How to prepare soil for pepper seedlings. Soil for pepper seedlings - how to prepare the land for sowing

All types of peppers belong to the nightshade family, their distinctive feature is the susceptibility of the root system to external stimuli - even in mature and mature plants. In order for pepper seedlings to be of high quality and healthy, the issue of choosing soil must be approached very carefully, because timely watering and top dressing may not be enough for rapid growth and full development of plants. Land that lacks nutrients is one of the main causes of problem growing pepper seedlings at home. Let's take a closer look at which soil is best suited.

The beginning of the planting season for gardeners falls in early spring or the end of winter - it is at this time that seeds and planting materials are prepared.

On a note! Ready-made soil, which is sold in gardening stores, usually has universal properties for planting, but in order to be sure that pepper seedlings will grow as they should, it is worth knowing the composition and characteristics of purchased soil.

Distinctive features of suitable soil.

What kind of soil should not be chosen?

1. Soil that contains larvae, eggs and other foreign objects that indicate the presence of pests and the development of diseases is not suitable.
2. Clay-based soil, as well as peat, is not suitable.
3. The acidity is usually indicated on the packaging - do not use the soil if the acidity values ​​\u200b\u200bare higher than desired.

On a note! Despite the fact that there are a lot of varieties of soil, in order to obtain high-quality pepper seedlings, it is recommended to prepare the soil mixture yourself.

What to prepare the soil from?

All of the following soil components bring certain nutrients to the mixture that allow plants to develop better. Here is what is recommended for peppers:

• humus or two-year-old compost;
• substances to improve the friability of the soil;
• a small amount of peat;
• ground based foliage;
• turf.

On a note! When preparing the soil mixture at home, you can use both all of the components presented, and some of the components.

Now let's talk more about the characteristics of each component.

Humus

There are differences between compost and humus, so to prepare the mixture you need to understand what is best to use.

Compost is decomposed organic waste, which is usually stored in boxes or specially designated places. Usually, the composition of the compost contains traces of peat, garden soil, etc. It does not differ from humus in appearance, however, it can be used as an integral part of the soil for seedlings no earlier than two years after the initial laying.

On a note! Fresh compost is unsuitable for the tender root system of young peppers.

Humus is the result of manure overheating, which is already almost devoid of the original smell. As a rule, it smells of ordinary earth or forest soil. The time of preparation and maturation of humus is from 2 to 5 years, it is suitable for growing seedlings, garden trees and various types of flowers.

On a note! When preparing the soil yourself, it is best to use humus, but if it is not possible, compost that has lain for at least two years is also suitable.

Soil leavening agents

These substances are used to give the soil the necessary structure, which allows water and nutrients to freely pass through it. Usually coarse river sand or other substances are used as baking powder.

On a note! You can use these additives or get by with river sand.

Peat as a constituent of the soil enriches its composition well. Air is better supplied to the roots, and plants receive the necessary amount of nitrogen. When pre-harvesting land for peppers, you need to use peat with caution - not all types will work.

How is peat classified?

• lowland;
• transition;
• surface.

For a sensitive root system of pepper seedlings, lowland and transitional peat is suitable.

On a note! When using surface peat, it is necessary to reduce the acidity with lime or ash.

The main component is rotten leaves fallen from trees, the second name is leaf humus. Such soil is either taken directly in the forest under the crowns of trees, or made independently in the garden.

This type of land is prepared in the same way as compost - it takes the same time and requires identical actions. In the compost heap, the foliage previously collected under the trees with layers of prepared soil is laid in layers. To speed up the process of humus, the leaves are watered.

On a note! You should wait for the complete decomposition of the leafy earth, i.e. use it no earlier than one and a half or two years later.

The best leaves are from under birch and linden, but maple, oak or aspen leaves are not recommended.

Turf

Sod - the upper part of the soil, saturated with nutrients and retaining benefits for a long time (up to several years).

Turf types:

• heavy sod land with clay in the composition;
• medium - clay mixed with sand;
• light - with a high content of sand.

