing preparation of seeds
Pepper seeds before planting is recommended germinate in a humid environment. To do this, you need to spread the seeds in a damp gauze (or use cotton pads) and carefully wrap the fabric. And then put them in a container and close the lid so that the moisture is retained longer.
For germination, place in a dark and warm place (+25-27 degrees) for several days(1-2 days will be enough), periodically opening, moisturizing and examining for the presence of sprouts. As soon as most of the seeds hatch, they will need to be planted in prepared soil.
Important! Seeds should not be allowed to dry out during germination, otherwise they will die.
Although, in principle, you can sow dry seeds.
Growing hot peppers from cuttings indoors
In some cases, to save all view properties it is recommended to carry out cuttings of pepper. Cuttings must be cut from green young shoots without fruits, 7-8 cm long. Each of them should preferably have at least a leaflet, but not necessarily.
Before planting in the ground, they need to be soaked in advance in a solution of zircon (3 drops per 100 ml of water) for 12-24 hours or powder the lower cut with root powder.
For more information on growing indoor hot peppers from cuttings, see the video below.
Video: growing hot peppers on a windowsill from cuttings - pruning and propagation
Step-by-step instructions for sowing seeds and planting (rooting) cuttings
To grow pepper on the windowsill, you must initially plant it correctly. Only if all necessary conditions procedures can achieve the desired result in the end.
Step-by-step instruction sowing pepper seeds at home:
- Prepare seeds.
- Fill containers (pots) with the necessary substrate and level the surface.
- Moisten the soil with plenty of water and allow it to completely soak.
- Make small grooves (rows) up to 1 centimeter deep.
- Place the seeds at a distance of 0.5-1 cm from each other.
- Sprinkle with earth.
- Moisten the top layer with a spray bottle.
- Cover containers with glass or cling film to preserve high humidity air inside the landing container (to create greenhouse conditions).
- Put the containers in a dark and warm place (22-26 degrees) until shoots appear.
Video: how to grow bitter indoor pepper - proper sowing and further care
Features of further care for hot pepper in the apartment
After the appearance of pepper sprouts, it is recommended to rearrange the seed container on the windowsill and lower the temperature to + 20-22 degrees. Glass or film should be removed completely and be sure to start lighting up to 12-16 hours of daylight with the help of lamps.
To exclude warm air from heating appliances, pepper sprouts should be covered with a layer of foam or a blanket.
Pepper cuttings take root within 2-3 weeks.
picking
When 2-3 true sheets appear it is necessary to plant (dive) pepper in separate containers.
The first planting should be carried out in pots (it is optimal to take cups) with a diameter of no more than 5 cm, up to 10 cm high.
Tips!
- Before diving, spill the container with seedlings so that you can carry seedlings with an earthy clod.
- The new soil should be even more airy and fertile, so prepare a substrate based on peat, humus and river sand (perlite), taking the components in approximately equal parts.
- After picking, spill the transplanted seedlings with water (preferably with the addition of root for better rooting).
Further transplanting young seedlings is necessary as they grow. As soon as the roots begin to crowd in the pot, it is recommended to transship the plant, increasing the diameter of the pot. A container for an adult plant should be about 10-15 cm high and about 20-30 cm in diameter.
Video: how to plant indoor pepper
Watering
Hot pepper is very picky about soil moisture and does not tolerate watering with cold water. The plant should be watered sparingly with water. room temperature, as the top layer dries in the pot, but allowing moisture to be absorbed from the pan. If water remains in the pan 30 minutes after watering, it should be completely poured out.
Important! The higher the air temperature, the more often the soil should be moistened.
In conditions of low air humidity worth holding additional spraying leaves with a spray bottle.
top dressing
For the full growth of hot pepper on the windowsill, it is required carry out regular feeding. During the period of active vegetation (gaining green mass), preference should be given to mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content or organic fertilizers. And when forming buds and fruits, it is worth using fertilizers with a large amount of potassium. It's even better if you use complex mineral supplements containing phosphorus. It is required to feed the plant 1 time in 7-14 days.
Shaping (stepping) and pinching
As a rule, indoor hot peppers grown on the windowsill do not stepchild.
And to make the bush branch better, you can pinch its top.
Major diseases and pests
Pepper, including indoor pepper, is susceptible to fungal diseases and various pests. Therefore, you should know in advance what problems may arise and how to deal with them.
- Aphid. This pest loves to feast on young shoots of pepper, so it is on them that a large accumulation of pests is formed. To combat them, it is necessary to treat the plant with a biopreparation fitoverm or bitoxibacillin.
By the way! The folk remedy for aphids is ammonia. You need to prepare a solution (dissolve 5-10 ml of ammonia in 1 liter of water) and simply pour under the root.
