Sowing Pepper Seeds...

Ed of Somis · February 21, 2015

I have done pretty well with my tomato seed sowing this year (first time newbie). However, I notice all my pepper seeds (jalapeno, Anaheim, wonder bell) have not poked up their heads after 8 days. Is this expected? Is the article I read regarding NOT planting pepper seeds in a peat based mix true???

jmsieglaff · February 21, 2015

I don't use a heating mat for my seeds. They are about 68F. My peppers first pepper seeds usually breaks ground on day 10-12. The latest couple take up to 21 days. I still get good germination rates--I use the same seed starting mix for peppers and tomatoes. This year I'm growing Yummy (small sweets), King of the North (bell), Experiment Orange bell, Serrano, Fish Pepper and Aji Amarillo.

Father'sDaughter · February 21, 2015

Peppers often take over a week to pop for me as well. I wouldn't worry yet.

heirloomtomaguy · February 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

Peppers often take over a week to pop for me as well. I wouldn't worry yet.

Totally agree. I have had to wait close to a month for a few of my varieties. Hang in there and be patient. All good things come to those who wait.

Cole_Robbie · February 21, 2015

I agree they take longer. Mine seem to germinate in reverse order of hotness.

Ed of Somis · February 21, 2015

thanks to all...when you do not know what you are doing...you imagine all kinds of stuff.

waiting....

Misfit · February 22, 2015

Should you let the soil mix dry out between spraying for peppers. I've been keeping mine moist daily.

-Jimmy

Worth1 · February 22, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misfit

Should you let the soil mix dry out between spraying for peppers. I've been keeping mine moist daily.

-Jimmy

Keep the mix moist you dont want the seeds to dry out.

It just doesn't have to be so wet the alligators move in.

Worth

AlittleSalt · February 22, 2015

I am agreeing with Worth for the most part on this one, but some pepper seeds need for the surface to dry some between watering. By no means, let the cell dry out. Just let the top of the potting/pro mix slightly turn lighter in color. Then bottom water but not too much. and lol, no alligators.

Some varieties of peppers take a lot longer than others to germinate. It seems like I've read a hundred times about super-hots taking over a month to Germinate. The hottest variety I started this year is Datil (!00,000 - 300,000 Scoville) and it germinated within 10 days.

pmcgrady · February 22, 2015

Hotter the pepper, the longer it takes...

PA_Julia · February 23, 2015

I have three Carolina Reapers growing at this time. One took seven days and the other two germinated on day eight. I had them on a heat mat set at 86 F.

I wouldn't worry about them yet.

peppero · February 25, 2015

My experience varies; more than likely yours will too.

jon

Father'sDaughter · February 26, 2015

Just curious - any sign of them yet? My first one took eight days. It's now been 10 days and only about half of them are showing signs of life. I'm still not worried.

Starlight · February 26, 2015

I have it take as long as a month for super hots to pop. One of the things I have noticed is in some cases, germination depends on the method the seed was dried. I know some folks dry their pepper seeds in a dehydrator and for me, those seeds have taken longer to germinate than those that the peppers were picked fresh and seed removed immediately and just left to dry for a week or so on a plate.

Are you using the baggy method for germination or just have them in soil with no cover?

Once the 20 day mark hits, I do watch carefully when using the baggy method. I make sure that the moisture forming in the baggy stays very low to prevent the seeds from starting to mold.

Something else I have done and agree with above if I see seeds are taking a long time to germinate, is to remove them from the baggy, let air dry a little bit , but not dry out and gently give a quick sprintz on the top of the soil with a water and hydrogen peroxide solution and than put back in a new, moisture free baggy. It usually works good for me.

Hope the rest of your seeds sprout soon.

Ozark · February 26, 2015

I sow my pepper and tomato seeds in Jiffy Mix in styrofoam egg cartons, three seeds to a cell. We have a furnace / utility closet in which the temperature stays at 78 F and I set the egg cartons in there, on top of our hot water heater, to sprout seeds in the dark. I don't mix tomato and pepper seeds in the same carton because tomatoes will generally sprout first and need to be put under lights long before peppers come up.