For the spring planting of seedlings, the preparation of components is carried out in early autumn. All components are laid out in buckets or bags and left to freeze well for the whole winter.

On a note! The earth mixture does not require special proportions, you can mix all the components, guided by your intuition.

What inorganic substances can be used?

What are the soil recipes for seedlings?

There are five main compositions of soil mixtures.

1. An equal combination of sand, two-year-old compost (humus), garden soil and peat.
2. Use in equal parts of garden or deciduous soil, sand with turf and humus.
3. Superphosphate added to a mixture of lowland peat and aged compost.
4. The same amount of sand and peat (low or middle) and two parts of sod land.
5. A uniform amount of humus and leafy soil with turf.

For each of the presented options for the mixture, any baking powder of your choice can be used.

On a note! It must be remembered that early compost and fresh manure are not suitable.

Training

Usually pepper seedlings are prepared for planting at the very end of February or early spring. In about seven days, the ground laid since autumn is thawed and disinfected.

Disinfection of soil mixtures

Fungicides and insecticides are used only when you are sure of the presence of pathogenic microflora in the soil. This usually happens if the source of the soil is unreliable - for example, soil from the forest, not from the garden.

On a note! The dosage is strictly observed, adhering to individual methods of protection.

You can steam the soil from thirty minutes to two hours. After that, the soil is packed in containers or bags.

The soil can be kept for some time in the oven at a temperature of about 50 degrees. At higher temperatures, there is a risk of death of beneficial microflora.

On a note! It is allowed to cultivate the land with a light solution of potassium permanganate.

During disinfection, not only harmful bacteria and pests can die, but also beneficial microflora, so it is recommended to add a certain amount of fertilizer. It is important to strictly observe the dosage - in a land with a high content of top dressing, pepper seedlings are more susceptible to disease. Usually fertilizers containing potassium humate are used (for example, Baikal EM-1).

Soil in the garden

It is important to take into account the composition of the soil, not only when growing seedlings in pots and boxes, but also when transplanting into open ground. The land in the beds is pre-treated before planting the grown seedlings.

Firstly, you need to fertilize the beds in advance, seven days in advance - organic or universal mineral fertilizers are suitable. With an increased level of acidity, ash and lime are added.

On a note! Deacidification is best done in the fall, and not just before planting.

Secondly, a few days after top dressing, thorough watering is carried out - this will distribute the applied nutrients over the soil. After that, they wait about a week and proceed to transplant seedlings of peppers to the main place.

On a note! The harvest of peppers grown on well-prepared soil will delight the owner with wealth and healthy, large fruits.

When preparing the soil, it is usually not necessary to add an additional amount of earth, however, if necessary, you can add a little soil to the seedling boxes - it is important not to sprinkle the first leaves (cotyledons) that appear. The soil is used previously prepared, left over from the initial planting, or treated soil is added with an admixture of sleeping tea leaves. Pour the soil gradually, several times.

On a note! As soon as the lower part of the plant becomes stiff, you can stop adding soil, otherwise the plant may react negatively with a slow development of the rhizome.

How is the soil stored properly?

How to determine the correct acidity of the soil?

Usually, in the middle lane, peppers are planted in greenhouses along with tomato seedlings. But few people know that these crops have completely different requirements for the level of soil acidity. grow quietly at acidity above 5 pH, but neutral soil is most suitable.

Acidity is determined simply - you will need a special device with a special earthen probe that gives the appropriate values.

On a note! If there is no such measuring device, you can use litmus paper. To use it, they take part of the soil from the greenhouse from a depth of just over 10-15 cm and keep it wrapped in gauze in purified distilled water. After that, the test strip is immersed in water and checked against the acidity scale that comes with the kit.

If the acidity of the soil is increased, it will need to be reduced. Deacidification methods can be as follows:

• (about 0.5 kg per square meter);
• wood ash (about 1.5 kg per square meter);
• special substance "Lime-Gumi" (according to the instructions, about a glass per square meter).

