How to grow pepper from seeds

Sow pepper

Before you can sow pepper, you first need the right seeds. Unfortunately, it is not possible to grow a pepper bush from commercially available dried black or green peppercorns. These spice grains are pretreated, partly fermented, and therefore no longer germinable. However, you can purchase fresh seeds from specialist retailers as well as online. Pepper can be sown year-round, provided it is warm and light. As a tropical plant, it needs temperatures of at least 25 ° C and a humidity of at least 60 percent to germinate, which is why the plant is best kept in a heated greenhouse or winter garden. And this is how it should work with growing your own pepper plants:

Let the seeds soak in lukewarm water for a few hours.
Meanwhile mix three quarters of fine potting soil with a quarter of sand - both made as sterile as possible.
Usually potting soil is steamed in a special pot, but you can also use the microwave.
Don't be surprised though, the process stinks.
The substrate mixture comes into a cultivation container and is slightly moistened with a spray bottle.
Let the earth rest for at least half an hour.
Press the pre-swollen seeds, dabbed with a kitchen towel, about one centimeter into the soil.
Cover the cultivation vessel with glass or transparent plastic.
Put it in a bright and very warm place, but not in direct sunlight.
Keep the humidity high with spray mist.

Properly care for pepper

It has already been mentioned that the pepper bush likes it warm and humid. Otherwise, the plant prefers a partially shaded location rather than full sun. Caution is advised when watering, because the exotic does not like too large amounts of water at once. It is better to water a little, but regularly. The earth must not be wet, just slightly damp. During the growing season you should fertilize once a week, in winter only once a month with a liquid potted plant fertilizer.