Question
Green Pepper Seedlings
Hi, I have a question about my green pepper seedlings. They come from seeds of sweet green peppers I got at the grocery store.
I took seeds from the peppers, washed them, and let them dry. About three weeks ago, I sprinkled them into a little pot of soil, watered them, and voila, dozens of seedlings sprouted!
I attached a photo just to show how many of them there are, what stage they are at, and show their health in order to get a more adequate response as to how I can go about it.
I want to know when I should repot them. I'm planning to grow them in pots, but I still want to be able to get some peppers from it. What is the smallest size pot I can use in order to achieve this? I live in an apartment, so I really have no choice!
Also wondering if regular potting soil would be sufficient, because I've heard of using compost but I don't have any. If regular potting soil is not good enough, what should I use? If a mix of things would work, which types of medium would be good for my pepper plants?
What kind of fertilizer should I use and when do I start? I have a liquid fertilizer that is a 14-7-7 and a pink powder/salt fertilizer that is 19-31-17, can either of these be used, or mixed to make the right amounts for the pepper plants? If not, which should I get (I heard Miracle gro is good, but knowing the chemical amounts would help)?
I do have a balcony which I'd put them on after potting them, should I just put them out there or do I need to do it gradually (take out for few hours, bring back in, until it gets used to the outdoors)?
I live in Toronto Canada and the temperatures are currently averaging 15C or 60F during the day, and 8C or 47F at night (these are outdoor temperatures, of course). All my windows and balcony face west, and my seedlings are getting sunlight (through the window) daily. I have turned them opposite the sun so they don't continue to grow in that direction.
I hope I've supplied an adequate amount of information for you to be able to properly assess my situation.
Thank you so much for your help and time!
AnswerOk, first of all, I want to warn you that you're peppers might not be like the ones you saved the seeds from. This is because they are most likely hybrids, which do not come true from seed.
Your seedlings are way past needing repotting, do it right away and very carefully. Pot each in a four inch pot, filled with potting soil.
I would use your 19-31-17 fertilizer if you don't want to buy anything new, but dilute it to about 1/4 strength. Sunlight from your window may not be adequate, you may find the plants will be a bit "leggy", which you will know because there will be a lot of space between the leaves and the stem will be weak - it will probably need staking. Feed them once a week.
Don't put them outside until the nights warm up a bit - 50 degrees or more. And yes, you need to do it gradually. Start by taking them out late in the afternoon and leaving them out until nightfall. Increase the time on both ends every day for a week or so, then leave them out. You might want to repot them again either before you start the process (2-3 days before)or after they have been hardened off. Put them in 1 gallon pots at that point. Feed every two weeks or less at this point, just until they set fruit.
Be sure to water them daily if the weather is warm, once they set fruit they can dry out a bit - just don't let them dry out completely.
Elyse
