Capsicum Seed Germination ,Growing ,Care, Use and its Health Benefits.

 Capsicum is a vegetable which usually used as an ornamental fruit. It is an annual plant, however, be grown as perennials in tropical regions where temperatures remain between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit year round.


SPECIFICATION OF CAPSICUM

Plant Features:

Common name: Capsicum
Botanical Name: Capsicum annum
Other names: Sweet Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika
Indian names: Shimla Mirch (Hindi)
Vegetable type: Fruit Vegetable
Varieties: Green, Red, Yellow, Purple, Orange, WhiteSeason: Annual
USDA Zones: 3 - 10
Height: 60 - 84 inches
Flower colour: white
Bloom Season: Summer through fall
Bloom Color: Yellow, red, green etc
Environment: Full sun
Foliage: densely branched
Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained, pH 6.1 - 7.8
Temperature: 75 - 80F
Average Germ Time: 14 - 21 days
Width/Spacing: 20 to 30 cm
Depth: 1/4 inch

Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination



GERMINATION GUIDE

Make sure you have a good place to grow your capsicums. They need a sunny place to grow with some air flow so they don’t succumb to fungal diseases. If you don’t have a lot of room you can plant them in large pots or along a wall as long as there is a breeze.

Use a flat seedling tray and its deep will be 5 centimetres. Make sure you have plenty of holes in it for good water drainage.

Start with a pot or tray of good seedling mix from your garden centre (not ordinary garden soil from your backyard). 

 or

Take equal quantity of sand, soil and vermiculite. Then mix all the three ingredients into one container. 
Sprinkle diluted fungicide water (2gm in 1-litre water) after sowing the seeds.Plant your seeds in pots so it is easy to transplant them into their final place.

Tickle the top of the soil with your fingers, then sprinkle your seeds over the top and add a little more soil to cover. Give them a little water, just enough to keep the soil damp, but not too wet. When they are around 10-15cm tall.

Your capsicum seeds will not germinate until the temperature of the soil is right. They prefer a temperature of around 20 to 25°C before they will break dormancy, and they must not be planted outside until all chance of frost is over.

Make sure that the water must be mixed with diluted fungicide powder.It is very important to notice to follow that the seeds will not to go very deep inside the mixture by speeding water on the seed if it happens then the fertilization of the seeds become difficult.

Need to routine  check about the soil moist or not. If not, lightly moisten it with a water-filled spray. Expect germination within three to five days.

If you want to start them a few weeks before the expected date of your last frost you can plant the seeds in pots and place them inside on a warm, sunny windowsill, or you can buy an electric seed starting tray at any garden or hardware store.

Pests: 

The main pests that attack capsicums are aphids and whitefly. Aphids are little bugs that suck sap from the tips of the plant shoots and whitefly are tiny white bugs that fly around when you disturb your plants. Aphids can be controlled with pyrethrum spray or soapy water and whitefly can be caught on pieces of bright yellow card coated with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. They are both pests that can damage your capsicums and spread diseases.Or treat them using organic pesticides like Neem Oil. In areas with higher humidity levels, good plant spacing is essential to ensure air flow and help minimise the number of potential mould problems.

Harvest season:

Capsicum will be ready for harvest about 2 months from planting. Capsicum of hybrid varieties start green and then mature to their original colour. The great thing about capsicums is that they bear right through the season until they are killed by frosts. You can harvest the capsicums and chillis at any stage when they are green, or wait till they turn their ripe colour, which is usually red or yellow, at which time they will have a stronger flavour. Most varieties can be picked a little unripe and will still fully ripen on a windowsill.

Propagation:

Capsicum can be propagated by seeds from a healthy harvest. However, seeds for next season will not develop in hybrid varieties.Capsicum loves the sunny and warm exposure. It is a tropical plant but very much adaptable to temperate climates with moderate winter, when grown on the ground
GERMINATION CARE
After the seedlings germinate, they can relocate to a sunny south- or west-facing window. The soil is kept moist at all times, but not allowed to get soggy. Once the seedlings have three true leaves, they are fed every two weeks with a liquid houseplant fertilizer. Pinching out the growth tips isn't necessary.