What are the methods for selecting chili pepper seeds and raising seedlings?
Chili pepper is an indispensable seasoning on our dining tables; its rich aroma can bring out more deliciousness in food, especially in Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou and other places where people eat a lot of spicy food. The planting area of chili peppers in China has been continuously expanding, and many friends in rural areas also grow a little in their own yards. The spring plowing festival is coming soon, and many friends have begun to select seeds and plant chili peppers. So how do you select chili pepper seeds? What are the seedling raising methods? Let's take a look together below.
1. How to select chili pepper seeds?
The seeds of chili peppers must be selected correctly. After planting once, if the variety was relatively good that year, you can save seeds, so that the fruiting rate the following year can also be guaranteed. However, before planting, we should first mix a certain amount of organic fertilizer into the original soil, and then carry out deep plowing. Combining the two in this way is more conducive to the growth of young seedlings.
2. What are the seedling raising methods for chili peppers?
1. Seedling raising time
The time for raising chili pepper seedlings in spring is generally chosen in mid-to-late February, that is, in early spring. This is exactly when all things grow, and strong seedlings can be cultivated under low temperatures, allowing an earlier market launch and increasing vegetable growing profits.
2. Seed treatment
The seedling raising method for chili peppers is mainly sowing. Before sowing, the seeds must first be soaked in room-temperature water for about 8 hours. The time should not be too long, otherwise it will cause serious nutrient loss and reduce the germination rate. It should also not be too short, otherwise the seeds will not absorb enough water, which likewise affects germination. After soaking, drain the seeds, then place them on a wet cloth and wrap them in a plastic bag. Then place the plastic bag at a temperature of about 30 degrees for germination. During germination, the seeds need to be turned appropriately every day so that they are heated evenly. After about 5 days, when about 75% of the seeds have sprouted white, sowing can begin.
3. Seedbed selection
The seedling bed for chili peppers should be chosen on soil that is sheltered from the wind, has sufficient light, is thick and loose, and has normal drainage and irrigation. The previous crop in the soil should not be potato, chili pepper or similar crops. Then control the area according to the planting quantity. The seedling trench should not be too wide or too long, otherwise it will affect the growth of the seedlings. Then prepare nutrient soil well to ensure sufficient nutrients and that it is sterile and pest-free. The nutrient soil is mainly mixed from field soil, farmyard manure and agents such as carbendazim. It can both provide nutrients for seedling growth and do a good job in pest and disease control during the seedling stage.
4. Timely sowing
Before sowing, we should first water the seedbed thoroughly, and only sow after the water has completely seeped into the soil. The sowing method for chili peppers is generally broadcasting, and when broadcasting, spread the seeds evenly and comprehensively over the seedbed to promote uniform emergence. After broadcasting, mix soil with agents such as Miaojundi and cover the seeds well. This prevents diseases such as damping-off during the chili pepper seedling stage. Also cover it with a layer of nutrient soil about 1 cm thick, then cover with a layer of plastic film. This improves the seedbed's heat and moisture retention capacity, promotes seed germination and increases the emergence rate.
5. Seedbed management
After sowing, control the temperature well, keeping the daytime temperature at about 22 degrees, with the day-night temperature difference controlled at about 10 degrees. When about 65% of the seeds have emerged, remove the plastic film. If the temperature is too high at noon, do a good job of ventilation and cooling to prevent seedling scorching caused by excessive temperature. Then control moisture well; if the soil is dry, spray water appropriately, but not too much. Then when the seedlings grow about two true leaves, thin them appropriately, keep strong seedlings and increase the growing space for the seedlings. Finally, about half a month before transplanting, carry out hardening off so that the seedlings adapt to the external environment and the survival rate is improved.
The above is an introduction to chili peppers. In the daily production of chili peppers, problems such as uneven emergence and slow emergence often occur, so farmers growing chili peppers must strengthen management and select chili pepper seeds of qualified quality.
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