Tomatoes and peppers are two of the first vegetables that can be grown annually. These plants need a very long growth period, and if we want to have some fruit, between February and March we will proceed to sow the seeds. Both those of tomato and those of pepper need a temperature between 15º and 30º; if you live in a cold climate, you will need a greenhouse to get them. These two plants belong to the same family (Solanaceae), so their cultivation and maintenance is very similar. You have to be very careful not to mix the seeds, since they are practically identical.
What are you waiting for so you can enjoy watching your own tomatoes and peppers grow from seed? Below you have an orientation guide so that your seeds grow without problems.
Step 1: prepare the material
- Tomato and pepper seeds
- Seedbed (either pots, cultivation trays, mini-greenhouse ...)
- Substrate (black peat or special seedbeds)
- Water
Step 2: sow the seeds
To increase the germination rate, you can put the seeds in a glass of water for a few hours. Although it is not essential in the case of horticultural plants, it is something that can help us a lot when it comes to knowing how many will germinate.
Once this is done, we will proceed as follows:
- Fill the seedbed with substrate.
- Place the seed (maximum three in each pot or hole in the cultivation tray) on the surface.
- Add a little more substrate, enough to cover the seeds a little so that they cannot be blown away by the wind.
- Water abundantly.
Finally we will put them in a sunny location, and we will always keep the substrate a little humid.
Step 3: Replicate and transplant
After two weeks, your seedlings will be tall enough so that they can be transplanted successfully. But how do you do it? Too easy! All you have to do is remove the seedlings from the seedbed, and carefully separate them. If the substrate is a bit dry, the task will be easier.
Once separated, you can plant them in individual pots or in the garden.