I have these 4 pepper varieties in coco coir and vermiculite in 1.5" trays. Should I pot up as they reach the 4 true leaf size?
What should my next container size be?
They've gotten weekly seedling doses of liquid 6-4-4 foxfarms fertilizer, but should I add any solid fertilizer to the soil when I pot up?
Any other tips?
Please forgive the millionth potting up post, but I'm new to peppers (and pretty new to gardening), and didn't start many seedlings! Thanks in advance for your sage advice.
by cataclasis
5 Comments
Chiltepin, Jamaican Yellow Habanero, Lilac Bell, and Japanese Santaka
I’m just commenting to bump this post because I was literally wondering the exact same thing for when I start my peppers soon!
The best information I could find was to fertilize every 1-2 weeks after the second set of true leaves appear (earlier is unnecessary)
And for potting up to do it when the roots maybe start to come out the drainage holes? But that really seems like there’s risk of root-bounding so I’m interested in someone who is more experienced than me to weigh in!
I usually do it when they have there first or send true leaves, which looks like you do. I up pot to solo cups and after that to my finally container. Depending on frost date I may upsize into a 1 qt if they are getting too big.
I separate seedlings and pot up to 3″ as soon as the first true leaves start to appear (the plants recover from the repot very quickly). Then when they are large for the 3″ pots they go into the garden or final container.
I use 3″ because I buy 1801 inserts for my plant trays which are 18 – 3″ square cells/pots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSoUobMrdc&t=1s
I wait till I know the plug is full of roots, this way u prevent the roots from breaking off and stunting the plant. I start micro dosing when the are about 1 feet tall or something.
I usually grow scotch bonnet moa in 35% soil 35% coco 20% perlite 10% wormcasting in 12 liter pots