In some cases, it is required to increase the acidity of the soil (if the pH is greater than 7). Then add high-moor peat - 1.5-2 kilograms per square meter. With an increased alkali content (this is also displayed on litmus), you can balance the values ​​\u200b\u200bby adding ammonium sulfate.

On a note! Such soils are well suited for making a large amount of organic top dressing.

For proper development of pepper, a moderate content of any nutrients is required - their overabundance or small amount does not allow seedlings to grow normally.

With a large amount of nitrogen, peppers do not bloom well and give a small amount of yield, the plant does not resist disease well. If there is too little nitrogen, the foliage turns yellow, and the fruits are usually underdeveloped and deformed.

- with a small amount of it, the lower leaves fall, the shoots become stiff, and fruit set does not occur. The resulting peppers become stained.

On a note! If the amount of potassium exceeds the allowable rate, the flowers and ovaries of peppers fall off.

If the plant does not have enough, the leaves become bluish at first, then turn red, flowering is delayed. If there is too much phosphorus, necrosis and leaf fall occurs.

If you provide pepper seedlings with the necessary conditions, you can confidently expect a rich harvest by mid-summer.

Video - Preparing the land for pepper seedlings

Almost all vegetable growers grow pepper in their backyards. The matter is not simple. In order to get the desired harvest, it is necessary to carry out all care measures in time, to prevent or prevent diseases in time.

Pepper is a late-ripening crop, so in central Russia it is grown through seedlings. Growing pepper seedlings is a business that requires a lot of knowledge and experience. Only in this case can you get good material for planting in a permanent place (in open ground or in a greenhouse).

One of the most important conditions for obtaining high-quality seedlings is high-quality soil. In this article we will tell you which soil to choose for pepper and how to make it yourself.

The requirements for the soil are quite high, let's look at them.

Composition and soil requirements for pepper.

The soil for pepper must have a certain composition and is saturated with organic matter and useful trace elements.

The composition of the soil for pepper in terms of nutrient content should be approximately as follows:

• Nitrogen (N) 150-350 mg/l
• Phosphorus (P2O5) ≥ 30 mg/l
• Potassium (K2O) 250-400 mg/l
• Trace elements: S, Mg, Ca, B, Fe, Zn, Mo, Cu, Mn
  pH 5.5-6.5

What soil to choose?

There is a huge selection on the market today. You can choose the soil for any plant. But is all purchased soil as good as the manufacturer claims? Unfortunately no.

Many manufacturers instead of nutrient soil put simple 100% peat in bags. It is impossible to grow seedlings on such soil. Peat can only be used as a baking powder.

Do not look at the manufacturer, but pay attention to the composition of the soil. Despite the choice, it is very difficult to find a good soil for pepper.

How to make soil for pepper with your own hands.

This soil recipe is perfect for bell peppers. To prepare the soil, we take: 1 part of peat, 1 part of humus and one part of sod land. All this is thoroughly mixed. We add one and a half to two glasses of wood ash (per 10 liters of soil) and two tablespoons of superphosphate to this mixture.

Be sure to treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate to prevent the development of harmful organisms in the soil that can provoke pepper diseases.

All types of peppers have sensitive and tender roots, especially seedlings. For this reason, in order to grow healthy and strong seedlings, there is little proper watering and timely feeding. If young plants die at a novice gardener, most are looking for a problem in organizing care, forgetting about the most important factor - the composition of the soil mixture. Incorrectly selected soil for peppers, with a low content of essential nutrients, can lead to seedling diseases.

Soil selection for seedlings

The last month of winter, gradually turning into the beginning of spring, is a busy period for gardeners. Everyone begins to buy the necessary seeds during this period and choose which soil is best for pepper seedlings. At the point of sale, taking one of the packages with a universal soil mixture, not everyone thinks whether it is suitable for young plants.

