Sweet Pepper – Parade

Description

A great Italian long red pepper , nice and sweet.

Peppers grow slowly & need to be started early – you really need to plant them by the start of March at the very latest to have any chance of a decent crop. The biggest cause of problems is lack of moderate heat. An electric propagator or heat mat is ideal for starting chilli seed, but if you don’t have one, you can still get excellent results by improvising with a warm airing cupboard or a radiator shelf .
Once germinated, the seedlings can grow on at lower temperatures.

• Sow seed using heat Feb – March. Sow in modules, seed trays or small pots and cover with a light covering of compost. Keep moist. Grow with warmth provided by a heat mat or germinate inside house on a radiator or in airing cupboard. Once germinated, transfer to an area with plently of light but keep warm, I like to keep mine on a heat mat until at least May. Germination takes 14-21 days approx 25-30 degrees. Once germinated move to a position with plenty of light.
• Transplant when seedlings are large enough (two sets of leaves) into 3 inch pots, bury the seedling up to its first leaves, water in and leave and grow on. Keep the compost moist but not wet.
• Final planting – Usually about 8 weeks from initial sowing, May – June. Plant into final position either direct into soil/compost, in large pots or grow bags, keep warm, ideal for inside a greenhouse but they will fruit outside but ensure they stay in a sunny sheltered spot.
• Care – When plant gets to approx 5 inches, pinch out the growing tip which will encourage the plant to bush out. May need staking as the plant gets bigger