8 ways to germinate pepper seeds quickly + rules for planting seedlings at home

Before germinating pepper seeds, decide what you are doing this for. Under optimal conditions, the roots hatch through the membrane after 3-4 days. After sowing in the ground, you will have to wait another 4–5 days before germination. As a result, we get the same 7-10 days that pass after sowing with dry seeds.

However, germination is still necessary when you are not sure about the germination of seeds. Perhaps you collected them from pepper purchased in a supermarket, or bought them in a gardening store, but do not trust the manufacturer, the seeds are expired, etc. In this case, germination will help determine germination, you will not waste time on vain expectations, you will not have to go to the store again for seeds and sow peppers.

Favorable conditions for the germination of sweet pepper seeds

Pepper seeds will germinate faster if you create special conditions for them:

• Warmly. The seeds of this culture wake up at + 16 ° C, but the sprouts will hatch very slowly - 2–3 weeks. Pepper seeds will germinate as quickly as possible (in 4–5 days) at a temperature of + 25… +30 ° C.
• Humidity. Moisten a napkin, sponge or cotton pads for germination so that water does not flow out of them with light pressure. And to prevent quick drying, cover with foil, loose lid or glass.
• Oxygen access. Any grain or seed breathes even when it sleeps, so it should not be flooded with water or stimulant solutions for more than 24 hours. It is necessary to germinate in napkins and other materials that allow air to pass through. If you cover or place something in plastic bags, open the seeds and air them every day.

Germination on cotton pads of several varieties at once

For this method, in addition to cotton pads, you will need small clip-bucks (cellophane bags with latches) and self-adhesive labels (available in stationery stores).

Germination stages step by step:

1. Take clip bucks by the number of varieties and put name labels on them.
2. Poke the clip bucks in several places with a toothpick to get air out.
3. Place one variety of seeds on a dry cotton pad and cover with a second disc.
4. Dip in water or soak out of a sprayer. Squeeze out the excess.
5. Place the bell pepper seeds soaked in this way in the bag provided.
6. Do the same for the rest of the varieties, put all the bags in a bowl and place in a warm place.

The first 2-3 days you don't need to check, because oxygen gets to the seeds through the holes, the humidity in clip-bucks remains for a long time. Sprouts appear in 3-4 days. The method is not suitable for busy and forgetful gardeners who may miss the right moment. The elongated roots will sprout into cotton wool, it is almost impossible to get them out of there without breaking.

Germination on toilet paper

This method is devoid of the disadvantage of the previous one: overgrown roots can be easily removed from soggy paper.

Instructions for sprouting peppers in toilet paper:

1. Take a plastic container, saucer or deep bowl and line the bottom with 5-7 layers of toilet paper.
2. Dampen the paper with warm water from a sprayer.
3. Spread out the seeds and cover or place the container in a plastic bag.
4. Open every day, moisturize if necessary.

How to sprout pepper in a sponge or foam rubber

If you have more than one variety of peppers, buy small, multi-colored dishwashing sponges. You can take one large or a piece of foam rubber and make cuts according to the number of varieties. Number the segments and write them down in a notebook, for example: 1 - One, 2 - Candy, etc.

Moisten a sponge, squeeze out the water and place the seeds in the slot. For the rest, proceed in the same way as when germinating on toilet paper: wrap in plastic, place in heat, check, ventilate.

How to sow bell pepper seeds for seedlings in a snail

This method allows you to simultaneously germinate seeds and get seedlings. Toilet paper and film are used:

1. Spread a strip of film 7–10 cm wide on the table; you can fold a regular cellophane bag in half along the length.
2. Spread a strip of toilet paper on top, folded in 3-4 layers.
3. Moisten with water from a sprayer.
4. Spread the pepper seeds along the top edge, 1–1.5 cm away from it.
   
5. Roll up the toilet paper and seeds on it into a tube and secure with a money rubber band.
6. Make a separate snail for each variety and sign or stick a label.
7. Arrange the rolls in a glass, mug, or jar of water. In this case, only the lower edges of the snails should be wetted to a height of 2-3 cm.

Seedlings will appear in about 5-7 days. You can keep them in snails without land for no longer than 1 week, because for the development of plants, nutrition is necessary.

