Chili pepper is an interesting, bright ornamental plant; it bears fruit well on the windowsill. The taste is no different from the pods grown on the ground or in greenhouse conditions. The hassle of care and maintenance is much less. Fits perfectly into the home interior.
Suitable Chili Varieties for Window Sill Growing
Before setting up a small vegetable garden at home, choose the right Chile variety. The choice is huge, but not every vegetable will germinate at home, it will suit the gardener in taste. The most suitable options:
- Indian summer... This variety of pepper ripens in 3 months, sprouting white and purple flowers, tart in sensations and burning in taste.
- Confetti... The fruits ripen all year round, the length of the pods is up to 7 cm. The inflorescences are green, scarlet or purple, depending on the degree of ripeness.
- Aladdin... This variety is equally suitable for greenhouses and open soil, it is considered early ripening, unpretentious in care. Green fruits, when ripe, become bright red or purple. The bush bears fruit all year round.
- Bell... The fruits ripen in 5 months. The main disadvantages of the variety are uneven distribution of pungency, small yield.
- Salute... It is a compact shrub on a windowsill with red and orange fruits all over its crown.
- Tabasco... The variety is highly valued for its rapid growth and yield, its pulp has a burning properties, tart taste.
- The Queen of Spades... This mid-season bush bears fruit all year round. By the degree of ripening from green it becomes orange, red.
Chili Pepper Indian Summer
Chili Pepper Confetti
Chili Pepper Aladdin
Chili Pepper Bell
Chili Pepper Salute
Chili Pepper Tabasco
Chili Pepper The Queen of Spades
The final choice of the variety depends on the wishes and taste preferences of the gardener. The microclimate in the apartment also matters.
Chile planting rules on the windowsill
This vegetable can be grown from young seedlings or seeds. In the second case, there are more chances to get a rich harvest, the taste that was originally planned. It is important to choose the right soil and container for planting Chile, follow the rules of care, and provide the plant with a suitable microclimate.
Landing dates
You can sow pepper seeds all year round. Experienced gardeners claim that the most fruitful is spring sowing (early or mid-March). The harvest is rich and the pepper is evenly hot and pungent. The planting time is determined individually, taking into account the characteristics of a particular variety.
There are such varieties:
- Early maturing varieties planted in mid-February, bear fruit in late May - June. Early varieties include Ogonyok, Medusa, Aladdin, Tabasco.
- Mid-season land in early - mid-March. These include Hollyleaf Fish, The Queen of Spades.
- Late varieties sown in the second half of March. These are Confetti, Bell, Fireworks, Variegated Troll.
Traditionally, Ogonyok, Tabasco and Kolokolchik are grown on the windowsill. Other varieties are less in demand at home.
Seat selection
The vegetable bears excellent fruit in greenhouse conditions and in the open field. Under favorable conditions, the harvest is rich, the pods are one to one, attractive in appearance. Valuable recommendations:
- Maintain the optimal temperature regime in winter - 18 degrees, in summer - 20-25 degrees.
- Grow the shrub in the light, but avoid exposure to ultraviolet light, otherwise its yield will decrease.
- Avoid drafts, temporarily move the pot to a quiet, windless place when airing.
Tank and soil preparation
An excellent option for planting Chile is pressed peat cells. A separate container is provided for each seedling, since the plant needs space. Alternatively, boxes made of wood, plastic containers, disposable tableware, and medium-sized flower pots are used.
A prerequisite is the presence at the bottom of the tank, drainage with a layer of 3-4 cm. As an option, river sand, expanded clay, charcoal or crushed slate are selected. The root system must breathe, and the stagnation of moisture contributes to its further decay.
The yield indicator depends on the quality of the soil. To prepare the nutrient mixture, mix 2 parts of peat, compost, turf soil, 1 part of vermiculite and sand. Stir, lay over drain, do not tamp.
The soil must be decontaminated before planting. How to do it - read here.
Selection, preparation and planting of seeds
Make sure the seeds are suitable for home growing before purchasing. Commercial varieties are more commonly used for open areas and greenhouses. On the windowsill, they definitely do not bear fruit.
Buy seeds from well-known manufacturers, do not skimp on purchase. After opening the bag, carefully examine each grain. They should be large, light, without suspicious spots and plaque, deformation. Do not use dubious seeds for sowing, they still will not give a good harvest.
Disinfect the seeds before planting. To do this, immerse them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. Pull out, dry naturally. To increase the vitality of each seed and the chances of sprouting, place in cheesecloth previously moistened with water until young sprouts appear.
When healthy seedlings grow from seeds up to 10-15 cm in height, transplant each into a separate pot. Observe the following landing rules:
- Lay the drainage on the bottom in a layer of 3 cm.
