Planted seeds but nothing is coming up

mouka_f_slouka · March 17, 2015

Hi,

I started planting my tomato, cucumber and pepper seeds about 2 weeks ago. The tomatoes and cucumbers seedlings are all out, but no peppers yet.
What am I doing wrong?
I live in the Chicago area and I have had mixed results as far as peppers are concerned. Last year I had a lot of success with Jalapenos but no success at all with bell peppers.
Is it just my growing area or do I need to do something special?
Any input is highly appreciated.

Thanks

tam91 · March 17, 2015

I never bother with growing sweet peppers here any more, they take forever to ripen. Peppers like heat, maybe try putting them somewhere warmer.

mouka_f_slouka · March 17, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by tam91

I never bother with growing sweet peppers here any more, they take forever to ripen. Peppers like heat, maybe try putting them somewhere warmer.

So what would you recommend for me to plant that would work in Chicago area?
I see that you are from Crystal Lake. So you probably have had a lot of experience with growing vegetables in our area.
What vegetables do you grow?
I already know that cucumbers and tomatoes grow nicely here. But what else?

Thanks

RayR · March 17, 2015

I live north of both of you and I have no problem growing peppers of any type, even ripe bells

Folks in Canada do it too so it isn't your climate.
Tam is right about the heat, Pepper seed germinates best when in a warm bed. 75°-80°F is good. You can try the paper towel/coffee filter method to pre-sprout your seed before planting in your seed starting mix.

HeatherT · March 17, 2015

I have grown sweet peepers in this area my whole life (Chicago), they do great here . Last two years I was forced into a community garden by the evil HOA and it was a bust on all plants, this year I am growing at my home again (I won in court). I also enjoy hot peppers and they grow well to.

peebee · March 18, 2015

The folks who have replied above are right on about the heat. I was never able to germinate pepper seeds until I read about the bottom heat thing. So I had success putting them on top of my water heater that was in the house at that time. Now that the heater is outside, I have a heat pad and definitely recommend it.

brucewayne · March 18, 2015

With all due respect I germinated on top of refrigerator mater sedds peppers egg plant. Worth a try

tam91 · March 18, 2015

Bell peppers will grow. But I liked the various colors, and they are all green before they ripen - took forever to ripen to their other colors. So for me, it just wasn't worth the garden space. Not impossible to grow, just not worth it.

Hot peppers do terrific, I grow them every year.

I usually grow pole beans, peas, snap peas, broccoli (the peas need to be put in early). I have grown lettuce, swiss chard, radishes. I've done corn, although that takes a lot of space. Most garden vegetables do well here.

Worth1 · March 18, 2015

I'm growing Gypsy Hybrid this year to take the place of bell peppers.
I didn't start from seeds they had them for sell at the store for $1.50 a plant, I have 5 of them.
http://www.tomatogrowers.com/GYPSY-H...ductinfo/9056/

pmcgrady · March 18, 2015

I'm with Worth "Gypsy Hybrid" is a good pepper to grow, prolific, fast growing, taste great!

Father'sDaughter · March 18, 2015

I've had great luck with bottom heat during germination (as has been mentioned) and starting them about four weeks earlier than my tomatoes. Because they go from the heating pad to my 60-65 degree basement once they sprout, they grow very, very slowly. I've learned giving them a head start results in good sized, very stocky plants by the time they can go out to the garden.

Worth1 · March 18, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeatherT

I have grown sweet peepers in this area my whole life (Chicago), they do great here . Last two years I was forced into a community garden by the evil HOA and it was a bust on all plants, this year I am growing at my home again (I won in court). I also enjoy hot peppers and they grow well to.

I just read this, good for you taking the HOA on, more people should do it.

There are certain rights these jerks just cant take away from you.
Beer cans and old trucks in the yard are one thing, what you grow and the color of your curtains is something else.

Worth

Worth1 · March 18, 2015

I always read about folks germinating on the top of a refrigerator.
The tops of these things are cold, I just felt mine.