- Spider mite. It is characterized by stunting of the plant and curly young leaves, on which a small cobweb appears later. To combat the pest, it is necessary to spray with Actellik, although at home it is still better to use biological products (fitoverm, bitoxibacillin).
Advice! Another folk way pest control is tobacco. You just need to pour the tobacco from the cigarette on top of the soil in the pot.
- Blackleg. It affects seedlings of pepper in the initial period of germination. The stem at the base of the seedlings becomes thin and blackens. Appears as a result of the overflow of the plant, which leads to its death. The plant cannot be saved. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to shed the soil and spray the sprouts with the fungicide previkur.
Important! After the treatment with drugs, it is necessary to adhere to the waiting period indicated on the packaging of each product; it is not allowed to use pepper during this period for cooking.
Video: how to get rid of aphids on indoor hot peppers
Timing of germination and first harvest of homemade hot peppers
Hot pepper seeds germinate for a long time, which is why this feature must be taken into account when planting. Seedlings appear within 14-21 days, subject to all recommendations for their sowing.
The first crop of pepper on the windowsill ripens in 105-150 days from the moment the first sprouts appear, depending on the variety chosen.
As soon as the pepper turns red (ripe), the fruits should be removed promptly. from the bush along with the stalk. Then in the same place some time later will appear flower, in other words, the plant will continue to bear fruit - to tie new fruits.
What to do with indoor hot peppers after harvesting in the fall, when the foliage begins to fall
Since indoor hot pepper is a perennial plant, when its leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off, and as a rule, this happens in late autumn-early winter (November-December), you will need to cut the pepper, leaving only 8-10 centimeters .
Interesting! From dormant axillary buds and dormant branches, new shoots will begin to develop. The cycle will repeat itself, by March the plant will bloom, and in May you will get the first fruits.
If you follow all the recommendations, growing hot peppers on the windowsill will not be too difficult. But it must be understood that further care for the plant must meet all its needs, since the pepper will grow and bear fruit only taking into account all the required conditions.
Video: detailed instructions(master class) on growing extra hot peppers on the windowsill in 2 parts
In contact with
Among the perennial crops grown on the windowsill, ornamental peppers are especially popular. With proper care at home, its continuous fruiting for 3-5 years is observed. In order for the burning spice to always be at hand, you need to become more familiar with the features of cultivation.
Popular types
It is effective to grow pepper at home in compact sizes, up to 50 cm high. There are varieties of indoor plants, they are also called Capsicum, whose height does not exceed 20 cm - these are dwarf varieties with numerous bright fruits and rather long undulating maturation. Peppers growing on small green bushes are not only a spectacular decoration of any windowsill, but also an excellent spicy seasoning. There are many types of ornamental peppers, differing in the shape of the fruit, size, leaf mass, duration of the fruiting period, color from green to purple.
Annual
In most cases, plants dry out after harvesting, which explains their name. But there are exceptions - these are individual varieties that at home are able to bear fruit for several years in a row. One-year-olds differ in short stature, compactness, their height is 30-55 cm. Depending on the varietal characteristics, the fruits may have a different shape and color.
Most often, California miracle, Atlas, Orange miracle, Kakadu, Habanero, Bogatyr, Anastasia are grown on window sills. Positive reviews have Phoenix, Redskin, Cherry Bomb, Tepin, Siberian Prince.
shrubby
This type of perennial plant is grown on window sills, balconies, loggias. Bush pepper is a good solution in choosing a room culture, it stands out for its qualitative and quantitative fruiting (5-6 years), its height is within 15-45 cm.
The crown of the plant is quite dense, the fruits are small in size, their number reaches up to 50 pieces. Among the well-known small-fruited varieties, the Queen of Spades, Carmen, Spark, Bride, Salute are noted. Bush pepper is also known as cayenne.
berry-bearing
This variety of homemade pepper fully justifies its name, its fruits are distinguished by a flattened shape, and not the usual cone-shaped, somewhat similar to squash. An unusual form attracts pepper of the Bishop's Crown variety, but its productivity indicators are average, up to 20 fruits from one bush.
Often in room conditions there is Lemon Lollipop, White Crystal, which have proven themselves exclusively on the positive side. They have high yields. They are sweet and not spicy in taste. Tall plants grow up to 80 cm, they are best placed on the floor.
Chinese
This is a less common type of indoor pepper, its height does not exceed 50 cm. The compact bush stands out ovoid foliage, their color is light green, the surface is slightly wrinkled. Flowers attract attention with their white color, there is a greenish tint.
Peppers may differ in shape, there are instances in the form of a flashlight. Chinese pepper is valued for its pungency and pungency. Its only disadvantage is its relatively slow growth. Santa Lucia, Devil's Yellow, Devil's Tongue are popular.
pubescent
This variety is also called fluffy pepper, because of its tallness (3-4 m), it is most often planted in an open area. At home, some of its types are suitable, in particular, Rokoto. In height, it grows only up to 1 m. The plant is covered with dense pubescence (shoots, flowers, leaves).
