Is there a need for hilling peppers in the open field and in a greenhouse?

There has long been a dispute among gardeners about whether it is necessary to spud peppers and eggplants. Supporters and opponents have a number of arguments in defense of their point of view. Some are of the opinion that this procedure is unnecessary and even dangerous for plants. However, it is difficult to argue with the fact that adherence to the hilling technology will allow the crop to grow strong and high-yielding.

Is it possible to spud: justification of different opinions

Some gardeners believe that hilling peppers is not only possible, but necessary. In support of their opinion, they give several weighty arguments in favor of hilling:

• the correct development of the plant is ensured;
• promotes the formation of new roots;
• oxygen easily penetrates to the root system;
• the intake of nutrients increases;
• the stability of the bush in the ground increases;
• the risk of soil leaching is significantly reduced.

The hilling process is able to harden the plant, thereby increasing the resistance of eggplant and peppers to frost. Disease prevention is an indisputable advantage.

But there is also a diametrically opposite opinion of another group of gardeners, who not only do not find the need for hilling, but also see harm:

• The root system of the peppers is located in the uppermost layer of the soil, therefore, in the process of hilling, the delicate roots are damaged, and the plant becomes sick.
• The presence of a root collar also speaks not in favor of manipulating loosening - that is why there is no need for the growth of additional roots that carry the function of fixing the plant in the ground.
• Hilling retains moisture, so the root trunk can die from rot.

However, advocating gardeners have noted a dramatic leap in plant development after hilling due to improved nutrient and oxygen supply.

What pepper loves: the right technology

In the open ground, the soil crust forms faster, and the peppers absolutely cannot stand its formation. It is recommended to eliminate the very first signs of an undesirable process by timely moistening and loosening.

At the same time, it is necessary to loosen the ground around the peppers with the utmost accuracy, trying not to harm the roots.

In order not to damage the bell pepper, you should adhere to the special hilling technology:

• Do not touch the ground for 14 days after planting seedlings in the ground. During this period, the plants develop very slowly, putting all their strength into the restoration of the root, so unnecessary injury should not be allowed.
• For the first time, it is recommended to start the hilling procedure 48 hours after the next watering. In this case, the height of the embankment should not exceed 8 cm.
• When the peppers begin to bloom violently, you can already huddle a second time, now making a mound around the plant stem up to 10 cm from the root collar.
• The third time, the procedure is carried out when the ovaries are formed, to a height of 16 cm.

The heavier and tougher the soil, the more carefully hilling should be done, trying to break up the earth clods as much as possible during the work. This is necessary so that the soil can warm up and ventilate in the best possible way. You just need to be extremely careful not to damage the root system.

Separately, it is recommended to additionally loosen the soil after each watering, but not deeply, while removing the emerging weeds.

Peculiarities of hilling when growing in open ground

In open, non-greenhouse cultivation, peppers and eggplants especially need hilling. In this case, it is important not to harm the plant:

• the aisles are loosened to a depth of 12 cm, then hilling is carried out up to 10 cm in height of the stem;
• when ovaries are formed, hilling is carried out no higher than 15 cm;
• when fruiting, they huddle by 20 cm, and if the plant is tall, then they make a mound up to 25 cm high.

Narrow aisles are not touched during flowering.

Throughout the growing season, additional loosening should be done to remove weeds, which die if they are "powdered" with 5 cm of soil.

The need for hilling in greenhouse conditions

In the greenhouse, hilling peppers has its own characteristics:

• In greenhouse cultivation, additional roots are not formed by themselves. Their appearance is just stimulated by hilling.
• It is enough to prevent crust formation from time to time. To do this, they loosen very shallowly, combining with ventilation - this helps to prevent diseases.

Pluses of timely hilling

It has been experimentally proven that peppers and eggplants, subjected to the procedure of periodic hilling and loosening, develop much faster, and their yield is noticeably higher.

In the process, the following improvements are observed:

• an increase in air flow to the roots contributes to the rapid growth and development of pepper and eggplant bushes;
• beneficial microorganisms begin to multiply intensively, which reduces the occurrence of many diseases;
• with timely hilling and loosening, rot does not form on the root;
• weeds do not have time to grow.

Bell peppers easily form adventitious roots if the stem is green. One has only to make hilling during this period - the process of the rapid development of the plant starts.

Rough stems are a sign that it is no longer possible to hilling by deepening the root collar. Otherwise, the plant may wilt, and then die. At this time, the risk of violation of the root system located in the upper layers of the soil increases.

Adhering to the elementary rules of hilling and caring for bell peppers, you can get an excellent harvest. Plants respond positively to a simple procedure, demonstrating accelerated growth and development. It is only necessary to cultivate the land with particular care, without violating the integrity of the surface root system.