Peppers are a thermophilic vegetable that requires high temperatures to develop properly. For seed germination, the optimal temperature will be between 24-27°C, for daytime growth – between 2-27°C, and for nighttime growth – 16-20°C. The temperature must not drop below 15°C, as this will result in the dropping of flowers and fruit set. Inadequate thermal conditions will result in stunted plant growth.
In Poland, covered peppers are most often grown in plastic tunnels, as this is the most cost-effective option. As a rule, growing peppers in a greenhouse is associated with high heating costs. Foil tunnels or otherwise known as foil greenhouses protect plants from unsuitable weather conditions. During the day, the tunnel cover heats up, and at night I maintain the temperature. If it gets too high, you can adjust the temperature thanks to opening roof or side vents, so as to provide optimal conditions for the plants.
Peppers are a very demanding plant, and growing them requires a lot of knowledge. Therefore, it can be difficult for beginner growers, but with the right preparation it is as possible.
Soil preparation
Properly prepared soil is a prerequisite if you want to provide peppers with good conditions for growth. The soil temperature should oscillate between 18-22°C. Temperatures below 10°C prevent the bell pepper’s roots from taking up water, so the plant’s growth is stunted. To make the soil rich in nutrients and minerals, it is advisable to use special fertilizers in the form of pre-crop or post-crop, or natural organic substances such as compost or peat. Due to the high demand for nutrients, peppers deprive the soil of valuable components, resulting in harmful pathogens . Therefore, it is worth alternating the soil from season to season. This will avoid undesirable consequences. The use of calcium fertilizers should be planned well in advance. Depending on the type, the decomposition time will vary. Always mix all fertilizers thoroughly and distribute evenly. Before planting, the soil should be raked thoroughly and watered generously two days before sowing. In addition, we do plowing every year. It is also a good idea to mulch the ground under the peppers or cover it with agro-fiber.
Care
Basic care includes regulating temperature and humidity, as well as pruning and guiding the plants. Pruning the shoots and fruit buds allows better access to light. Peppers’ moisture requirements vary depending on the developmental stage of the plant. For seed dispersal, soil moisture should be between 75 and 80%. During emergence, the humidity should be between 70 and 75%. During seedling production, the moisture requirement decreases again and is between 65 and 70%, then during the fruit setting stage, peppers need the same moisture as during emergence. The highest humidity of the substrate is needed by peppers during the fruiting period, then the value should not go below 80%. Overdrying the substrate will result in the dropping of flowers and fruit set.
As for light, peppers need a light intensity of 4,000 lux to grow. The optimal light time per day is 12 hours, but during flowering and fruiting, this time can be extended to 14 hours.
It is also worth thinking about feeding peppers with carbon dioxide. Enriching the atmosphere with CO2 will improve fruit quality. Such treatments, however, are very expensive.