The flowers can be single or paired, they are distinguished by an unusual purple color. Short peppers grow with a dark red, orange, brown or black color. The fruits are quite pungent in taste.
Is it possible to eat decorative pepper
Indoor decorative pepper not only decorates the room, it also benefits. This savory vegetable with regular use is capable of:
- improve the state of the central nervous system;
- normalize the hematopoietic function of the body;
- improve work of cardio-vascular system;
- enhance brain activity;
- reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, bronchial asthma, renal failure;
- provoke the release of hormones of happiness;
- effectively fight pathogenic microorganisms on both internal and external tissues of the body.
But, in order not to cause undesirable manifestations for the body, it should be consumed in moderate doses, otherwise you can cause a burn of the mucous membrane of the digestive system, increase the load on the heart, increase arterial pressure.
The best varieties for indoor growing
Due to the high taste characteristics and yield indicators, varieties are especially popular:
- it indoor plant refers to mid-early crops, harvesting occurs 115-120 days after planting. The bush stands out with an average strength of growth, branching. The sizes of the pods are quite large, their weight reaches 45 g. They grow in a rich red color and have a burning taste.
- Aladdin. The ornamental culture is characterized as medium-sized, its height is not more than 50 cm. The variety is in demand because of its ultra-early maturity, it bears fruit abundantly and for a long time. Small peppers are distinguished by a cone-shaped shape, pronounced aroma and sharpness. As they mature, their color changes, when they reach their technical ripeness, the skin becomes red.
- A compact plant reaches a height of only 31 cm. Flowers are purple, self-pollinated. Black fruits become red when they reach technical ripeness. Black pearl pepper does not require large containers, enough flower pots with a volume of 1.5-3 liters.
- This Dutch variety of hot peppers has won consumer appreciation for its abundant fruiting. Productivity is high, even despite the low growth of the bush, height 20-30 cm.
- This indoor pepper is famous for its productivity and undemanding to growing conditions. An early ripe culture pleases with its hanging red fruits, their length is up to 5 cm. The height of the bush does not exceed 45 cm, there are not so many leaves. The fruits are spicy in taste, actively used for the preparation of assorted, marinades, as a spice.
Required agrotechnical conditions
When growing peppers in a pot, to maintain their decorative qualities and yields, certain recommendations should be followed. Only an integrated approach will allow you to get a strong and promising plant.
Choosing a place in the apartment
The best option for placing an ornamental plant would be a fairly sunny location. To increase the length of daylight hours, it is recommended to grow hot peppers on the windowsill of a south or east window. The leaves of the plant are acutely sensitive to direct sunlight, therefore, in the summer they need to be darkened.
To develop immunity at night, a pot of hot pepper is taken out to the balcony in order to artificially induce contrasting temperatures. It is good for a plant to change its place every 2-3 years or to transplant it to stimulate growth and development. In case of non-compliance with this condition, after 5 years, the ability to bear fruit will cease.
illumination
A prerequisite for a rich harvest is a sufficient amount of sunlight. To fully satisfy the need for indoor hot pepper, you need to place the pot on the windowsill of a southern, western or southwestern orientation. Given the light-loving culture in the spring and autumn, it should receive up to 3-4 hours of sunlight. It is not worth exceeding these time limits, otherwise, instead of benefit, you can cause burns on the sheet plates.
With a shortage of sunlight, hot peppers are provided with an additional source of lighting in the form of fluorescent lamps.
Temperature and Humidity
Heat-loving indoor pepper effectively grows and develops at an indoor air temperature of up to 25 degrees - in spring and summer. As for winter, the temperature should be in the range of 10-12 degrees. Humidity is of particular importance for decorative piquant culture. In case of increased dryness, the plant will shed its leaves, and its fruits will have a wrinkled surface. AT winter time for hot peppers on the windowsill, regular spraying on the leaf will be useful.
Preparatory work
When growing hot peppers at home, it is important to correctly approach the choice of soil, capacity and seed preparation.
How to get planting material
For breeding hot peppers, it is better to choose seeds taken from dried fruits. Alternatively, they can be bought in specialized outlets or in online stores, in the assortment of which is presented planting material ornamental and exotic crops. If you sow it in February-March, then you can count on the harvest in September-October. For successful cultivation on the windowsill, you should choose the right seed material and produce it. seedbed preparation.
Preplant seed treatment
The choice of seeds should be focused on self-pollinating varieties, if other varieties are used, then pollination will have to be done manually, which is not always convenient and efficient. To speed up the germination process, acquired or harvested seeds need to stand in a container with water for several days. But they are pre-treated with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, keeping for 30 minutes. As natural stimulant growth, wood ash is used, it is added to water to soak the seeds.
