How to grow bell pepper capsicums in pot

 Bell peppers or capsicum are easy to grow in a terrace or kitchen garden with a sunny spot and proper watering.

 1. Use high-quality seeds, such as imported seeds from Syngenta Company, for good results.

 2. Start the seeds in a small pot filled with a seed-starting mix or a homemade mix.

 3. Soil Preparation: Mix 60% coco peat and 40% vermicompost or leaf mold.

• Sowing Preparation: 

Firm the soil lightly and water it well before sowing seeds.

• Capsicum Germination:

 Capsicum seeds germinate well when the temperature ranges between 16 to 34 degrees Celsius.

• Lightly cover capsicum seeds with soil and gently press to ensure good seed-to-soil contact for germination.
• Keep the soil damp for the first 12 to 15 days by sprinkling water; do not let it dry out or rinse it.
• Place the pot in full sun.Maintain moist, but not wet, soil during germination, which is expected in 7-9 days.
• Daily soil moisture checks are crucial for healthy germination.
• Carefully remove seedlings and loosen soil around the root ball before transplanting.
• 1.  Container Size & Drainage: 

• Containers for large capsicum should be 15-18 inches deep and wide, with 3-4 drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging and root.

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• 2.  Planting Density: 

Two capsicum plants can be comfortably grown in one such container.

3.  Soil Requirements:

 Capsicum plants need light soil with good aeration.Soil Mix: Use a simple mix of 50% garden soil, 30% cattle manure, and 20% river sand.

4.  Planting: 

Dig holes 3-4 inches wide and deep, plant seedlings, and refill loosely.

Spacing: Plant seedlings 6-8 inches apart to allow for growth.

5.  Maximizing Harvest:

 Grow plants in large containers to allow them to reach their maximum size and achieve a large harvest.Preventing Transplant Shock: Ensure plants receive plenty of water after transplanting to help them settle into their new location and avoid transplant shock.

 6. Growing Capsicum Plants:

 Capsicum plants require moderate temperatures, neither too hot nor too cold.

7.  Ideal Location for Capsicum: 

Choose a sunny spot with partial shade for growing capsicum plants.After transplanting seedlings into larger containers, they will mature in size, which can take two to four weeks or longer depending on growing conditions.

Weeds compete with capsicum plants for sunlight and soil nutrients, so it's important to remove them at the root to prevent regrowth.

• Replenish soil nutrients with organic fertilizer as capsicum plants grow to ensure their full development.Apply organic fertilizer every 15 to 18 days, mixing two to three handfuls per plant into the soil and watering immediately.
• Pepper plants benefit from organic matter and may not need separate fertilizer if compost is added regularly.
• Bell peppers require regular watering to maintain slightly moist soil.Watering:
• The growing medium should not completely dry out; water at the base of the plants.

8.  Organic Control for Leaf Curl Disease:

To control Leaf Curl disease organically, boil neem leaves and ginger in one liter of water for 12-15 minutes, then add 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder to the cooled mixture and let it rest for 10 minutes.Strain the solution before use.

• Mix 100 ml of the solution with 500 ml of water.
• Avoid spraying during the sunny, hot part of the day to prevent foliage damage; spray in the evening instead.New leaves forming after treatment are normal and free from Leaf Curl disease.
• Plants mature and begin to flower, marking the start of the reproductive stage.
• Bell pepper/capsicum plants are self-fertile, meaning their flowers can self-pollinate.
• This self-pollinating characteristic makes growing these plants easier.Bell peppers should begin forming shortly after a flower appears, though not all flowers will produce a pepper, which is normal.
• During fruiting, bell pepper plants require more regular irrigation to ensure good fruit growth and reduce bursting problems.
• Adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients are crucial for rapid bell pepper growth once the fruits start to form.Capsicums are initially green and change color (red, yellow, orange, or purple) as they mature.
• They can be harvested while still green, provided they are fully grown in size.

The optimal temperature for capsicum cultivation is 18 to 28 degrees Celsius 

1.  Conditions:

Well-watered and nourished capsicum plants are more resistant to pests and diseases.

2.  Sunlight Preference:

Capsicum plants are sun-loving and thrive in sunny spots.

3.  Ripening Process:

Bell peppers typically start green and ripen to their desired color in 8 to 12 days, though some varieties may take up to a month.

4.  Temperature Impact:

Unfavorable temperature conditions can lead to flower and fruit drop, resulting in lower production.