The great pepper experiment '05

**Kimberlina** · 03-27-2005, 09:57 PM

Well, I mentioned it briefly in some of my other posts, but I just thought I would share a little more info about my peppers.

I have two kinds of sweet peppers and two kinds of hot peppers I am trying to grow from seed. Peppers are very finicky about their conditions for germination, and I had not bn having luck with them. I read on another forum to actually put the seed containers on TOP of my fluorescent light fixture, near the ballast where it is warm. I also read that starting them in coffee filters(no soil) in plastic bags was another good option.

Wanting to hedge my bets, I tried both, and put them both on the ballast. Since this was my second start with these seeds, I am running low and decided to try 6 seeds on soil on top, and a bunch in the coffee filter. Three of the six in soil are just starting to pop up, (which is WAY better than my 0% germination not doing them this way.) I started a LOT of seeds in the coffee filters, and so far have probably about 70% germination of one of the kinds of sweets, 100% of the cayenne, and the other sweet pepper is just starting to poke through, so I havent' really messed with them much. The jalapenos got a late start, but after just two days, they are already showing signs of germination, too.

I am really psyched about this. I transferred a bunch to soil a couple days ago and am working very hard to keep them alive- they do not requires so much warmth once they are germinated, so they are now under the lights..

The filter method is really easy- I label mine first (with a sharpie marker) then wet them with a 1:20 solution of peroxide and water (to prevent fungus.) Lay the circle flat, then mentally dividing it into quarters, lay seed in only ONE quarter. Fold into quarters so the seeds have one layer of filter on one side, three layers on the other. The info I read uses plastic baggies, but I used a small, clear plastic food container with a lid. Then I just put the whole thing on the ballast and wait for the magic to work It is only taking a few days to germinate, as opposed to weeks it could take. Woohoo!!

**Mom23boys** · 03-28-2005, 12:00 AM

Yeah! I am glad they are starting to take. You will have peppers before you know it.

**Mommy2five** · 03-28-2005, 01:12 AM

Great! Sounds like it is gonna be a great pepper year for you!

**jlxian** · 03-28-2005, 09:51 AM

Terrific, Kimberly. Do you plan to make Salsa?

**forestdale** · 03-28-2005, 11:53 PM

Good news, Kimber. Yay@ you not giving up until they germinated. Keep us updated on what happens next.

**Telephus44** · 03-31-2005, 08:08 PM

I purchased some pepper seeds - Thai Hot Pepper. I planted them in Miracle Gro Potting Mix in a sterilized meat tray and have them sitting on top on one of DH's computers for warmth (I mist the tray everyday with water). Its been two weeks and all of my other seeds have come up, but not the peppers! Should I try taking the seeds out and doing the coffee filter thing (assuming I can find the seeds) or just keep hoping? This was a packet of 20 seeds, so I don't have any extras - I planted all that I got.

Let me know what you think.

**Kimberlina** · 03-31-2005, 08:41 PM

I'm sure Rhonda will have more insight, but here is my .02 worth.

Mine hadn't sprouted at 2 weeks. So I let them grow longer. They still didn't sprout. They CAN take a LONG time to germinate, but I had NO luck whatsoever doing it the "old-fashioned" way. None of the ones I put in soil came up no matter how I monkeyed with the conditions to try to find good ones, UNTIL I put some on the ballast of my light fixture. Then I did get 4 out of 6 to spout in soil. But it only took about 10 days once I found out what worked best for them in soil.

However, I started more pepper seeds in the filters, and I have had darn near 100% germination with them, even with the cheap seeds. I started 4 varieties, at least a dozen seeds of each, and thus far only 5 seeds haven't germinated. And they germinate in a matter of 3-5 days, instead of weeks.

If I were you, I would probably leave some of them in the soil and see what happens (well, that is what I did, and I didn't have luck with them, but did have a little luck once I planted new ones.) Odds are, though, that starting those particular seeds again isn't going to help- either they will start soon, or they have rotted away, or they have dried up. Not very optimistic, am I? Which is why you should probably wait till Rhonda or someone else more knowledgable chimes in before you do anything....

**jlxian** · 04-01-2005, 11:23 AM

I have been getting discouraged about my pepper seeds as well -- but it has only been a week. Since some of you have had them take much longer I will keep hoping.

HOWEVER I read this morning they should be started 8 - 12 weeks before planting in the garden and I've missed that window altogether. I may have to buy my pepper plants after all. It was worth a shot!

**Kimberlina** · 04-01-2005, 04:51 PM

Jean, It seems like if you have a long season, you could still put them out in the garden. I plan on putting most of mine in containers so I can bring them in on cold nights and try to extend my season a little. Of course, I have a shortish growing season, anyway, so anything I can do to extend the season is a help. There are lots of things you can do to extend so that you can still use those seeds this year.

**jlxian** · 04-01-2005, 05:02 PM

You are right Kimberly..... I'll see how they do AND maybe buy some pepper plants too -- depending on when I get these set out. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

And its a good idea you have to put them in containers. IF we ever get our "greenhouse" situated I could stick them in there on freezy nights.