Soil and container for planting
Pots are filled either with ready-made seedling substrate, which is sold at specialized outlets, or with nutrient soil prepared independently from leaf ground(2 parts), peat (1 part), river sand (1 part), coconut fiber (1 part) and perlite (1 part). In order to avoid negative consequences for plantings in the form of the development of various kinds of diseases, the soil mixture is disinfected with fungicidal preparations such as Previkur. For these purposes, a 1% solution of potassium permanganate is suitable.
For laying seeds in the ground, separate containers with a volume of 200 ml will be required. For transplanting an adult bush, it is better to take pots with a volume of more than 3 liters.
Seedling technology
To achieve high results, you need to know how to properly plant bitter pepper from seeds at home.
When to sow
When cultivating at home, it is very important to adhere to planting dates. seed material. Sow a piquant culture in containers, other containers are allowed throughout the year, the main thing is that the temperature in the room is maintained in the range of 20-25 degrees. Varieties with early or very early ripening are sown from April to mid-May, and plants with medium or late dates maturation - from the last days of February to the first days of May.
Depth and seeding pattern
The prepared seed material is planted either in a common container (between seedlings 2-3 cm) with further picking, or separately, using peat cups. When growing indoor pepper, you need to know that it does not tolerate transshipment into a deeper container, its growth processes can slow down significantly. It is more efficient to immediately sow in pots with a volume of 3 liters. Embedding depth seed should not exceed 1.5-2 cm. Sprouted specimens should be used very carefully, the spine is directed down.
seedling care
To grow a healthy and strong plant, you need to properly care for it.
First shoots
In order for the seeds to germinate faster, they need to create greenhouse conditions. To do this, the containers are covered with plastic wrap and placed in a warm and bright place. The recommended temperature in the room should be at least 24 degrees. When shoots appear, the covering material is removed. Expect sprouts from fresh seeds maybe 10-14 days. If old copies are used, then this process is delayed for 2-3 weeks. Growing seedlings will be comfortable with a temperature in the range of 18-20 degrees.
Dive to a permanent place
It is allowed to transplant sprouts at the stage when they have two pairs of true leaves. From small pots with a volume of 200-300 ml, ornamental plants are transferred into large containers filled with fertile soil. It is important that after the manipulations, the pepper is at the same level as it grew before.
If it is deeply buried in the ground, then due to the lack of the ability to form additional roots, the piquant plant will die.
Features of growing on the window
Care decorative pepper consists in the timely introduction of nutrient compositions, moisturizing, and the formation of a bush.
Watering and fertilizing regimen
In spring and summer, the soil is moistened as it dries. Water should be at room temperature and settled (1 day). In drought conditions, the plant sheds leaves and flowers, so watering is done regularly, but in moderate doses. In hot weather, spraying on the leaf is effective, 2-3 times a day.
You can determine the lack of nutrients in the soil by external condition. If there is not enough phosphorus, then the lower leaves become purple. Nitrogen deficiency is detected by the light color of the leaf mass. Feed bitter pepper 1 time in 2 weeks. Nitrogen compounds are used for leaf treatments, and phosphorus-potassium compounds are used under the bush. Home care must be of high quality, otherwise the fruits will be small and not sharp.
Diseases and pests of indoor species
A spicy perennial most often suffers from an attack by a spider mite. This harmful insect appears on plants in conditions of high humidity in the air. The mealy worm attacks the bushes in the absence of a disinfectant treatment of the soil before planting. If you overdo it with watering, then there is a high probability of development on plantings dangerous diseases- Phytophthora, root rot. If foci are found on leaf plates of various colors, treatment with copper-containing preparations should be carried out. A clear manifestation of root rot is the wilting of the bush. To save him, the soil is replaced with a new one.
Bush formation
When cultivating pepper at home on the windowsill, it is necessary to periodically prune, thanks to this procedure, the productivity indicators of the decorative crop are significantly increased, beautiful crown and growth processes are enhanced. At the first fruiting, each side shoot is pinched. Since hot pepper tolerates shortening quite painlessly, from time to time it will be useful to trim half the length of each branch.
Flowering period and fineness of pollination
It is more convenient to grow self-pollinating varieties at room conditions. If there is a desire to increase the yield, then you should lightly shake the plant at the flowering stage or walk with a soft brush through all the flowers. To stimulate the emergence of new ovaries, abundant watering.
It happens that the buds fall off the bitter pepper. The reason for dropping flowers may be non-compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. Irrigation should be properly organized, the plant should be fed and the air temperature in the room should be controlled.