- Pour a small amount of soil on top.
- Make holes 5-7 cm deep.
- Center the plant with roots in the ground.
- Fall asleep, fix the stem.
- Pour well with water at room temperature.
- Cover the container with cling film until the first shoots appear.
- The next watering is after 7 days, when the roots will go in breadth.
If in the first week the seedlings are heavily flooded with water, the root system begins to rot, the growth of the chili pepper stops. Severe drought is also harmful - it slows down growth, reduces yields.
Picking
When the seedlings get stronger, and a young plant with 2-3 leaves is formed, transplant it into a separate pot. This process is called picking. Immediately after transplanting, the plant temporarily slows down its growth. Then why is it necessary? Picking strengthens and branches the root system, which in the future has a positive effect on the yield indicator.
Valuable advice before and after picking:
- water the seedlings with water to dive plants with a root system in a coma of earth;
- Plant seedlings with roots in the center of a permanent pot;
- after transplanting, pour plenty of water and do not touch for a week;
- make sure that after the dive, the ground above the root system does not dry out.
Growing pepper by cuttings
To preserve all the properties of the selected chili variety for planting, replace sowing seeds with cuttings. Sequencing:
- Cut off cuttings up to 10 cm from young shoots without fruit.
- Before planting for a day, soak the branches in a solution of zircon (3 drops per 0.5 cups of water).
- Plant in the ground to a hole depth of 5-7 cm.
- Cover with earth, tamp lightly.
- Water the plant abundantly with water.
- Repot as you grow (each time choose containers larger than the previous ones).
Maintenance and care
Chili pepper does not like sudden changes in temperature and drafts; it ripens faster under conditions of moderate humidity, light and heat. Mandatory conditions for its content:
- temperature during the day - 23-25 degrees, at night - at least 18 degrees;
- daylight hours - from 15 to 18 hours;
- the soil is moist, loose, but without excess moisture.
To keep your pepper easy, use only healthy seeds or strong seedlings. Otherwise, even if you follow the planting rules, you can not count on a rich harvest.
Temperature control and lighting
It is better to grow a vegetable in the spring and summer period, since the day lasts longer and the plant needs light. The ovary is not accepted without light, the plant is small, rarely bears fruit. If you are planting peppers in autumn or winter, create additional lighting - 1 hour in the morning and in the evening using special lamps (fluorescent, infrared or LED).
The plant is thermophilic, so keep the air temperature at 22-25 degrees indoors. You can harden the seedlings at the stage of formation of the 6th leaf - take the seedlings out to the balcony for 15-20 minutes, gradually increase this time interval. In this case, chili peppers are better able to withstand the seasonal cold snap.
Watering and humidity
Water the soil as the top layer dries. Do not overdo it, otherwise the roots will rot. After watering, allow time for excess liquid to drain into the sump and then discard it immediately.
At low air humidity, the plant suffers. To maintain its vitality and fertility, regularly spray the leaves with a spray bottle. Use water at room temperature. Water the bushes daily in summer, 3-4 times a week in winter.
Top dressing
With regular feeding of seedlings, the bush bears better fruit. The composition of fertilizers depends on the vegetation stage of the chili pepper:
- with an intensive set of green mass, choose organic or mineral fertilizers with nitrogen;
- during the formation of buds and fruits, give preference to fertilizers with a high concentration of potassium, complex fertilizing with fluoride.
Feed the plant once a week. Be sure to dilute concentrated fertilizers with water at the rate of 3-4 g per 1 liter of water.
Shaping and pinching
In the fall, after harvesting, shorten the crown by a third. This rejuvenation stimulates the future growth of pepper, its fruiting. During the winter period, the root system and branches are strengthened, the pepper regains strength after the harvest season.
Flowering and pollination
Chile is of 2 types - the inflorescences of which are pollinated independently or require forced irrigation with pollen. For balcony content, it is advisable to choose the first option. Among the self-pollinating varieties are Medusa, Indian Summer, Ogonyok, Ryabinushka.
Such exotic varieties as Filius blue, Variegated fish, Tabasco, etc. need additional pollination. In this case, shake each flowering so that the pollen falls on the uterus, and the ovary of future fruits is formed.
Shake the pot occasionally when chili peppers are blooming. In this way, the fruiting of the shrub increases.
How do I get seeds?
When growing, prepare chili seeds for planting. Take a ripe fruit, cut it in half, shake out the contents. Soak the seeds for a few minutes, then spread and dry naturally. Remove deformed and unattractive kernels immediately.
Reproduction
Chili peppers of any variety are propagated in 2 ways:
- Cuttings... For this, young shoots are cut, which are kept in water until the root system is formed. Then they are planted separately, like a young plant.
