starting seeds

[TightenUp]

do you start pepper seeds the same time as tomato seeds?

[Crandrew]

I start them at the same time or earlier due to their slow grow nature.

[Father'sDaughter]

This year I started peppers about a month earlier than the tomatoes and they're producing on about the same schedule this year. Last year I started the sweet peppers at about the same time as the tomatoes, and they were just starting pump out peppers when the cooler fall weather arrived.

[TightenUp]

thanks. i thought i remembered reading i should start them a bit earlier but wasnt sure

[PaulF]

Usually my peppers are started two weeks ahead of tomatoes like Crandrew says.

[PA_Julia]

I have 2 sweet bell pepper plants in ground and they have finally started to really grow and set peppers within the last two weeks.

Both are approx 2.5 ' tall.

They are both very healthy.

I started them back in mid March and planted them May 11th.

Next year I'm seriously considering starting them a month before the tomato plants due to just how slowly they have grown in comparison to tomato plants.


Julia

[ScottinAtlanta]

Eggplants, too.

[Crandrew]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Eggplants, too.

+1 and like peppers I hear they can also be overwintered I'm sad i didnt sow any eggplant this year. but for next year I will plant a few varieties.

Originally Posted by TightenUp

i will shoot for a month earlier than tomatoes. i planted peppers for the 1st time this season and just got them from HD. they are doing great but i didnt like the selection and most of the plants were not very healthy at the store.

Yeah that sounds like a good plan. My first year I bought everything at the store. This year I only bought exceptions at the store and grew at least 75% from seed. I feel growing from seed is the ONLY way to go.

[greenthumbomaha]

I buy some of my eggplant seeds a year ahead of planting since they're already started them by the time stores get their stock in the winter. I keep adding more when a variety sounds interesting. After the eggplants, hot peppers get space on the heat mats and then the Italian frying peppers. Next come early tomatoes, then the main crop, and when those are planted I start the long keepers. Whew!

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by PA_Julia

I have 2 sweet bell pepper plants in ground and they have finally started to really grow and set peppers within the last two weeks.

Both are approx 2.5 ' tall.

They are both very healthy.

I started them back in mid March and planted them May 11th.

Next year I'm seriously considering starting them a month before the tomato plants due to just how slowly they have grown in comparison to tomato plants.


Julia

i will shoot for a month earlier than tomatoes. i planted peppers for the 1st time this season and just got them from HD. they are doing great but i didnt like the selection and most of the plants were not very healthy at the store.

[noinwi]

I also start most of my C. annuum peppers at least two weeks before my toms as they take a bit longer to germinate. Some species like C. chinense and C. baccatum need to be started even sooner. They take quite a while to germinate, and they need a longer growing season. That's been my experience, anyway.

[koshki]

I'm glad to read the advice in this thread...I have decided to start peppers from seed next year, and it's helpful to know when to start them.

Last year I bought plants from my favorite nursery that were huge and did very well in my containers. So well, in fact that I decided to cut back from 6 to 3 plants. This year the nursery had my favorites when it was still too cold outside, and then they couldn't get the variety I wanted when it came time to put them out.

So I ordered the variety (Costa Rican) from Burpee, but when they finally arrived (they are not quick ship there), the plants were puny! I have exactly one pepper on the three plants, although they have tons of blossoms. But I think I'll be lucky to get ripe peppers before October!

I will have to pick your brains on suggestions for good sweet red peppers.

[Crandrew]

Originally Posted by koshki

I will have to pick your brains on suggestions for good sweet red peppers.

Jimmy Nardello
Marconi
Slonovo Uvo
Carmen F1
corno di toro

[dustyrivergarden]

I start my peppers a month earlier than tomatoes because sometimes pepper seeds can take time to germinate I grow several types and some can give me difficulty germinating.

[lakelady]

I did mine at the same time as my early tomatoes and they are producing fabulously (except for the one that is NOT corno di toro). Some didn't germinate, some took longer to germinate, so I'd re-sow 2 weeks later if one didn't show up by then. I had too many pepper plants this year!