Pepper Time: When and How to Plant Seedlings — Best Varieties for Lecho and Stuffing

Peppers should be planted for seedlings in February, especially if you have a sturdy greenhouse. It«s important not only to do everything on time but also to choose good varieties, soil, and sowing methods. Let»s figure out the specifics of growing pepper seedlings together with an agronomist.

When to Plant Pepper Seedlings in 2026

The main period for sowing pepper seedlings is February. Late-ripening varieties are planted in the greenhouse, early-ripening ones in the vegetable patch. In any case, the age of the seedlings at the time of planting should be 65–75 days — the key is from the moment of sowing, not germination.

For a regular greenhouse, peppers need to be sown from around mid-February until the end of the month; for a heated greenhouse, sowing can start at the very beginning of the month. Early-ripening crops are sown from late February until March 20.

According to the lunar calendar for gardeners, favorable days for sowing pepper seedlings in February are: February 1, 11, 18, 19, 27, and 28; in March: March 10, 12, and 17. It«s better not to handle seeds on February 16 and 17, and March 15 and 20.

Best Pepper Varieties for Lecho and Stuffing

Lecho will turn out tastier if made from thick-walled peppers. In Siberia, several such varieties grow well.

«You can plant »California Wonder«, »Valentinka«, »Gemini«,» said the agronomist, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Lyudmila Shubina. «The peppers turn out with thick walls, especially if potassium is applied on time.»

For stuffed peppers, the firmness of the fruit is important. Varieties whose peppers hold their shape well are «King of the North», «Dunyasha», «Bogatyr», «Novosibirsk».

If there is no goal to grow a harvest for a specific dish, then varieties such as «Kolobok», «Valentin», «Big Boy», «Fountain» have also shown themselves excellently.

How to Plant Pepper Seedlings

Peppers are sensitive to picking, so if the task is not to get more than 10–20 plants, it«s worth taking peat pellets. However, they should have a large diameter: 40–70 mm (about 1.6–2.8 inches).

The pellets need to be placed in a container, carefully filled with room-temperature water for 20 minutes, then drain the excess. Place one seed in the center of each pellet, cover with surrounding peat with a finger. Cover with film and put in a warm and bright place.

«If you pick correctly and on time, then everything will be fine with the peppers. They cannot be buried when transplanting. In individual pots, the soil level at the stem should be the same as in the seedling tray — then there will be no problems,» explained Lyudmila Shubina.

The height of the seedling pot is more than 5 cm (about 2 inches). There should be drainage at the bottom made of expanded clay or pebbles, the soil should be nutritious and light. It needs to be watered, make furrows. The seeding depth is about 1 cm (about 0.4 inches), the distance between furrows is 1.5–2 cm (about 0.6–0.8 inches), between seeds — at least 1 cm (about 0.4 inches). After sowing, the pot needs to be covered with film and placed in a warm and bright place.

«Seedlings emerge quite slowly, approximately on the 10–12th day. Immediately, you need to provide additional light to the seedlings — so they won»t stretch,« advised the agronomist. »Pepper loves warmth, so the seedlings should have at least +25 degrees Celsius (77°F).«

How to Care for Pepper Seedlings

The film from the pot is better removed a few days after germination, so that the seedlings gradually get used to the apartment climate. It«s important to monitor the temperature, avoid drafts.

«Provide additional light for at least a month, otherwise the seedlings will stretch, the stem will be weak,» warned Lyudmila Shubina. «Only tomatoes tolerate soil drying out well, peppers really don»t like that — you need to make sure the soil is moist.«

If the soil constantly dries out, the stem will prematurely become woody — this will negatively affect yield. Depending on the air in the apartment, watering the seedlings in the pot will be needed two to three times a week. Peat pellets dry out even faster, so they require more frequent moisture application.

What Else to Read About Garden and Vegetable Patch

Vegetable time: what to plant for seedlings in February.

A plan for the gardener. When to plant seedlings in 2026 — lunar calendar and timing from February to May.

When to plant petunia seeds — timing and important rules.