Worth

RayR · March 18, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I always read about folks germinating on the top of a refrigerator.
The tops of these things are cold, I just felt mine.

Worth

Ya, not every frig is warm on top. I've used the top of the water heater before but only the center around the stack was warm. Not real practical if you've got a lot of seeds to start. My investment in a germination heat mat and thermostat some years ago was the best thing ever for me.

Stvrob · March 18, 2015

Carmen is a very good hybrid sweet pepper. Its available from Johnnys.
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6674-carmen.aspx

Jimmy Nardello's is a very good open pollinated sweet pepper. http://www.territorialseed.com/produ...epper_Seed/394

March 17, 2015	#1
mouka_f_slouka Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Chicago Posts: 115	Planted seeds but nothing is coming up Hi, I started planting my tomato, cucumber and pepper seeds about 2 weeks ago. The tomatoes and cucumbers seedlings are all out, but no peppers yet. What am I doing wrong? I live in the Chicago area and I have had mixed results as far as peppers are concerned. Last year I had a lot of success with Jalapenos but no success at all with bell peppers. Is it just my growing area or do I need to do something special? Any input is highly appreciated. Thanks

March 17, 2015	#2
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I never bother with growing sweet peppers here any more, they take forever to ripen. Peppers like heat, maybe try putting them somewhere warmer. __________________ Tracy

March 18, 2015	#8
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Bell peppers will grow. But I liked the various colors, and they are all green before they ripen - took forever to ripen to their other colors. So for me, it just wasn't worth the garden space. Not impossible to grow, just not worth it. Hot peppers do terrific, I grow them every year. I usually grow pole beans, peas, snap peas, broccoli (the peas need to be put in early). I have grown lettuce, swiss chard, radishes. I've done corn, although that takes a lot of space. Most garden vegetables do well here. __________________ Tracy

March 17, 2015	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	I live north of both of you and I have no problem growing peppers of any type, even ripe bells Folks in Canada do it too so it isn't your climate. Tam is right about the heat, Pepper seed germinates best when in a warm bed. 75°-80°F is good. You can try the paper towel/coffee filter method to pre-sprout your seed before planting in your seed starting mix.

March 17, 2015	#5
HeatherT BANNED Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Illinois Posts: 44	I have grown sweet peepers in this area my whole life (Chicago), they do great here . Last two years I was forced into a community garden by the evil HOA and it was a bust on all plants, this year I am growing at my home again (I won in court). I also enjoy hot peppers and they grow well to.

March 18, 2015	#6
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	The folks who have replied above are right on about the heat. I was never able to germinate pepper seeds until I read about the bottom heat thing. So I had success putting them on top of my water heater that was in the house at that time. Now that the heater is outside, I have a heat pad and definitely recommend it.

March 18, 2015	#7
brucewayne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: california Posts: 26	With all due respect I germinated on top of refrigerator mater sedds peppers egg plant. Worth a try

March 18, 2015	#9
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I'm growing Gypsy Hybrid this year to take the place of bell peppers. I didn't start from seeds they had them for sell at the store for $1.50 a plant, I have 5 of them. http://www.tomatogrowers.com/GYPSY-H...ductinfo/9056/

March 18, 2015	#10
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	I'm with Worth "Gypsy Hybrid" is a good pepper to grow, prolific, fast growing, taste great!

March 18, 2015	#11
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I've had great luck with bottom heat during germination (as has been mentioned) and starting them about four weeks earlier than my tomatoes. Because they go from the heating pad to my 60-65 degree basement once they sprout, they grow very, very slowly. I've learned giving them a head start results in good sized, very stocky plants by the time they can go out to the garden.

March 18, 2015	#15
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	Carmen is a very good hybrid sweet pepper. Its available from Johnnys. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6674-carmen.aspx Jimmy Nardello's is a very good open pollinated sweet pepper. http://www.territorialseed.com/produ...epper_Seed/394