How to Plant Capers Through Seedlings: When and How Step by Step
More and more people decide to have their own garden to enjoy a bit of nature and prepare delicious dishes with their own vegetables. This also applies to the celebrated capers, delicious edible buds that are very common in Mediterranean regions. If you already have one of these plants, you can propagate it in a very basic way. if you want to know how to plant capers through seedlings, I recommend reading this article further.
This type of plant propagation is widely used in horticulture. It’s a quick, basic and effective method which we can operate for different types of plants. In addition to explaining how it is done, we will also discuss when is the best time to plant caper seedlings. I hope this information is useful for you!
When to plant caper seedlings?
Caper, scientifically known as Spiny capersis a shrub originating from Southeast Asia and widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean region. It is cultivated mainly for its flower buds, called capers, very popular in the world of gastronomy.
The caper stems are very branched and have many thorns and They can reach a length of up to 150 centimeters. As for the leaves, they are supported by low petioles and are alternate and kidney-shaped. The peduncles are also quite long and end in a nice flower, the crown of which consists of a total of four immense, white, fluted petals.
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Capers: Characteristics and Cultivation
Before we explain how to plant capers from cuttings, we must first know when to do it. We can propagate this plant by seeds, by layers, by shoots or suckers, and by stakes or cuttings. While sowing the seeds of this vegetable is done in the fall, the final transplanting or propagation by cuttings is done normally. early spring.
The latter is most popular in the case of capers. We just have to choose the most fertile and leafy stems and plant them in the ground. While it is true that this is not a complicated task, we will try to explain it in more detail and step by step so that there are no unresolved doubts.
How to make a caper plant?
Now that we know when to do this task, let’s see how to plant capers through seedlings. While it is true that we can also grow them from seeds, propagating them through cuttings is a quick and simple option if we already have one of these vegetables. To do this job, We will need the following tools:
- Disinfected garden shears
- Organic substrate
- A immense pot or immense area in a garden or orchard
It is very critical that the plant has enough space, because it spreads very easily. In fact, if we don’t keep it under control, it can become a creep. Therefore, it is critical that the pot is very immense or that we have enough space in the orchard or garden.
It should be noted that capers prefer sandy, lightweight and stony soils for their cultivation. Also, the soil must be affluent in organic matter so that they can grow and develop properly. You should also avoid clay and damp soils, they don’t like anything and may not grow in them.
Another aspect to consider is that these are shrubs comes from hot areas. For this reason, they can be grown mainly in temperate, tropical, or subtropical regions. The place where these vegetables are grown should be in partial shade or full sun. Capers do not cope well with low temperatures. They have a very challenging time surviving temperatures below five degrees below zero.
How to Plant Capers Through Seedlings: Step by Step
Once we have all the necessary elements, it’s time to get to work. Let’s see how to plant capers from seedlings step by step:
- Disinfect and tidy the scissors:No matter what tool we operate to cut the cuttings, it must be tidy and disinfected to prevent the spread of some diseases and fungi between the plants.
- Prepare the soil: We plant caper in a pot or directly in the ground, first we need to prepare the soil. To do this, we will open a hole for each of the seedlings we want to plant. The holes must be the same thickness as the stems we will insert. As for the depth, it should be at least ten centimeters.
- Cut stems: Each stem should be between 20 and 25 centimetres long. It is best to get them from a forceful and fit plant. You can find more information about cuttings here.
- Plant seedlings: Once we have the stems, we will put them in the holes and add a little more soil to fill them. Then we need to press the soil lightly to make the seedlings firm. This way we will prevent them from falling with the wind.
- Water: Watering after planting should be copious and gentle. It is critical to keep the soil damp, especially at the beginning, until the plant takes root.
It should be noted that this procedure can be applied for any plant that can be propagated by cuttings. Of course, it is advisable to cut off a few shoots, because there is a risk that some will not develop as expected.
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Plants propagated by cuttings
After planting the caper seedlings, these It will take them about three weeks to take root. As for outbreaks, the first ones will appear after about two months. The stems can be harvested in April, when they become tender in texture, while the capers, i.e. flower buds, will have to wait until July to be able to collect them and prepare them for the kitchen.
Now that we know how to plant capers from seedlings, we can grow a few of them and enjoy their delicious buds. They are very popular in salads, pasta dishes, sauces, pizzas and even as an appetizer. If we like them, of course it is worth having them in our orchard or garden. Of course, remember that capers are generally eaten pickled. That is: first they need to be slightly marinated in a diluted mixture of salt and vinegar.