Harvesting
The fruits of indoor hot peppers are harvested as they ripen, here you need to focus on the varietal characteristics of each specific species. There are varieties (Jalapeño) that lose their sharpness when they reach their technical maturity. Therefore, they are plucked earlier, still unripe. If you plan to collect seed material, then the peppers should be fully ripe, red, orange or yellow in color. After removal from the bush, these specimens should dry out for 2-3 days.
Hot pepper, as a perennial plant, has its own characteristics. To achieve a high-quality harvest, you should follow the correct agricultural technology.
I am a city dweller, but my soul is rural: I love to germinate seeds and take care of various plants. Unfortunately, we live in a small kopeck piece, and buying a dacha is only a long-term plan so far. But I have perfectly mastered the art of growing vegetables on the windowsill.
Cucumbers, tomatoes, greens - all this has been bearing fruit in our house for many years. One of the last crops I mastered was hot pepper. We hardly eat it (there are children in the family, so I cook only dietary), but the multi-colored photo on the bag of seeds looked very delicious ...
The burning fruits of such a pepper can be added to marinades, seamings, soups, meat dishes. Don't have time to consume the entire crop at a time? Peppers can be dried in petals or whole, and then ground into powder.
My husband likes mead with pepper (per liter of vodka - 3 tablespoons of honey with a pea + a few large pepper pods, insist in the dark for more than a month, the longer the better).
A stronger alcoholic pepper tincture (with more pepper) can be used as a rub for rheumatism or a cold. Moreover - if a viral or catarrhal disease rages in the family, such a pepper should be kept on the windowsill of the patient's room - doctors assure that it purifies the air of dangerous bacteria.
But! Not only the fruits of this plant have a pungent taste - even the leaves and stems of pepper are caustic and poisonous. So if your cat gnaws flowerpots, it’s better to grow ornamental grass instead of chili: your favorite animal will have a treat, and you will have a calm heart.
The best types and varieties for the windowsill
Different peppers differ in the color and shape of the fruit, as well as the time of their appearance. It is best to buy varieties whose height is not more than 45 cm ... Or seeds, on the bag of which “Balcony” or “For growing in an apartment” is signed.
annual pepper
This is room paprika - these varieties are not the sharpest, on the contrary, they are even somewhat sweet.
The bushes of this pepper rarely grow larger than half a meter, but often the maximum growth of such plants is 35 cm.
The most popular varieties:
- "Redskin".
- "Tepin" (it is he in the photo above).
- "Siberian prince".
But perhaps the most interesting variety can be called "Little Miracle" - a small traffic light. First, these peppers are green, then yellow, then (do not believe it!) Purple, and only at the end of ripening is the standard pepper red color.
The bushes grow compact - no higher than 25 cm. They can also grow outdoors, but all manufacturers recommend growing this variety in pots.
Cayenne (shrub)
A perennial that will gratefully bear fruit on your balcony or windowsill for up to six years.
This is a compact plant: a similar pepper grows up to 15-45 cm in height. Up to 50 peppercorns sing on each bush.
The most interesting varieties:
- "Salute".
- "Carmen" (pictured).
- "Bride".
berry-bearing
The species is named so because of the interesting shape of the peppers - they are flattened, like squash. You will like them in taste - in addition to the characteristic sharpness, they have sweetness.
The bushes grow up to 80 cm, so it is worth growing them not on the window, but on an insulated balcony.
You can buy seeds of varieties:
- "White Crystal".
- "Lemon Lollipop" (pictured).
- "Bishop's Crown"
Chinese
Half-meter bushes grow very slowly, so this species it is not very popular with us - it cannot compete with other species.
Peppers are different in shape, you can even find a variety with lantern fruits.
The most notable varieties:
- "Devil's tongue" (pictured above).
- "Santa Lucia".
- "Devil's Yellow"
pubescent
A tall species sometimes seen on balconies. But more often these meter-long peppers are grown in greenhouses or in open beds.
The species is named so because both the stem, and the leaves, and even the flowers have a light edge.
You will hear more about the choice of indoor varieties with an overview of already fruiting bushes here:
Remember! When buying seeds of any variety, look at the date of manufacture! Seed storage is not the highest. Some manufacturers may write that the seeds are stored for up to 5 years. But it is not a fact that they will germinate well for all 5 years.
Buy seeds packaged up to 12 months ago. After all, they must have been stored somewhere for some time before packaging.
How to grow this fiery miracle
If you sow a pepper in late February - early March, you will wait for the harvest from June to August (or even December, it all depends on the variety). The ripening period of each plant is written on the bag of seeds.
- Soak the seeds in water.
- Sow them in nutritious, loose soil. A good option: sand + humus + sheet soil.
- Deepen the seeds by 0.5 cm. Between the seeds, leave 5 cm of free space on each side - this space is needed for future roots.