If you have a similar warm place in your home, this is a good way to avoid having to use a heat mat. This method has worked real well for me for years. Peppers often sprout slowly and for me they sometimes take as much as three weeks to come up.

February 21, 2015	#1
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	Sowing Pepper Seeds... I have done pretty well with my tomato seed sowing this year (first time newbie). However, I notice all my pepper seeds (jalapeno, Anaheim, wonder bell) have not poked up their heads after 8 days. Is this expected? Is the article I read regarding NOT planting pepper seeds in a peat based mix true???

February 23, 2015	#11
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	I have three Carolina Reapers growing at this time. One took seven days and the other two germinated on day eight. I had them on a heat mat set at 86 F. I wouldn't worry about them yet. __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

February 21, 2015	#2
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	I don't use a heating mat for my seeds. They are about 68F. My peppers first pepper seeds usually breaks ground on day 10-12. The latest couple take up to 21 days. I still get good germination rates--I use the same seed starting mix for peppers and tomatoes. This year I'm growing Yummy (small sweets), King of the North (bell), Experiment Orange bell, Serrano, Fish Pepper and Aji Amarillo.

February 21, 2015	#3
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Peppers often take over a week to pop for me as well. I wouldn't worry yet.

February 21, 2015	#5
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I agree they take longer. Mine seem to germinate in reverse order of hotness.

February 22, 2015	#7
Misfit Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Baltimore Posts: 165	Should you let the soil mix dry out between spraying for peppers. I've been keeping mine moist daily. -Jimmy

February 22, 2015	#9
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I am agreeing with Worth for the most part on this one, but some pepper seeds need for the surface to dry some between watering. By no means, let the cell dry out. Just let the top of the potting/pro mix slightly turn lighter in color. Then bottom water but not too much. and lol, no alligators. Some varieties of peppers take a lot longer than others to germinate. It seems like I've read a hundred times about super-hots taking over a month to Germinate. The hottest variety I started this year is Datil (!00,000 - 300,000 Scoville) and it germinated within 10 days.

February 22, 2015	#10
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	Hotter the pepper, the longer it takes...

February 25, 2015	#12
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	My experience varies; more than likely yours will too. jon

February 26, 2015	#13
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Just curious - any sign of them yet? My first one took eight days. It's now been 10 days and only about half of them are showing signs of life. I'm still not worried.

February 26, 2015	#14
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	I have it take as long as a month for super hots to pop. One of the things I have noticed is in some cases, germination depends on the method the seed was dried. I know some folks dry their pepper seeds in a dehydrator and for me, those seeds have taken longer to germinate than those that the peppers were picked fresh and seed removed immediately and just left to dry for a week or so on a plate. Are you using the baggy method for germination or just have them in soil with no cover? Once the 20 day mark hits, I do watch carefully when using the baggy method. I make sure that the moisture forming in the baggy stays very low to prevent the seeds from starting to mold. Something else I have done and agree with above if I see seeds are taking a long time to germinate, is to remove them from the baggy, let air dry a little bit , but not dry out and gently give a quick sprintz on the top of the soil with a water and hydrogen peroxide solution and than put back in a new, moisture free baggy. It usually works good for me. Hope the rest of your seeds sprout soon.

February 26, 2015	#15
Ozark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ozark, Mo. Posts: 201	I sow my pepper and tomato seeds in Jiffy Mix in styrofoam egg cartons, three seeds to a cell. We have a furnace / utility closet in which the temperature stays at 78 F and I set the egg cartons in there, on top of our hot water heater, to sprout seeds in the dark. I don't mix tomato and pepper seeds in the same carton because tomatoes will generally sprout first and need to be put under lights long before peppers come up. If you have a similar warm place in your home, this is a good way to avoid having to use a heat mat. This method has worked real well for me for years. Peppers often sprout slowly and for me they sometimes take as much as three weeks to come up.