It is important to understand what the soil needs:

You need to know which soil is not at all suitable for pepper:

• soil where eggs and larvae of pests, fungal spores can be;
• it is undesirable to take components where there is a lot of clay;
• the substrate is not suitable, where there is only one peat.

Nowadays, many manufacturers of purchased soil mixture indicate the acidity and composition of the mixture on the package. For this reason, choosing and purchasing a ready-made mixture in the store is more convenient than preparing all the components yourself. But if you need to get the most healthy and strong seedlings of pepper, then you will need to independently prepare the land for seedlings of peppers.

The composition of the soil mixture

The components of the mixture for pepper are not chosen by chance and not from what is at hand. Each of the components has certain qualities that improve the finished mixture. Mostly in mixtures for peppers, the following components are introduced:

• soddy soil;
• leaf ground;
• riding peat;
• soil loosening components;
• quality sludge.

The soil does not have to be made up of all of the above components, you need to decide how to prepare the ground for seedlings of peppers based on your conditions.

Compost and manure. Some gardeners think that compost and humus are no different, but they are different materials. Compost is prepared from rotted organic components, which are laid for a certain period in compost heaps or special boxes.

In addition to all kinds of herbal ingredients, you need to add to it:

• good land, can be taken from a garden or vegetable garden (supplies the necessary microorganisms to decaying organic matter);
• phosphorite flour;
• high peat.

Outwardly, compost resembles humus, but it can only replace it if it lies for 2 years.

And humus is an almost perfect fertilizer, it is prepared from rotted manure. High quality humus does not have the smell of manure, it is more like the smell of spring earth. High-quality humus is prepared in 2-5 years and can be used for any garden crops.

Important! In a self-prepared soil mixture, it is advisable to add humus, not compost, but if it is difficult to get it, then well-rotted compost will do.

Soil conditioners. These components are necessary to increase the porosity of the soil mixture and make the soil for seedlings better. Basically, coarse-grained river sand is used for this. But you can use components in which the ability to loosen is combined with other positive characteristics:

• sphagnum - due to its bactericidal characteristics, protects the roots from the spread of rot;
• sawdust - work as a moisture-retaining component and to lighten the soil;
• perlite - reduces the risk of fungal diseases and helps maintain soil temperature;
• vermiculite - accumulates moisture, slows down the drying of the soil.

To loosen the mixture, you can add any of these components.

Peat. It will help to improve the quality of the soil for growing seedlings and at the same time enrich its composition. As part of the mixture, the soil with peat absorbs air well and supplies nitrogen. But not any peat is suitable.

In total there are 3 types of this fertilizer:

• lowland - the most acidic peat;
• transition;
• horse - the most nutritious and decomposed fertilizer.

Taking into account the characteristics of pepper seedlings, you need to choose a transitional or high-moor peat. If low-lying peat is used, then it must be limed or wood ash added.

leafy soil. You can understand by the name that this component is obtained from rotted leaves, it can be found under mature trees. Due to the high content of nutrients, it is also called leaf humus.

It is possible to prepare leafy soil in the same way as compost, according to the technology and the duration of the process, these methods are no different. The leaves collected under the trees are collected in large heaps, layers of ordinary soil are made between them. Periodically, they need to be moistened with water. To make the leaves rot faster, urea or fresh manure is added to them. You can use it only when the leaves are completely overripe, usually it takes 1-2 years, this land is better suited for pepper seedlings.

Attention! Fallen leaves can be collected not under any trees. You should not take aspen, maple or oak leaves, they contain a lot of tannins, which greatly inhibit the overheating of organic matter. And the leaves from under the birch or linden will prepare excellent soil for pepper seedlings.

Turf. The layer of soil with plant roots, called soddy soil, contains many nutrients that remain active for many years.

There are 3 types of soddy soil:

• heavy - in which there is a lot of clay;
• medium severity - it contains both sand and clay parts;
• light - almost all consists of sand.

The soil for seedlings of peppers with their own hands should contain turfy soil of light and medium composition. It is harvested in summer or autumn. Cutting off a layer of soil along with the grass growing on it, they put it in heaps and wait for the organic matter to overheat, and then store it in a dry place.

