Anybody ever have luck growing sweet peppers from seeds?

**Kimberlina** · 03-11-2005, 08:29 AM

I live in Zone 5 and am tempted every year by all the different verieties and colors of sweet peppers that can be grown from seed. Around here, you can basically only get regular old green as seedlings. So every year I try to grow them from seed, and I never have any luck. I know they are notoriously difficult to grow in northern climes, but I always hope....

Anyway, if you have had luck starting them as seeds, what is your trick?

**PrairieRose** · 03-11-2005, 08:58 AM

My dh grows them but we're in zone 6. He has a very green thumb and I swear that man can grow anything. Wish I had a secret to tell ya but I don't.

**jlxian** · 03-11-2005, 09:42 AM

Are you growing from seed sown directly in your garden? If so, maybe you should try starting the seed inside.

I grew a few last year from seed, and come to think of it they did not do well at all. (Zone 6) I assumed it was my fault -- got a late start, etc. Hmmmm...... now you've got me wondering!

I haven't started this years peppers yet -- I'll try to do that this weekend and hope that they do better. Let's keep track and see what happens.

**forestdale** · 03-11-2005, 02:26 PM

Generally accepted temperatures for pepper germination are:
Minimum: 60F
Optimum: 85F
Maximum: 95F

That is from this site, they have a very helpful discussion there on starting pepper seeds:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/forum...69&whichpage=2

**duckduckgoose007** · 03-11-2005, 02:50 PM

Nope no luck. We are in zone 5 also.

My Hubby does the gardening & always buys the plants at the Greenhouse.

**slowtypinwoman** · 03-11-2005, 05:32 PM

I too always buy from the greenhouse. Lasy year I didn't even have luck with those.

**Kimberlina** · 03-11-2005, 06:54 PM

Thanks everyone!

Rhonda, thanks for the link.

I started mine- I figure the seeds are cheap enough a price for a little wisp of dreaming about all those beautiful peppers....

**Kimberlina** · 03-11-2005, 07:20 PM

And I wanted to add that I have read a lot of Garden Lad's (who posted in the thread Rhonda linked) at Gardenweb. Thatlad sure knows what he is talking about!!!

**slowtypinwoman** · 03-11-2005, 08:28 PM

Kimberly,
If you have a chance try the black/purple ones. They are very sweet and oh so good in salsa!

**bamamomto4** · 03-11-2005, 10:17 PM

Is this the same as yellow banana peppers? Or thats what we call them down in the south (if it's the same thing). I dont know what zone we're in (shame on me) but I have a hard time growing these here. Year before last I got maybe 2 peppers per plant.Last summer I had more,but not very many.

I think this year I'll buy some plants and see how that goes.

**Kimberlina** · 03-12-2005, 12:51 PM

Tammy, if you got ANY peppers, you're doing good.

I am talking specifically about green peppers, not banana, but any kind of pepper can be a pain to get started. I've only ever had luck with jalepenos that I container-grew.

I have planted a large mix of chocolate, purple, orange, yellow, red, and green, along with anaheim peppers, and I will plant jalapenos if I can get some seeds in the next couple days.

I finally decided to move the pepper pots to the top of my pellet stove. It runs 24-7 right now, and the peppers need the high heat to germinate. Once they do, I will put them back under my lights. No fear- they aren't directly on top of the stove- I have two baking racks set up and they are on the top one.

Send lots of good vibes for my little pepper plants- if I am lucky I will get 3 or 4 plants from the 12 pots I have planted so far....