As a typical heavy feeder, chili has a high need for nutrients. This does not mean giving the plant the full range of commercially available fertilizers. The focus is on an adequate composition and dosage.
The chili hungers for these nutrients
Chili makes completely different demands on the fertilizer than typical ornamental plants. It is not just a question of promoting flowering, but also of encouraging rich fruit formation.
- Potassium as the main nutrient for the best development of tasty pods
- Nitrogen for healthy leaves, strong roots and capsaicin for a hot taste
- Phosphorus for numerous fruits and rich seeds
- Magnesium as an essential component for leaf green formation, yield and quality
If you water chilli plants mainly with rainwater, there is also a need for calcium. In normal tap water there is usually enough lime to prevent deficiency symptoms.
Organic fertilizers for carefree chilli enjoyment
Are you one of those hobby gardeners who want to know exactly what you are eating? Then you are right on trend. Organic fertilizers are increasingly on the rise. Nettle manure, for example, is excellent for foliar fertilization.
Mature compost has become an integral part of the home garden. Administered regularly, it provides your chilli plants with all the important nutrients. In addition, horse manure is experiencing a renaissance in the vegetable patch. When dried, horse droppings are in no way inferior to chemical fertilizers.
Start fertilizing after pricking out
Chili does not receive any additional nutrients during sowing. This makes sense because the seedlings work harder to establish roots. After pricking out, height growth sets in, combined with an increasing need for nutrients.
- add special long-term fertilizer to the bed soil with 40-80 grams per square meter
- alternatively, mix in well-rotted garden compost with horn shavings (32.93€) at your discretion
- give liquid fertilizer in the planter every 14 days with 2-3 grams per liter
- Fertilize every 8 days during and after flowering and add bedrock powder
Fertilizers of any kind must never be applied to dried soil. So that the sensitive roots are not damaged, water the surface a little beforehand.
tips and tricks
If you are aiming to cultivate chili in the bed, the composition of the soil should be of particular interest. Special laboratories create a detailed soil analysis in connection with valuable information on efficient fertilization.