How to prepare soil for seedlings

With self-preparation of soil for seedlings of pepper, it is required to prepare all the components in advance. They are stored in sacks or bags in autumn and left to freeze through the winter.

The components are mixed, guided by their intuition, or use standard formulations.

Types of soil mixtures

To select a specific composition, they are guided by the presence of certain components. There are 5 basic recipes for soil formulations that are used before transplanting pepper seedlings into the ground is required:

• high-moor peat, deciduous soil, humus and coarse sand in the same amount;
• the same amount of coarse sand, soddy land, humus and garden soil. To the finished composition, add a glass of wood ash to each bucket;
• good humus and lowland peat in equal amounts with the addition of superphosphate;
• the same amount of coarse sand and peat, add 20% of sod land to the mixture;
• the same amount of humus, leafy and soddy soil.

Any suitable loosening material can be used in place of sand in any of these recipes.

Advice! Poorly rotted compost, fresh manure or poorly processed turf should not be added to the mixture.

Soil preparation at home

Planting pepper for seedlings should be carried out around the end of February - beginning of March. For this reason, a week before sowing seeds, you need to start preparing the ground. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to defrost it and destroy harmful bacteria in it.

To disinfect the soil, several methods are used:

• thawed soil is first pickled with insecticidal and fungicidal compounds. Such land preparation for planting pepper seedlings is needed only if there are doubts about the quality of the harvested soil components. They can appear if low-quality components or those harvested in the forest are introduced into the composition of the soil mixture. If you use this method of soil disinfection, then you should not forget about the permissible dosage of toxic drugs and your own means of protection;
• you can steam the soil from 0.5 hours to several hours. After processing the soil with steam, it must be folded into hermetically sealed containers or in bags until it is used for its intended purpose;
• disinfection is carried out in the oven at a temperature of 50 degrees. Gardeners sometimes process the soil at higher temperatures, but at the same time, you will also destroy beneficial microorganisms. In what soil to plant pepper seedlings is up to you.

In more detail, the entire process of disinfecting the earth is shown in the video:

Preparing the soil for planting pepper seedlings by steaming the prepared land can reduce its nutritional properties, for this reason it is advisable to add additional fertilizers to the soil. But even here you can't get carried away. A seedling planted in the ground with too much mineral fertilizer can get sick or die completely. For this reason, before sowing seeds or planting seedlings, it is necessary to feed the soil with weakly concentrated fertilizers such as potassium humate.

Soil preparation in the garden

For pepper seedlings, the quality of the soil is important both when growing it indoors or in protective structures, and after planting it on the beds. For this reason, in the beds it is also necessary to properly prepare the land for transplanting seedlings.

The most important thing is to feed the future beds in advance, this should be done about a week before you transplant the seedlings. For this, it is better to use organic fertilizers, but, in extreme cases, minerals are also suitable.

Attention! If the soil in your area is too acidic, then you will have to lime it or scatter wood ash on the surface of the bed.

It is necessary to lime the bed and make wood ash in advance, preferably in the autumn. Before transplanting, simple preparation and top dressing of the soil is needed.

After feeding the beds, you need to wait a few days, after which it is good to water the site. This will make it possible to evenly distribute fertilizers inside the soil. After that, you need to wait a few more days, and only after that plant the seedlings in a permanent place.

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Every gardener knows that in order to grow and get a good harvest of tomatoes and peppers, it is very important to observe 3 important points: high-quality seeds, the right soil for seedlings, and compliance with growing conditions (temperature, humidity, light).

A balanced soil for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers ensures the development of the root system and the nutrition of the whole plant. Experienced vegetable growers share the secrets of preparing soil mixtures on which healthy and strong seedlings grow - the key to a rich harvest.

Taking care of the soil in which the seeds will germinate is necessary first of all. It should be light, loose, porous and not too acidic (preferably close to neutral, pH in the range of 6.5-7.0).