Sprouting in sawdust

It will be difficult to find sprouted pepper seeds in the sawdust, but it will not be necessary. The method is similar to the previous one, that is, we will wait for the appearance of not seedlings, but green shoots. To germinate pepper seeds this way:

1. Take a container 5–7 cm deep.
2. Fill it slightly off the brim with sawdust.
3. Pour boiling water over the sawdust to disinfect and drain off excess water.
4. When the sawdust has cooled and become warm, sow pepper seeds in them to a depth of 1 cm.
5. Place in a warm place and wait for the shoots to appear.
6. As soon as the cotyledon leaves are straightened at the seedlings, transplant them into pots.

As well as from snails with soaked toilet paper, and from sawdust, peppers can be removed very easily, without damaging the fragile roots.

Germination in hydrogel

The method is similar to the previous two, but a modern material is used - a hydrogel. Buy one that is in granules (aqua soil), preferably square and medium-sized, round are used for decorative purposes. Powdered hydrogel will not work; when soaked, it turns into jelly, the seeds drown in it and suffocate.

How to sow seeds in a hydrogel step by step:

1. Fill the aqua primer with water, the proportions are indicated in the instructions. Note that the granules are 10-15 times larger.
2. Fill the dish with hydrogel, the layer depth is 3-5 cm.
3. Drain off excess water, if present.
4. Cut large granules (1 cm or more) with scissors.
5. Spread the seeds out by gently pressing into the surface.
6. Cover crops with foil or glass and take to a warm place.

Shoots on the hydrogel can be kept until the pick. Place them on a bright window and feed them once with a nutrient solution, for example Fertiki Lux according to the instructions.

Accelerating germination with stimulants

We often buy seeds processed, that is, covered with colored glaze. It contains fungicides (disinfectants) and growth stimulants. In this case, it is not necessary to soak and germinate, the seeds are sown dry. If there is no shell, we ourselves can stimulate the germination of seeds at home.

The most affordable way is to use not ordinary tap water for germination, but melted snow or rainwater. And for an even better effect, soak the seeds for several hours (no more than 24) in one of the following products before germinating:

• home stimulant - aloe juice, whole or diluted 1: 1 with water;
• a solution of a purchased stimulant - Epin (2 drops per 100 ml of water), HB-101 (1 drop per 500 ml of water), etc.

Is it possible to accelerate germination with boiling water?

Some gardeners treat the seeds with boiling water before planting. The method has a double effect: disinfection of possible fungal diseases and softening of the seed coats, which ensures rapid germination. But this is an extreme option, you need to act very carefully so as not to destroy the seeds. Boiling water can only be poured over or kept in it for no more than 3 seconds.

How to properly soak pepper seeds in boiling water, two ways:

• Spread the seeds on top of the soil, sponge, cotton pads, that is, there should be a layer of moisture absorbing well under them. Boil water and pour over the seeds so that any spilled water is absorbed into the substrate underneath. Seeds should not float in boiling water!
• Fold the seeds in a gauze bag with a string. Take two containers: boiling water and cold water. Place the seeds in them alternately for 3 seconds. You can do 3-5 repetitions.

After boiling water treatment, proceed to germination using one of the above methods or sow it directly into the ground.

Terms and rules for sowing pepper seeds

Peppers are sown on seedlings earlier than tomatoes. They have a longer growing season. The age of tomato seedlings at the time of planting is 45-60 days, depending on the variety, and of peppers - 60-80 days. The earliest sowing date is the last decade of February, it is at this time that the length of the day reaches 10 hours and continues to grow. Seedlings already have enough natural light, no need to use phytolamps. Early varieties are sown in March.

Peppers do not like when their roots are disturbed, so it will be correct to plant them immediately in individual pots, that is, one sprouting seed is placed in each one. Take loose soil. You can buy ready-made soil for seedlings or prepare yourself from 1 part of sod land, 1 part of humus and 0.5 part of any baking powder: perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber, river sand.

Sow germinated seeds to a depth of 1–1.5 cm. At the same time, lay them so that the hatched root is directed downward or at least to the side. Moisten the soil, cover the cups with glass or plastic and place in a warm place (about +25 ° C). Transfer the emerging seedlings to a light window.

In central Russia and Siberia, seedlings are kept at home, on the windowsill, until the onset of warmth, and in the south they are sown directly in the greenhouse, especially early varieties. It is possible to plant seedlings in open ground only with the arrival of stable heat, when return frosts stop.

Germinating pepper seeds is an interesting activity, especially for gardeners who miss the garden beds during the winter. There are several effective ways. And to make the process go as quickly as possible, use growth stimulants and even boiling water.