I got that feeling last night. It sneaked up on me.

[Labradors2]

Thanks. You are right, now that I think of it.

Last year my sweet peppers just wouldn't germinate and I had to resort to a different batch of saved seeds. Starting them early would really have helped as I ended up setting out such ridiculously minute plants that I ended up buying extra seedlings from the big box store, in case they didn't survive.

I always used to plant out the third week of May, but we actually had a heavy frost AFTER our frost-free date and I ended up planting out on June 1.

Linda

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

I start my tomatoes in mid-March for plant out in late May. While peppers and eggplant get planted out at about the same time, they seem to take a little longer to germinate and not grow as quickly as tomato seedlings. I always give them a one month head start. Hot peppers often get a six week head start over the tomatoes. This schedule work for me, so I stick to it.

[taboule]

I've been thinking about this relative timing of seed starting since last year, as my peppers and eggplants never grew as big as I wished, although they were very healthy. I may have put them in the ground too soon (early May) while they were still on the small side.

I've been thinking of doing what Father's Daughter is suggesting, give them (seeds that is) a headstart over the toms. I'm just outside of Boston.

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by taboule

I've been thinking about this relative timing of seed starting since last year, as my peppers and eggplants never grew as big as I wished, although they were very healthy. I may have put them in the ground too soon (early May) while they were still on the small side.



I've been thinking of doing what Father's Daughter is suggesting, give them (seeds that is) a headstart over the toms. I'm just outside of Boston.

There are several sites out there that give recommended seed starting and planting dates based on your area. The Old Farmer's Almanac (www.almanac.com) has this option for U.S. locations (not sure about Canada). I just looked and their recommended dates for my area are pretty close to my schedule. Take a look and see what it recommends for where you are. I'm in northern Middlesex County, close to the NH border, but if your closer to or south of Boston, your last frost date will be earlier than mine.

[taboule]

Thanks for the tip Re LFD, I started with the published data but continue to refine my own planting dates based on experience and other input -like yours. I plant tomatoes much sooner, usually around first of May, aiming for larger than usual fruit.

Here's one of my large Black Krims picked late August 2013 at 520 grams (18.6 oz)

Edit: sorry not sure why pic isn't displaying, will try to fix and repost

[MrsJustice]

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

I have been a tomato seed planting fool. I have totally lost my mind! Now I have even more to decide over. My husband looks at my plants with anxiety. He knows he will be digging the holes! I am planting peppers, now I even have someherbs and flowers to plantout. Will this madness ever end??

Thar's funny: my husband is looking at my plants the same way!!!!

[shelleybean]

So far I've only started those things that take a bit longer to get going--parsley and hot peppers. In a couple of weeks I'll be ready to sow the sweet peppers, the eggplant and I'm going to start a couple of flats of lettuce in the laundry room this time, just to make sure it's in and out of the garden quickly. I need that space for zucchini in April and I like to plant as early as possible because of the squash vine borer. Then tomatoes and basil. The snow we have now is our first of the season and I'm already tired of it. Ready for spring! Can't wait to get out there and sow pea in March.

[Irv Wiseguy]

I'm about 3 weeks away from seed starting, but got an early start yesterday with some stubborn Chinese Giant pepper seeds yesterday. I had 0% germination with them last year so I'm trying Carolyn's seed wakeup method. Hopefully at least 1 will germinate.

Irv

[taboule]

Originally Posted by taboule

Thanks for the tip Re LFD, I started with the published data but continue to refine my own planting dates based on experience and other input -like yours. I plant tomatoes much sooner, usually around first of May, aiming for larger than usual fruit.

Here's one of my large Black Krims picked late August 2013 at 520 grams (18.6 oz)

Edit: sorry not sure why pic isn't displaying, will try to fix and repost

Found a workaround now that upload seems to (partially work) here's a different BK, this one was 540 grams.

[discoprincess]

Originally Posted by taboule

I've been thinking of doing what Father's Daughter is suggesting, give them (seeds that is) a headstart over the toms. I'm just outside of Boston.

I just started some peppers this week. I sowed the seeds in cups and put them in Ziploc bags. They are on the heater, which I am using as a default heat mat. (I normally don't need the heater on in the apartment, but this prolonged cold snap has made the area by the windows and kitchen table really drafty!)

I will start sowing tomatoes soon.

[MrsJustice]

Hello Everyone
I start some eggplants early for the first time 1/14/2014. They are doing fine. The black Beauty Heirloom eggplants were gowning wonderfully last summer until an early frost kill them as they were growing young eggplants. I just did not have room to bring them in green house. To make sure all my different eggplant didn't fall victim to early frost, I will grow them early each year like my Tomatoes & Peppers.

[taboule]

I took the plunge yesterday. Started one a tray of peppers, hot and sweet, and another of eggplants, various types, on heat mats. More than I will plant, but need to play the numbers game. Curious to see how long the peppers will take to germinate. Last year hardly any came out of the first batch, so had to start another one in March, and ran late for the season. Will start the first a few toms next weekend.

Thinking about putting up a small hoop/low tunnel this year. 8x8, easy enough with a high ROI.

Expecting 8 deg Tuesday night, hopefully the coldest until next year.

[greenthumbomaha]

Taboule ,be patient, my sweet peppers are taking 9-10 days on average to germinate. Some (about 10%) are still thinking about it. I used Farfard Potting Mix and Jiffy Seed Starter while waiting for the Espoma Seed Starter to show up from Ozbo , with heat mats set at 85 degrees. Tomatoes & eggplants took 4-5 days in comparison.
-Lisa

[Father'sDaughter]

I'm still waiting on six of the 32 hot pepper seeds I started in DE two weeks ago. Not quite ready to call them DOA yet. I didn't have them on any type of heat source for the first week and it's been pretty cold lately. I finally dug out the high density foam pad (to protect the table), the full size sheet pan (which goes upside down on top of the foam pad) and heating pad (which goes under the upside down sheet pan), and put the tray of starter pots on top of it all. they started to pop up rather quickly after that. Sweet papers and eggplant will be started this weekend.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

I'm still waiting on six of the 32 hot pepper seeds I started in DE two weeks ago. Not quite ready to call them DOA yet. I didn't have them on any type of heat source for the first week and it's been pretty cold lately. I finally dug out the high density foam pad (to protect the table), the full size sheet pan (which goes upside down on top of the foam pad) and heating pad (which goes under the upside down sheet pan), and put the tray of starter pots on top of it all. they started to pop up rather quickly after that. Sweet papers and eggplant will be started this weekend.

If those six hot peppers that didn’t pop up were Numex type pepper seeds from me, than the problem is my fault for not telling you that they should be hydrated before planting them. I air dry a lot of my Numex type peppers before removing the seeds, which makes the seeds drier than most packaged pepper seeds. I soak them before planting them for at least one hour, but not much more than two hours just before planting them.
Dutch

[Tormato]

I got that feeling last night...

Nine below zero.

Still a looooooooooooooooooooooong way to go before sowing seeds.