What can you plant peppers after?

Pepper is a capricious plant, it must be planted taking into account certain nuances. It is not enough to find suitable neighbors in the garden or in the greenhouse, you also need to know what grew on this land last year. After some plants, peppers do not bear fruit well, can get sick because they lack nutrients or are attacked by pests that have bred.

Experienced gardeners know that different crops in the garden need to be alternated, changing their places. Crop rotation has the following goals:

• reduce the number of weeds, not allowing them to develop a root system;
• restore depleted soil resources and enrich it with useful substances;
• contribute to the formation of a fertile layer.

Cultures alternate depending on the compatibility and characteristics of the land. Give the soil time to complete its natural cleansing processes. Ideally, it is believed that crops can be returned to their original place no earlier than after 4 years, but not all garden owners have enough space to afford it. Because of this, crop rotation is often reduced to three or two years, so it is better to use mineral fertilizers – they speed up the restoration of the land.

Although pepper loves warmth, it is also successfully grown in Siberia, receiving abundant harvests. The main secret is suitable soil. This vegetable requires a high humus content, a normal acidity level and a low amount of salts. Optimal pH values ​​are in the range of 6.0-7.0. Measurements can be done independently using a special tester – such devices are sold in gardening stores.

If the pepper sheds flowers and ovaries, there may be several reasons.

• Excessive watering. Humidity levels should be high, around 80-90%, but too much water won’t do any good.
• Lack of oxygen. Because of this, the development of plants slows down. The soil should be loosened so that the peppers can get enough air.
• Drought. The beds need to be watered in a timely manner; without water, all plantings will die.

It also happens that, despite proper care, the pepper grows poorly and bears little fruit. Perhaps the problem is related to crop rotation.

There are many suitable predecessors for pepper. It’s good if cabbage, onions, zucchini, carrots, and radishes used to grow on the site of the garden. Many gardeners grow such vegetables, so it is easy to alternate plantings. Peppers can grow outdoors or in a greenhouse. Depending on this, there are some nuances that are worth knowing.

The root system of pepper is not too large, so it takes all the necessary nutrients from the topsoil. With this in mind, it is better to plant a vegetable where the root crops used to be. They penetrate deep into the earth, affecting the lower layers, but the upper remains intact and gets the opportunity to “rest”. It retains a sufficient supply of minerals to keep the peppers comfortable next year.

Good predecessors also include annual legumes, such as green beans or peas. The tops that remain after them are recommended to be crushed and buried, using as a fertilizer. After that, you can plant sweet bell peppers.

If the crop grows in open space, you need to find suitable neighbors for it – this also increases the chances of a good harvest.

• Onion or garlic. They are considered “orderlies” of the garden, because they secrete phytoncides that destroy harmful bacteria and prevent a number of diseases.
• Corn. It grows well, due to which it can protect the pepper from cold and wind, but for this it must be located on the north side so that it does not block the sun.
• Bush beans. Its aroma repels pests that eat pepper tops, in addition, the plant saturates the soil with useful nitrogenous compounds.
• Herbs – basil, coriander, arugula. These neighbors will protect against insects, they drive away aphids and other enemies of the garden.

Many people plant peppers in a greenhouse. This is especially true for the northern regions, where the weather does not allow open beds. Usually there is not much space in the greenhouse, so it is difficult to follow the principles of crop rotation. With this in mind, you can re-plant peppers in the same place in a year, but subject to certain conditions:

• it is necessary to apply abundant fertilizers, best of all complex ones, in order to restore the balance of minerals in the soil;
• the territory must be carefully treated with pesticides and insecticides to prevent the development of diseases and the reproduction of pests;
• you should prepare the beds, make sure that the soil is loose – this will allow air and water to pass unhindered to the roots, it will not be superfluous to also add soil mixture.

Green manure can be planted both in open space and in a greenhouse, choosing suitable crops.

• Mustard. Quickly gains green mass and drowns out the growth of weeds. It can also be sown with pepper in the summer, placed between the bushes, as it helps fight scab and late blight.
• Phacelia. A universal option, after which any culture will feel comfortable. Resistant to cold and drought, grows rapidly on various soils. It loosens dense soil and reduces acidity, inhibits the growth of dangerous bacteria, and repels pests.
• Clover. Saturates the soil with nitrogen and other useful substances. The roots protect the soil from washing out and drying out.
• Lupine. It has long roots, which are inhabited by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. They contribute to the redistribution of useful substances from the deep layers to the upper ones. And also after lupine, the soil becomes looser, acidity decreases.
• Oat. Enriches the earth with organic substances, potassium and phosphates, inhibits the development of fungi, pathogens of root rot. Promotes the access of air and moisture to the upper layers of the soil.

Green manure can be sown throughout the year – in spring, summer or before winter. They are planted not only in free areas to enrich the soil, but also in the aisles – to protect against weeds and pests.

You can not plant pepper after vegetables that belong to the same family – nightshade. They have common diseases, are exposed to the same pests. For example, a fungus that kills peppers breeds on tomatoes. In addition, previous crops take nutrients from the soil. If earlier tomatoes, eggplants or potatoes grew on the site, then the pepper will not be able to get the right amount of minerals, it will hurt. Melons are also not the best predecessors. In the place where the zucchini or pumpkin were located, it is better not to plant peppers.

In addition, strawberries can bring problems. She and pepper are attacked by the same fungi. Harmful bacteria will actively multiply, interfering with growth and fruiting. In addition, you should not alternate between different types of the same culture. Sweet and bitter peppers have the same enemies – these are spider mites and aphids. Insect larvae remain in the ground and will actively breed next year in comfortable conditions, so you need to change the culture to prevent this. Plants also have similar diseases, which leads to an increase in the number of infected bushes.

In addition to choosing suitable predecessors and neighbors, there are some recommendations that will help you get a good harvest:

• seeds can be soaked in a growth stimulator – this will provide them with an additional resource and help them grow faster;
• if you purchased seedlings for planting in open ground, but the weather is cool outside, you should keep the plants in a greenhouse or under a film, since the optimum temperature for them will be +25 degrees;
• be sure to make a sufficient amount of water, otherwise the pepper will not be able to form strong flower stalks and full-fledged fruits, you can combine watering with top dressing;
• loosening will help provide access to oxygen and moisture to the roots;
• the formation of bushes will allow you to get a lush crown that can hold ripening fruits.