Pepper - Seed Saving

recruiterg · October 8, 2010

Is there a trick for pepper seed saving? I just did a germination test from 2010 saved seeds and had low germination. I have been saving the seed from ripe fruits, but I am wondering if you need to let the peppers get overripe in order to get the seeds to be viable. I plan to try again on a heat mat.

If there isn't a trick, is there a trick to getting the seeds to germinate?

fortyonenorth · October 8, 2010

I don't think they have to be over-ripe. I bet you'll have much better luck with bottom heat.

doublehelix · October 8, 2010

Some peppers take as long as a month to germinate. Quite often if you don't have high enough temps the seed will rot before it can sprout. I prefer a soilless mix like Promix for starting pepper seeds. If your seeds have not been treated, I usually give my pepper seeds a quick rinse of 5% bleach solution before planting. If you don't have about 75 to 85 degrees, germination rates are very low.

Wi-sunflower · October 8, 2010

Actually the trick is the fact that you can't just save pepper seed, dry it and use it right away. Pepper seed has a built-in anti-germination factor called seed dormancy.

I've had newly collected seed that i would only get maybe 20% germination the spring after collecting but get 90% the next year.

Carol

franzb69 · October 9, 2010

the longest it took me to germinate a pepper seed was 9 weeks.

with new seeds, takes me 2-3 days.

October 8, 2010	#1
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Pepper - Seed Saving Is there a trick for pepper seed saving? I just did a germination test from 2010 saved seeds and had low germination. I have been saving the seed from ripe fruits, but I am wondering if you need to let the peppers get overripe in order to get the seeds to be viable. I plan to try again on a heat mat. If there isn't a trick, is there a trick to getting the seeds to germinate?

October 8, 2010	#2
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	I don't think they have to be over-ripe. I bet you'll have much better luck with bottom heat.

October 8, 2010	#3
doublehelix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 190	Some peppers take as long as a month to germinate. Quite often if you don't have high enough temps the seed will rot before it can sprout. I prefer a soilless mix like Promix for starting pepper seeds. If your seeds have not been treated, I usually give my pepper seeds a quick rinse of 5% bleach solution before planting. If you don't have about 75 to 85 degrees, germination rates are very low.

October 8, 2010	#4
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Actually the trick is the fact that you can't just save pepper seed, dry it and use it right away. Pepper seed has a built-in anti-germination factor called seed dormancy. I've had newly collected seed that i would only get maybe 20% germination the spring after collecting but get 90% the next year. Carol

October 9, 2010	#5
franzb69 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Philippines Posts: 210	the longest it took me to germinate a pepper seed was 9 weeks. with new seeds, takes me 2-3 days.