The soil for growing seedlings should be fertile, optimally saturated with organic matter and mineral fertilizers. For normal growth and development of seedlings, it must not only absorb moisture well, but also retain it. Such indicators can be achieved by properly preparing the substrate for seedlings.

Beginning vegetable growers often make a typical mistake: sow seeds directly into the soil from the garden. An ordinary earthen mixture taken from the beds is highly dense; it will be difficult for plants to develop in it. Therefore, many fail to grow vegetable seedlings at home and have to buy plants that are ready for planting.

Soil mix components

1. Humus - obtained from rotted plants or manure, it provides the soil with high nutritional and fertile properties.
2. Peat - helps to increase the friability of the soil, absorbs and retains moisture well, providing the plant with the necessary amount of it.
3. River sand - used as a baking powder, should be large, clean, without inclusions of clay. Before use, it must be washed and calcined on fire or in the oven.
4. Perlite is an environmentally friendly material that can replace sand, it absorbs moisture well and makes the soil loose.
5. Sawdust - can be used as a baking powder instead of peat and sand, must be clean, they are treated with boiling water before use.
6. Leafy soil is loose soil with a low nutrient content, which is used in combination with other types of soil. They collect it in the forest where deciduous trees grow. Experts do not recommend using the land collected under oak, willow, chestnut: due to saturation with tannins, good quality soil for seedlings will not work out of it.

Unacceptable soil additives

For growing seedlings of pepper and tomatoes, organic fertilizers that are in the process of decay cannot be used. Fresh manure, tea leaves, unripe leaves, falling into the ground, begin to decompose.

A large amount of heat generated during this can burn the seeds. If they have time to ascend, then the seedlings will still die from the high temperature. With the decomposition of organic components in the substrate, the amount of nitrogen decreases, which is very harmful for young plants.

Sand or earth mixed with clay is not suitable for making a nutrient mixture: clay compacts and makes the soil heavier, and this is unacceptable for seedlings. In heavy soil that does not allow air and moisture to pass through, the seedlings will get sick and may even die.

Do not use soil collected near a busy highway or even on the territory of an abandoned chemical enterprise for preparing a substrate. Heavy metals quickly accumulate in the soil and remain in it for a long time, and plants can easily absorb them.

How to prepare the soil mixture with your own hands?

A ready-made substrate for growing seedlings of tomatoes and peppers is easy to purchase at the store today. Many gardeners, fearing low-quality goods, prefer to prepare the soil for seedlings with their own hands at home. Each vegetable has individual preferences and needs, so experienced vegetable growers are advised to prepare a mixture for seedlings of various crops separately.

The soil must be prepared in the fall so that it freezes well in winter. It is better to take the land from the forest or collect it on a site where garden crops have not grown for 2-3 years. Weeds and grass must be removed, the earthen mass must be sifted through a sieve so that it becomes soft and loose. This contributes to the formation of a developed and powerful root system in plants.

Experienced gardeners advise taking land at the place where nettle grows. The roots of the plant are not strong, it does not allow the neighborhood of weeds, so this mass is suitable for vegetables.

It is recommended to start preparing the soil for seedlings by mixing the components, which is best done not immediately before sowing the seeds, but at least a few days in advance. During this time, the soil will settle and will not form voids that are washed out during irrigation. Having spread the polyethylene, each component is poured onto it in the required proportions.

Substrate preparation options for pepper and tomato seedlings:

1. One part of garden or sod land, peat and river sand. Mix the mixture thoroughly and pour well with a nutrient solution: 25-30 grams of potassium sulfate, 30 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of urea per 10 liters of water.
2. Mix in equal proportions garden or turf soil, humus and peat, add a half-liter jar of wood ash and 2 matchboxes of superphosphate to the resulting mixture.
3. Mix 2 parts garden or sod land with 1 part humus and 1 part river sand. Add a half-liter jar of wood ash to a bucket of the mixture.

