Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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October 8, 2010 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4)
Posts: 945
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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 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 1,150
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I don't think they have to be over-ripe. I bet you'll have much better luck with bottom heat.
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October 8, 2010 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Arkansas
Posts: 190
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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.
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October 8, 2010 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,591
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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 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Philippines
Posts: 210
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the longest it took me to germinate a pepper seed was 9 weeks.
with new seeds, takes me 2-3 days. |
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