Cultivating Mini Chili Peppers on the Balcony
In the urban life where every square inch of land is precious, growing vegetables on the balcony has become a new trend. Among the many cultivable varieties, chili peppers have become a popular choice for urban gardeners due to their dual purpose of being ornamental and edible. This article will systematically analyze the entire process of growing chili pepper盆栽 from seeding to harvest, guiding you step by step to create a mini chili forest on your balcony.
The Four-Step Process of Growing Chili Pepper Pots
Key Steps for Seed Treatment
1. Select mature chili peppers, split them lengthwise, and use forceps to pick up the seeds to avoid direct contact with capsaicin, which can cause a burning sensation. 2. Spread the seeds in a cool, well-ventilated area and let them dry for 5-7 days, flipping them daily to ensure even dehydration. 3. Soak the seeds in 40°C warm water for 2 hours before sowing to activate their viability.
Essentials of Scientific Seeding
The best seeding period is from March to May. Use a ceramic pot with a diameter of over 25cm, and prepare the substrate according to the ratio of garden soil: decomposed leaf soil: perlite = 5:3:2. Keep a 2cm spacing when sowing, and cover the soil with a thickness of no more than 0.5cm. Use the immersion pot method for the first watering to avoid scattering the seeds.
Seedling Management Tips
Gradually increase light exposure after the cotyledons have spread, and thin the seedlings when they have 3-4 true leaves, keeping a spacing of over 15cm for the healthy seedlings and removing the yellowed and overgrown ones. Control water for 3 days before transplanting to toughen the seedlings, and transplanting with soil can increase the survival rate.
Norms for Adult Plant Maintenance
After planting, place the pot on a south-facing balcony to ensure 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Use the "moist when dry" watering method, and rotate the pot weekly to ensure even light exposure. During the flowering period, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer appropriately to increase the fruit-setting rate.
Five Secrets to Increase Chili Pepper Yield
Substrate Improvement Plan
Place 3cm of fermented sheep manure at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer, mix bone meal in the middle layer to supplement calcium, and cover the top layer with pine bark to adjust the pH. Supplement with EM bacterial solution monthly to enhance soil activity.
Plant Shaping Techniques
Pinch the main stem when it reaches 20cm to promote side branches, and keep 4-6 primary branches. When the secondary branches grow to 8cm, perform a second topping to form an umbrella-shaped, high-yielding plant. Remove the old leaves at the base of the plant in a timely manner to enhance ventilation.
Precise Fertilization Strategy
Apply seaweed fertilizer during the budding stage and supplement with wood ash extract during the fruit-setting stage. Follow the principle of applying thin fertilizers frequently, and complement with foliar spraying of potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution (0.2% concentration).
Environmental Control Techniques
Maintaining a day-night temperature difference of 8-10°C is beneficial for fruit expansion. During the hot season, provide shade during the noon. Keep the air humidity at 60-70% during the fruit-bearing period, which can be adjusted using the water tray method.
Disease and Pest Control
Control aphids with chili water spray and powdery mildew with baking soda solution. Regularly prune dense branches to maintain good ventilation and light exposure.
By mastering these cultivation techniques, the annual yield of a single chili pepper plant can reach 1.5-2.5 kilograms. It takes about 90 days from seeding to the first harvest, with a continuous fruiting period of up to 8 months. The vitamin content of the fresh-picked balcony chili peppers is more than twice that of commercially available products, providing a zero-distance fresh experience from the field to the table.