Proper preparation of the soil and the use of fertilizers rich in minerals and trace elements helps to reduce the period of growing seedlings by almost 2 weeks. Peat-based soil contains long fibers that perform the function of deoxidizing fertilizers that have an increased acidity.

If the main soil itself is nutritious, it is not worth over-fertilizing the soil mixture for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers. The plant does not require many trace elements at the initial stage of seed germination. Only with the advent of the first true leaves does the need arise for them. Additional nutrition can be applied a few weeks after germination in the form of liquid fertilizer.

Some vegetable growers practice mixing their own prepared substrate with a purchased one. From the ready-made mixtures presented in stores, you can choose the following: "Gardener", "Flora", "Krepysh", "Gardener", "Humimax". To avoid fakes, it is recommended to purchase them from trusted retail outlets.

Soil disinfection

Disinfection is an important point in the process of preparing a mixture for seedlings. To obtain a good harvest and prevent the death of plants from the soil mass, it is necessary to remove pathogenic larvae and bacteria.

In order to disinfect the soil, various methods are used:

• freezing;
• watering with disinfectants;
• steam processing.

After undergoing "thermotherapy", the composition is heated, a teaspoon of urea, 2 teaspoons of superphosphate and half a glass of ash are added. After mixing, pour in a manganese solution (3 grams per bucket of water). After 2 weeks, seeds can be planted in a disinfected substrate.

One of the effective methods of disinfecting the earthen mass is steaming. At the bottom of a metal container, it is necessary to pour 1-1.5 centimeters of water, fix the edges of a clean natural fabric with an elastic band and pour the earth mixture into it. For 20-30 minutes, put the container on a slow fire so that the water boils away.

Under the influence of high temperature, the larvae and pathogens will die. When steaming, the soil is additionally saturated with moisture. Some gardeners practice calcining the earth in the oven, but with such treatment, along with pathogenic microbes, nutrients can also disappear from the soil.

Checking the acidity level

It is necessary to check the level of acidity of the soil mass: slightly acidic soils contribute to the infection of plants with clubroot and black leg. Among the methods for determining the acid-base balance of earthen mass, gardeners use laboratory tests, testing with a special litmus test, determination using wild herbs, many of which choose a specific type of soil.

To carry out analyzes in the laboratory, you need to dig holes and place the contents in a bag, sign and indicate the coordinates. Special tests sold in stores are also effective: paper turns red on an acidic surface, darkens on an alkaline one. Another folk method is to moisten a lump of earth with vinegar. If the acidity is lowered, it will make noise.

When determining the type of soil using wild herbs, it is important to know that plantain, wheatgrass, veronica, pikulnik, heather prefer to grow on soils with neutral or high acidity. Alkaline surfaces are chosen by pine, ash, larkspur, European spindle tree. Buttercup creeping, bird buckwheat, white gauze, wild strawberry, field bindweed will develop on any soil.

With increased acidity, 15 grams of dolomite flour is added per 1 kilogram of soil mass. The quality of seedlings of tomatoes and peppers will improve significantly if you fertilize the mixture with grated eggshells.

The future harvest of pepper depends not only on seedlings, but also on the land in which it was planted. This can be self-prepared soil or an option purchased in specialized gardening stores.

The problem with the latter is that such options are made from peat with the addition of an excessive amount of fertilizer. That is why seedlings “burn” in them so often. In this regard, it is better to prepare a good soil for planting yourself, without worrying about its quality. It is worth considering in more detail all the nuances of cooking.

General requirements

An excess of minerals can not only slow down the growth of seeds, but also cause the development of various kinds of diseases in them.

To grow good and strong seedlings, it is necessary that the land meets the following requirements:

1. Good moisture and air permeability. To achieve this, the soil must have the right degree of friability, be porous and not very heavy, so that good access to both oxygen and water is provided to the roots of the plant.
2. Balanced fertilizers and minerals. The composition of the earth, in addition to all organic substances, should contain useful microelements in an easily digestible form for plants, but in an amount not exceeding the norm.
3. Acidity. It should not exceed 7.0, but at the same time be at least 6.5.