- Germinate them under a greenhouse (clear glass, film). Do not forget to ventilate this greenhouse every day, opening it for 10 minutes. At the same time, spray the soil.
- Make sure that there is more light near the pot. In winter, it is better to put an ultraviolet lamp next to the pot - you do not need to replace it with an ordinary incandescent lamp, it will dry out the soil and burn the leaves of the seedlings.
- Pepper seeds and sprouts also need warmth. A regular battery can handle this as well. But remember: warming tender sprouts, she regularly steals moisture from the soil, evaporating it. So water or spray the soil more often. It should always be slightly damp.
- The grown sprouts should dive into separate pots. Are you worried if it works? For the first time, you can germinate the seeds in peat tablets. Then they can be planted together with a sprout in a pot - peat decomposes, turning into a light and nutritious soil.
- When picking, you can pinch off a third of the spine. After that, you need to grow sprouts under greenhouses (put a transparent bag on each pot).
- The pot for the plant should be spacious.
Remember: buying different varieties capsicum, you can grow them both in separate containers and in a common box. But in the latter case, you risk - the peppers will generously share pollen with each other.
So not only can the shape and shade of the fruit surprise you, it will also be impossible to collect seeds for propagation (they will not carry all the varietal characteristics of their mother plant).
But if the variety is really interesting and rare, it can be propagated by cuttings. It will take root in water in a month.
Bonchi: pepper bonsai
In the photo - variety "Bolivian Rainbow". Although bonsai can be grown from any other variety of pepper.
You can start working both with seeds (they need to be germinated) and with an adult plant (it is cut as much as possible and planted in a shallow “bowl”). To make the trunk thick, the plant should be grown in a large pot, and then cut it off (not only branches, but also roots) and planted in a pot.
You can see the work with a pepper dug out in the garden and transplanted into a bonsai pot here:
Caring for an adult decorative pepper
- The lighting still needs to be top notch. If flowers bloom on the pepper, and then begin to crumble, this is a sign - the bush needs to be moved to a more lit room.
- The plant needs regular watering. Take warm water.
- In summer, the plant is good at 25 degrees and above (so feel free to put it on an open balcony, even under direct sun - just not under midday, it's still too much). In winter, the room should not be colder than 16 degrees.
- During the active growing season (until the ovaries appear on the bush), apply fertilizer. Good decision - mineral fertilizers(during the period of growth of green mass - with nitrogen, later - with potassium and phosphorus). Do not trust purchased mixtures? Dissolve the ash (1 tablespoon per 1.5 liters of water), but do not forget to insist this solution for a couple of days, and then strain.
- At the end of January, think about nutrition again, and maybe you will be able to “persuade” the pepper to bloom again. But do not forget that he must receive enough light!
- After harvesting, prune, removing a third of all branches.
Pest control
- Ornamental peppers can be attacked spider mites. You can get rid of them folk methods: spray bush soapy water. You can make the medicine "more vigorous" by adding ground powder of the fruits of this plant itself. Peppers will not harm their native fruits, and insects will be scared away forever.
- Aphids are another enemy. Save yourself from it with the same soap solution. Of course, in a flower shop they may offer to buy an insecticide ... But you should not spray a plant with poison, the fruits of which will be used for food, and even more so for treatment.
To prevent pests from sticking to the pepper, do not keep the bush in dry air. In winter, when the radiator dries up the apartment, spray it (but try not to get on the flowers - rarely does a flower like such procedures).
And when the pepper yields, some of it can be used to prepare medicines or hot spices, and some can be dried to collect seeds. How to do this, an experienced indoor gardener will tell:
Capsicum belongs to the Solanaceae family, its varieties are divided into hot and sweet. The bitter taste comes from the alkaloid capsaicin.
Decorative indoor pepper effectively stands out on the windowsill and serves as a source of spices for cooking a wide variety of dishes. In everyday life, it is called "light", although in fact several dozen species and varieties of plants are found in culture. It is not only the burning taste and attractive appearance that makes it popular, but also the ease of growing at home.
Variety and Seed Selection for Successful Growing
It is easiest to propagate decorative indoor peppers by seeds. Key to success in right choice planting material.
How to choose seeds for planting at home
Seeds taken from the dried fruit are excellent. You can buy planting material in gardening stores - or in online stores that offer seeds of exotic and ornamental plants. If you start planting in February-March, you can easily get fruits in September-October of the same year.
First you need to decide what kind of pepper you want to end up with - high or low, spicy or not, with berries or a classic “pepper” shape. As a rule, this information is on the package. However, when purchasing, it is necessary to pay attention to how long ago the seeds were collected?
Hot pepper seeds proper storage can remain viable for up to 5 years, but every year the percentage of germinating drops. It is better to grow indoor peppers from seeds harvested last season if you plan to harvest this year.
