How to grow chili peppers at home
Here are some experiences on the topic of growing chili peppers and caring for green plants at home, including detailed content as follows:
Chili peppers are not only nutritious but also have the function of dispelling cold, and they are in high demand in the market. Due to their high economic value, chili peppers are extensively cultivated in our country. They are highly adaptable and, besides field cultivation, many people enjoy growing them in home potted plants. Not only can they be admired, but you can also enjoy the chili peppers you've planted with your own hands. So, how exactly should you grow them? Let's learn together.
1. Variety selection
For home balcony potted chili peppers, you can mainly choose Hangjiang pepper and Xianxiao pepper, which have high yields and are suitable for planting on balconies and in homes. If you are planting ornamental varieties, recommended ones include colorful peppers, purple朝天 (purple upward-pointing) peppers, and millet peppers.
2. Potting soil selection
Choose a pot with specifications of (25-30) cm x (25-30) cm, mostly made of plastic, with ceramic as the second choice, and plant one strong seedling in each pot. The soil is recommended to be a mixture of composted crop straw and garden soil in a 1:1 volume ratio.
3. Sowing method
You can broadcast sow or point sow for seedling transplanting. It's best to disinfect the seeds first by soaking them in warm water at about 50°C for 15 minutes, then soak them in a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for about 20 minutes, and after rinsing with clean water, proceed to sow. Sprinkle the seeds on the soil surface (if point sowing, 2-3 seeds per hole), cover with about 1 cm of soil, and keep the soil moist. The seeds will germinate in about 3-5 days.
4. Transplanting and planting
When the chili seedlings grow to about 10 cm high, you can start transplanting. Simply turn the entire cup of soil and seedling out together, then transplant into a larger pot. After transplanting, be sure not to place it in a very sunny spot at first, and remember to water thoroughly.
5. Maintenance management
About a week after moving the potted plant, thin the chili peppers, keeping 2-4 "paired peppers", and fertilize again to promote growth. Once the seedlings stand up, stop watering to make the stems stronger without excessive growth. In the later stages, you will also need to prune the chili peppers, which means removing the upper branches of the peppers and moderately trimming the leaves to give them a good plant shape.
6. Scientific harvesting
Usually 2-3 weeks after the flowers fade, the fruits are fully swollen and green when they can be harvested, or they can be picked when the fruits turn yellow or red. Try to harvest in multiple batches, picking the fruit along with the stem, leaving more fruits on the plant, which can increase yield.
Overall, the method of growing chili peppers in pots at home is not difficult, and friends who enjoy chili peppers might as well try growing them at home.
The above information provides a comprehensive explanation of how to grow chili peppers at home and the methods for potted chili pepper cultivation. I hope it helps you.