Simply put, in order to grow pepper seedlings, the land must be balanced with nutrients. Any significant deviation from the norm negatively affects the yield. It is best to feed over time during the active growth phase.

Soil composition

In no case should you add clay, this will make the soil more dense and reduce its throughput.

A common problem for beginner gardeners is planting seeds in uncultivated soil. This causes unsuccessful attempts to grow seedlings themselves, after which they buy ready-made options for planting.

To prevent this from happening, the soil must be properly prepared, so it must consist of components such as:

1. Peat. It allows you to make the soil the desired looseness and provide the desired moisture to the plant.
2. Humus. Due to the content of a huge amount of minerals, it is the best way to increase fertility.
3. Baking powders. The main type of such a component is river sand. If it is used together with peat, then such a mixture replaces sawdust. However, it is worth noting that before using them, you must first treat with boiling water.
4. Leaf land. A good option for loose soil. Its main disadvantage is the low content of essential minerals and nutrients.

Worth knowing: if purchased soil options are used, they must be diluted with ash and sand to reduce the standard level of mineral overload.

Therefore, to use this type of land, you need to combine it with other types of soil and fertilizers. Such land is collected in forest belts, where deciduous trees grow in large numbers.

Mixing components

If it is not possible to use manure, it can be replaced with various mineral fertilizers.

The process of preparing soil for seedlings begins with mixing. To do this, a thick plastic film is spread on the ground, on which all the components are poured in the proportions indicated below.

The standard soil for pepper seedlings should have the following composition:

1. Mix equal amounts of soddy soil, peat and the same amount of river sand. It is very good to mix this whole mixture and add 30 g of superphosphate, the same amount of potassium sulfate, 10 l of water and 10 g of urea to them. Stir the resulting mixture and leave to dry.

It is important to know: those who have considerable experience advise making separate seedlings for each variety. This is necessary in order to more optimally select components for the individual needs of each type.

1. Another option is to mix humus with peat and turf, also in equal amounts. Stir and add a half-liter jar of ash and 35-40 g of superphosphate.

Soil disinfection

The most sparing option for soil disinfection is freezing, since when treated with high temperatures, the soil also loses its beneficial properties.

In addition to the fact that unbalanced soil can destroy seedlings, diseases can destroy them. So that no harmful organisms and pathogens remain in the earth, it is necessary to carry out a disinfection procedure. For this, the following methods are used:

1. Calcination.

This option is to treat the soil with high temperatures. To do this, about 5 cm of earth are placed on a baking sheet, after which they are placed in the oven.

Its temperature should average 80 degrees. But you need to make sure that this indicator does not rise above 90 degrees, because in this case the soil may lose its fertile properties and it will become impossible to grow seedlings on it.

1. Steaming.

Somewhere one month before the start of use, the earth needs to be steamed for several hours in a water bath. The lid of the container in which this process will take place must be well closed.

1. Freezing.

In autumn, you need to prepare the soil and leave it in a container on the street, while closing it to protect it from rain. About a month before use, bring to a warm room, let it warm up, and then mix with the necessary components. Then take it outside again and let it infuse for the rest of the time.

1. A simple way to till the soil is to water it with potassium permanganate and wait until it dries, after which you can plant the seeds.
2. To disinfect the soil, you can also use the method of watering with a fungicide, for example, Fundazol.

These are the main ways, but not all. At the same time, each of them has both its supporters and its opponents, so you need to choose the disinfection method yourself.

Soil storage

If the soil not treated with additives and fertilizers is usually stored on a balcony or in a garage, where the temperature in winter is around 0, then after processing and disinfection, the list of conditions increases.

Ready-to-use soil should be stored in dry and protected from sunlight areas. There should not be any medicines or food nearby.

The temperature regime should not be lower than -35C and not higher than + 40C, although it is better to store at minus values. With full observance of these conditions, the shelf life of such soil can be more than one year.