The most important! The selected seeds should not have flaws - dark specks, strong twisting, damage, traces of rot. Quality seeds are pale yellow, almost White color.
How to choose the best variety
Distinguish early-ripening, mid-ripening, late-ripening. You can enjoy the fruits of early ripe varieties in 65-100 days from the moment of emergence. Fruits from mid-ripening plants can be obtained in 100-120 days. But late-ripening varieties will be able to please you with a harvest only after 120-150 days.
bush height. As a rule, lovers of indoor hot peppers prefer abundantly fruiting bushes up to 30 cm high - this is the optimal height of a bush for home pepper growing. There are also very miniature bushes 15 cm, and real giants up to a meter high.
fruit shape. Most fans prefer classic conical or elongated peppers. The fruits are round in shape, berries, often mistaken for a close and poisonous relative - nightshade, and considered inedible. This is not so - such a pepper can also be eaten, but if you are not sure that it is not a nightshade, then it is better not to risk it. There are fruits and exotic forms, for example, Aji orchid.
Fruit and leaf color. This is especially important if you plan to grow the plant as an ornamental. There are very decorative varieties of indoor pepper, for example, bolivian rainbow, Fish, which change color several times as they mature, and in the final stage of ripening can be yellow, orange or red.
The foliage of some varieties may also have blotches of different colors - white spots and dashes, lilac stripes that become brighter the more sunny the plant's location.
sharpness- if you plan to eat a crop of hot indoor pepper for food, it is important to make sure that you can do it - there are absolutely not sharp species, but there are so bitter that it is not safe for an unprepared person to eat them. Especially appreciated among gourmets habanero- fruits, depending on the variety, are pungent, but have an incomparable citrus-floral aroma and taste!
If you want to start a hot pepper at home just for the sake of beauty, then the sharpness is not important, but you should pay attention to the decorative properties (bush height, shape and color, ripening features) Special attention.
Seed germination technology
For planting five seeds of hot indoor pepper, plastic or ceramic is quite suitable. flower pot 300 ml. If you plan to plant in separate containers, you can choose smaller pots or use yogurt cups.
Step-by-step instructions for growing peppers from seeds at home:
- Pour drainage at the bottom of the container - expanded clay is best.
- Place soil on top. Usually choose a ph-neutral soil for houseplants or a mixture for peppers and tomatoes. Garden soil is not suitable, as it may contain insect larvae, fungal spores, which adversely affect seed germination.
- Seeds are recommended to be pre-soaked in warm water for several hours for swelling and faster germination. Sometimes a stimulant is added to the soaking water, in particular - Appin, to improve germination. The use of a stimulant will not affect the plant in the future, but if the seeds are collected 2-3 years ago, then the probability of successful germination will be higher. Can be planted without soaking.
- Spread the planting material evenly over the surface of the soil at a certain distance from each other. This is necessary so that as they grow, young plants do not interfere with each other.
- Sprinkle the seeds on top with soil - approximately 0.5 mm, so that they are completely covered. If the surface of the soil is dry, moisten it with water, preferably from a spray bottle for flowers. It is important that the soil surface is slightly damp, but not wet - otherwise the seeds may rot.
- As the top layer of the soil dries, it must be moistened regularly.
- It is advisable to put a plastic glass on top of the pot, thereby constructing a greenhouse. This is especially true if the landing takes place in February-March, and the air temperature in the room can be below 25 degrees.
At a temperature of 22-25 degrees shoots appear through 10-14 days if the seeds were collected 2-3 years ago, then the germination process may be delayed for another 1-2 weeks.
Seedlings need to be periodically ventilated - briefly raise the greenhouse so that young plants get used to the environment. Gradually, the periods “without a greenhouse” should be increased, and eventually completely removed.
Transplanting young plants to a permanent place
When two pairs of true leaves appear on the seedlings, it is necessary to plant them if the seeds were planted in one container. If the seedlings were planted in individual pots, then the plants can be transplanted into a larger pot when roots appear at the bottom of the water hole.
Leaving all the plants in one pot is not worth it. Decorative bitter indoor pepper is grown according to the principle one pot - one plant. The fact is that, being planted together, weaker specimens are “muffled” by stronger ones. The weak will be far behind in growth and development, flowering will be late and poor, and fruiting may not occur at all.
When planting, it is better to use small deep pots of 100 ml. Transplanting a young specimen immediately into a very large pot is not useful - the “extra” land will begin to turn sour from watering. It is better, as the plant grows, to gradually transfer it into containers, slightly larger than the previous one. The main sign that the plant is time to repot is the roots peeking out of the bottom of the pot. During the season, as a rule, the bush is transshipped 2-3 times.
