Green Capsicum seeds – பச்சை குடைமிளகாய் விதைகள்

How To Grow Capsicum From Seeds:

Introduction and Uses: Capsicum is also known as Simla Mirch or Bhopli Mirchi. Did you know that Capsicum is used to make medicines too? These plump, bell shaped, crunchy vegetables can easily grow in different types of climate. Loaded with Vitamins A, B6, C and K, carotenoids, dietary fiber and folate Bell pepper helps to lower homocysteine levels, and reduces the risk of heart disease considerably.

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum

Sowing Season: Throughout the year.

Sowing method: Transplantation.

First harvest: 10 to 12 weeks
Because the seeds are small, Capsicum plant is grown by transplantation method. Seeds are first sown indoors in seedling trays or outdoors on seed beds. Later the seedlings are transplanted into containers or in raised beds.

Sowing medium: Coco Peat (Indoors), Fine soil (Outdoors)

STEPS FOR SEED SOWING (SEED STARTING) IN A CONTAINER:

• Take a seedling tray with medium sized cells & drainage holes at the bottom.
• Fill the cells/cups with a moist coco-peat medium.
• Hold the Capsicum seeds on your left palm & sow 2-3 seeds per cell/cup. Since Capsicum seeds are small, avoid sowing them very deep.

Sowing Technique:

• Place the seeds on the surface of the medium & push each seed a little inside the medium by using pencil tip, so that seeds are not visible on the surface anymore & cover it with more coco-peat.
• Or make small, shallow depressions on medium with pencil bottom. Put the seed in that depression & sprinkle more coco-peat on the top to cover the seed.
• Keep the seedling tray indoors till the seeds germinate.

Covering: Keep the seed tray in a box or cover it with paper for first 4-5 days to encourage faster seed germination.

Watering:

• Water the seed cells with a spoon in the first week. Provide 2 tablespoons of water every day.
• Or keep the seedling tray in another tray full of water for half an hour, so that water will seed cells will absorb the water from the bottom, via drainage holes.
• If the seed beds are made outdoors, protect them from heavy rain or direct sunlight. Use well sieved fine soil as a sowing medium & make a nice raised bed from it. Cover the bed by making a temporary roof of the plastic sheet. Water it in the form of a light shower by watering can.

GROWTH STAGES OF CAPSICUM PLANT:

Sprouting Stage: Seeds will germinate within first 6-8 days or so & tiny sprouts will be visible. Once seeds germinate, put the tray in an open partially sunny spot near the window. Don’t cover the tray anymore.

Cotyledons: The early two leaves will emerge from the second week of germination. These are false leaves called as cotyledons.

First leaves: First leaves will emerge above cotyledons at the end of the second week. These are Capsicum’s original compound leaves.

Seedling stage: Second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant. At this stage exposé the seedlings to more & more sunlight for leaf growth.

Thinning: After the second week, keep only single seedling per cell/cup. Cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.

Transplantation:

• Four weeks after the seed sowing, your seedlings will be ready to transplant in container pots or raised beds.
• Ideal planting mixture for Capsicum: 2 part garden soil & 1 part Organic Manure.
• Or 1 part garden soil, 1 part coco-peat & 1 part Vermicompost.
• Transplant the seedling along with root ball of a medium, without disturbing its roots.

Spacing: Plant the seedlings minimum 2 feet apart (60×60 or 60×45 cm) from each other on raised beds. Plant only single seedling at the centre of a single regular 8-12 inch pot.

HOW TO TAKE CARE FOR CAPSICUM PLANT:

Sunlight: Capsicum plants require full sunlight in winter & partial sunlight in summer. Therefore, place your raised beds & potted plants according to season.

Watering: Water your potted Capsicum plant every day in summer & every other day in winter. Water at the soil near the plant. Use a watering can and make sure that the plants get water in the form of a shower & not by a single flow. You can also make provision for watering by drip irrigation system for your raised beds. Avoid overwatering.