- Seeds... They are bought in shops for gardeners, after processing they are buried in the ground and watered. It remains only to wait for the first shoots. The seedlings are transferred to a new, larger pot.
Chili peppers are recommended to be transplanted annually into a large container, otherwise the bush stops bearing fruit. Not immediately, but the volume of the harvest is noticeably decreasing with each season.
Harvesting
The yield depends on the variety, for example, small-fruited peppers give 100 pods per season. The plant does not bear fruit immediately. The first crop can only be harvested after 2-3 years (with proper and regular care). On average, fruiting lasts for 5 years. Later, the number of pods per season decreases significantly.
There are several ripeness periods, which differ in the color of the chili pods - at first it is green, but then it turns red. In a cold place, the fruits are stored for several months, while they do not lose their beneficial properties. If desired, the pods can be frozen, pickled, and eaten fresh.
What to do when foliage falls after harvesting pepper?
Chili pepper ripens in late July and August. The fruits become deep red, acquire a glossy hue. Roll them carefully from the base, rinse well with water. Then use it as directed.
When foliage falls from the bush, shorten the shoots by a third. So the plant hibernates until the next season. Water it 3-4 times a week.
Chili pepper diseases and pests
Pepper has a strong immunity. Due to the specific aroma, the risk of interference from harmful insects is also minimal. And yet, under certain conditions, the plant can get sick and die. Among the provoking factors:
- Blackleg... The reason is excessive watering of the bush. Saving the pepper is problematic, so it is better to immediately determine the time and frequency of watering.
- Spider mite... The reason is the activity of the parasite in dry air. Due to the lack of oxygen, the leaves turn yellow, dry up and fall off. Treatment is effective if fungicidal preparations are used.
- Midges... The reason is that insects appear from neighboring crops. The plant must be thoroughly treated with soapy water.
- Vegetable aphid. The reason is a violation of the care regimen. Parasites feed on young shoots, can provoke the death of the entire shrub.
Black leg of pepper
Spider mite on pepper
Black midge is the enemy of many plants, and pepper is no exception.
Aphids on a pepper leaf
To minimize the risk of morbidity, prophylactically spray the bushes with low-concentration fungicides.
Chili Pepper Growing Secrets
For novice gardeners, the plant does not begin to bear fruit even after 3 years. To avoid mistakes, follow the recommendations of the professionals:
- In winter, put the pepper on a south-facing windowsill, and if there is a lack of light, use artificial lighting.
- Keep the chili bushes at a distance when flowers appear. Shake the crowns regularly for a better ovary.
- For seedlings to sprout quickly, place them on a well-lit surface, increase daylight hours.
- Control watering to speed up fruiting. The soil should not be dry, but excess moisture is also harmful.
Advantages and disadvantages of home growing
Before deciding on your own vegetable garden on the windowsill, study the advantages and disadvantages of such an undertaking. Start with the positives:
- good yield without nitrates;
- excellent taste of homemade pepper;
- fruiting for 5 years;
- unpretentious care;
- strong plant immunity;
- aesthetic appearance of the shrub;
- prevention of viruses, influenza, ARVI.
There are drawbacks, which are also better not to forget before buying chili peppers:
- small fruits;
- fruiting once a year;
- the need for space on the windowsill;
- additional lighting;
- not always the desired taste.
Reviews
Victor, psychologist, 45 years old, Tyumen. For many years I have been growing the Fire on the windowsill. Fruiting only at the end of summer, but then there are enough dried pods for the whole year. The plant itself is unpretentious, with the exception of watering. Only the ground under the bush dries up a little, as the leaves immediately begin to turn yellow. It tastes like hot peppers, but you still can't buy one in the store.
Marina, saleswoman, 38 years old, Samara. My husband gave me Salyut saplings for my birthday. I have long dreamed of a vegetable garden on my own windowsill. There were no problems with cultivation, the first fruits appeared at the end of the summer of the same year. The pepper is small, but pungent, you can't eat a lot of it. But the product is natural.
Oleg, teacher, 47 years old, Astrakhan. My chili pepper on the windowsill has been growing for beauty for several years.The pods are one to one, small as toys. But I noticed that flies and other insects do not fly into the apartment. Apparently, the smell of pepper scares them a lot. I rarely add to food, it is too spicy.
Mikhail, Chelyabinsk
We have 3 bushes growing on the windowsill at home. I don't know the variety, my friend gave seedlings. The pods grow up to 5-6 cm long, about the thickness of a little finger. I planted the seedlings around March last year, at the moment they are bearing fruit in the second round. To borscht bite the most it.
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Before growing chili peppers on the windowsill, decide on the variety, prepare a suitable container and soil, after planting, do not violate the rules for the care and maintenance of the plant. In this case, a rich harvest will be pleasant to please every year.