When chilli seeds germinate, this is the first invigorating sense of achievement during cultivation. Many hobby gardeners consider pricking out chili to be one of the greater challenges. Not without reason. The procedure requires gardening sensitivity. This is how it works flawlessly.

Prick out the chili as early as necessary - as late as possible

An average of 10 days after sowing, two cotyledons appear. They signal that the process is going according to plan. Now 2-3 real pairs of leaves are missing so that the time for pricking out has come. You can tell the difference between the leaf types right away.

  • at least 1 additional pair of leaves thrives above the cotyledons
  • the seedlings are constantly touching each other

The longer the tender little plants can develop in the seed pot, the more stable their constitution will be. This circumstance greatly facilitates the delicate process of pricking.

Lift out seedlings - do not pull out

If the seedlings are densely packed, the hobby gardener tackles the pricking out.

  • Fill 9 cm pots with nutrient-poor potting soil
  • use the pricking stick to lift the seedling out of the ground
  • shorten roots that are too long with scissors
  • Pre-drill the planting hole with the pricking stick

It is planted a little deeper than the chillies were previously. The substrate extends like a turtleneck below the cotyledons. Finally, press down the soil and spray with water.

Poor substrate promotes root formation

The top directive for seedlings is: form a root system that is as strong as possible. The fewer nutrients the substrate contains, the more the chillies work harder.

The specialist trade offers suitable growing soil, tailored to the needs of crops. You can mix it yourself: 4 parts garden soil, 2 parts peat, 2 parts leaf soil, 1 part sand.

Balanced water and nutrient balance revitalizes

Chili seedlings require constant moisture at temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. In a propagator or on the warm, bright window sill, water the plants as soon as the surface dries. It is essential to avoid waterlogging.

Nutrients are initially only found at the bottom of the pot in the form of a thin layer of compost. If the roots get there, there is a first dose of highly diluted liquid fertilizer as a reward.

tips and tricks

Prick out the chilli seedlings in small peat press pots. These swell up when water is added and provide the roots with an ideal environment for further growth. Subsequent repotting is child's play with these pots, because they are placed in the substrate together with the plant.

Category:

Vegetable garden