Features of care and creation of conditions
The goal of every home grower is to see his plant blooming, in the case of decorative pepper, the finish is beautiful fruits decorating .
Stimulation of flowering and fruiting
Young seedlings of the "light" on the windowsill begin to bloom about a month after germination. The first flowers will most likely be empty and fall off, but as they grow and develop, ovaries will appear and fruits will develop.
Special pollination is not required, but to increase the number of ovaries, you can periodically shake the pot with a bush slightly or “pollinate” the flowers with a soft brush.
Depending on what kind of indoor hot pepper you have (early, mid-ripening or late-ripening), the first fruits may appear in summer, when the sun is at its most active, or in early to mid-autumn.
It is important to remember hot peppers at home does not require pinching and intensive formation of a bush in the first year of growth, cutting off flowers and the first ovaries. Indoor pepper itself “knows” to what height it needs to grow, when to start flowering and how many fruits to set. Your task is to provide him comfortable conditions growth.
What conditions are necessary for pepper
sunny location. It is advisable to keep the pot on the windowsill indoors. On very sunny balconies, the “lights” suffer greatly from the rays, the leaves can be damaged, the flowers fall off, and the fruits can be severely deformed and have no seeds.
In the shade, seedlings bloom reluctantly, set few fruits, and may suffer from flooding. Extremely uncomfortable bushes of hot indoor decorative pepper feel on the shelves, refrigerator and closet - away from the sun and fresh air.
Regular watering and spraying- the main components in the care of pepper at home. "Spark" loves water very much. In summer, on sunny days, the plant must be watered every day. Spray with water at room temperature, preferably twice a day.
Fertilizer. From March to September (and for late-ripening - until October), it is advisable to feed indoor peppers with specialized fertilizer for fruit plants. There is also a special fertilizer for peppers and tomatoes, it is found in shops for gardeners and florists.
Formation. In addition to the sun, water and a pot of sufficient volume, indoor hot pepper can be formed as the branches grow - this is true in late summer and autumn for plants of the first year of life and in early spring, when it comes out of dormancy.
They form, that is, cut too long branches - this gives a neater look, allows the plant to save energy. But the main trunk should not be shortened - the bush may die from this.
Rules for harvesting and collecting seeds
As the fruits ripen, you can and should harvest. There are varieties of indoor peppers, the sharpness of which decreases in full maturity. Therefore, such fruits are harvested at the stage of technical ripeness. Such unripe peppers often turn out to be much tastier than ripe ones.
For example, the fruits of the decorative hot room pepper of the Jalapeno variety (Jalapeño) are most often harvested when they are still green, but characteristic “scars” have already appeared on them, but when they become red, this species already loses its taste value.
If you are interested in seeds for planting in the future, then you need to wait until the fruits are fully ripe, that is, they will acquire the final color (yellow, orange or red). The fruits must be removed from the bush and allowed to dry for several days.
If the pepper is thin-walled, then it dries quickly enough, if it is thick-walled, then when the fruit is wrinkled, it must be carefully cut and allowed to dry again for several days.
Then the seeds are carefully removed and laid out on a napkin to dry. Well-dried seeds can be put in a bag and stored in a dry, dark place, storage in the refrigerator is allowed. The main thing is that moisture does not get in, in which case they can rot.
Caring for potted peppers in winter
Contrary to popular belief, hot indoor peppers - perennials. On average, 5 years the bush can actively bear fruit. The main thing is to transfer the plant as it grows and renew the soil every spring. However, not all flower growers are ready to provide a homely handsome man with comfortable conditions for wintering. Therefore, three options are possible.
The first. If you do not want to save this copy, at the end of the season, after the end of fruiting, the bush can be thrown away, and in February-March, a new plant can be grown from the seeds obtained.
Gradually, the leaves will partially fall off. Sometimes pepper sheds leaves completely. Branches that are too long can be shortened slightly. In winter, new leaves and even flowers may appear on the branches, especially if the thaw lasts for a long time and the heating works intensively.
In February-March, indoor pepper will start growing again, at this moment it is necessary to transplant it into a pot a little larger than the previous one, to replace the main part of the soil. Gradually increase watering.
Third. If you not only want to save the plant, but also get a crop in winter, then you need additional lighting. In this case, special lamps are installed, watering is not reduced, and top dressing is continued.
As you can see, growing ornamental peppers at home does not require special knowledge and skills. "Spark" in a pot is perfect for those who do not like to wait too long for the planted plant to finally bloom - only 3-4 months pass from seed to beautiful and fragrant fruits.
If you love, learn how to grow an avocado from a stone, and from seeds,. Watching how a miracle is born is much more interesting than buying finished flower in the shop.
Hot pepper is added to confectionery, chocolate, tea - a very unusual and effective remedy in the fight against colds and flu!