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confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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Posted by zippity_duda 6 (My Page) on Tue, Feb 2, 10 at 15:36
| OK, I live in central Ohio, and I grew jalapenos and habaneros last year. I loved them, and well, we're going crazy this year and I have seed for 10-12 different varieties of hot peppers. The packages all say to start the seed 6-8 weeks before you plan to put them out. May 15 is the date of the last freeze here. Then I started digging around on the forum and I see that some people start the peppers much earlier, especially if they have ashorter growing season. I've also read that peppers like heat, and that you shouldn't put them out as early as some other plants. I plan to set up a light and let them get bigger inside, but I don't have enough indoor room for 50 plants that are 2 feet tall. When do most of you start your pepper seeds? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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| From what I've read, the general rule is 12 weeks before planting out for peppers. I plan to start my seeds within the next week or two and will plant out in mid-late May. Indoors, using only florescent lights, mine didn't get too big...certainly not 2ft. At least that was my experience. regarding planting out - they don't really do much when the temps are low, and I've even heard people say that waiting an extra week or two is better in the long run than putting them out on the early side. The magic number I keep seeing is 50 degrees. |
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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Hello Fellow Central Ohio Gardener,
I live in Pickaway County. I usually start my super hot peppers around the end of January. I start peppers like jalapenos around mid to late February. I start my sweet peppers 2 weeks later.
I think the 6-8 week starting date is for planting in cell packs and never transplanting into larger containers. I presprout my peppers and usually transplant my seedlings into progressively larger containers at least three times before planting out into the garden. I think this helps to balance foliage and root growth. This is contrary to some prevailing opinions, but it works for me.
During the mild days in April and May that we often have in Central Ohio I gradually aclimate my peppers to the outdoors. I first put them out in total shade under the protection of a second story deck and then slowly move them into full wind and sunlight. I bring them back inside for the night.
I agree about planting out if the temps are too low.The peppers just sulk. They don't die but they don't grow. If your peppers are in large enough containers, it is better to a wait a week or two after the frost free date to plant. Last year or maybe the year before I believe that we had a frost on May 21st.
My advice is to start early, transplant and take advantage of the mild weather if we have any in April and May.
Buckeye Chuck is predicting an early spring this year. That loser Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter. I chose to believe Buckeye Chuck. OH-IO! Karen |
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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| Some hot peppers take a very long time to germinate so the 12 to 14 weeks before the last frost seems appropriate. The average of our last frost along Lake Champlain is mid May so I should start my pepper seeds now. However, I couldn't wait and did so more than three weeks ago. I planted three seeds each for 34 varieties. Even though a couple types germinated within eight days almost on a daily basis now I see a new hypocotyl hook or two. It will undoubtedly be a pain for me during April to transport the plants from our sun room to the outside and back each day but, I would rather have them ready to go when the warm weather shows up than to wish I had started them earlier. I can always slow their growth rate but it's much more difficult for them to make up lost time. However, I guess you are damned if you do, and damned if you don't. |
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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| I'd start the super hots now. I live in Michigan (Z6B). Annuums can be started 3/1 and be fine. |
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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| I guess I better get going and figure out all of the details of where to put the seed setup:) Thanks for the advice! What size pots do most of you end up transplanting into? Vermont Kingdom you are sooo right..I have a feeling the set up will be in the basement...I can feel the leg burn already:) I'm hoping to get the 10-15 pot carriers to help the process a some, just trying not to break the bank until I know what I'm doing and what works for me. Thanks again for the help! |
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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Hello Zippty,
I have a fairly ritualized procedure for starting peppers and tomatoes which may or may not be the best or worth the effort.
I give away hundreds of seedlings every year so I like to do everything on the cheap. I also have a walkout basement so carrying trays up and down stairs isn't an issue.
I place my pepper seeds in moist paper towels in plastic toplock bags. I place these on top of my Direct TV receiver box to provide the heat needed for germination. I generally have almost 100% germination within a week. This year my habs and bhuts started germinating in 3 days.
After the seeds germinate I plant all the seeds of each variety together in a small container. I reuse the single serving fruit cups for this stage. I place these in a tray and cover it with plastic. Foil cake pans from the dollar store work well for trays. After most of the seedling poke through the soil I move the pots to a west window.
When the plants have their first set of true leaves I transplant them into cell packs. I generally plant them slightly deeper than they were growing. Most gardening books say this is a no-no with peppers. At this stage they go under florescent lights in my basement. I keep my lights on 24 hours a day.
When the leaves begin to touch each other I transplant into 6-8oz containers. I save and ask friends to save yogurt and similar size container for this stage. Foam cups also work well but tend to tip over when watering. Some of my slow growing peppers like habs,tepins and some ornamentals may stay in these containers until it's time to be planted in the garden.
The faster growing peppers like anaheims, jalapenos, hot wax and sweet peppers will be transplanted into 16oz containers after about 3 weeks in the 6-8 oz cups. Again I try to use recycled containers and foam cups if I run out.
I use the same containers but not the cell packs year after year. I soak them after use in detergent and bleach and then run them through the dishwasher.
Of course companies like HP carry trays and pots that would make the whole process of seed starting a little more streamlined.
Hope this helps.
Karen
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RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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| The best rule of thumb for peppers (hot or sweet) is 6-8 weeks before your planting date. Hot peppers can be planted sooner because it takes longer for them to grow big and need the summer heat to do so. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Home Gardening
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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| I'm glad I found this forum. I'm also in central Ohio (Groveport) and was wondering the same things. This is the first year I've grown from seed. Last year I did the standards, cayenne, habanero, jalapeno, fish, thai dragon, inferno, and for the first time, chiletepin. Everything did well except the chitepin. I suspect because of the short cool season we had last year. This year i'm doing Mucho Nacho
Bhut Jolokia
Fatalii
Poblano
Inferno
Sweet Banana
Cayenne
I'm trying my seeds 2 different ways, and keeping a log so I can determine whats best for me. I'll certainly keep my eye for for tips and advice. |
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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| Use a low nitrogen fertilizer if you start them early. A few years ago I did an experiment. Sprouted six pepper seedlings that were the same size. Three received low nitrogen, higher phosphate and potassium fertilizer. The other three received higher nitrogen and were very difficult to harden off when it was time to be planted. Their leaves were very large and they looked healthier because of their size. But the pale green leaves wilted within an hour of direct sunlight and suffered from wind burn. So I wait until they're outside before turning up the nitrogen. schism makes a good point about keeping a log. I keep a journal of both pepper and tomato planting time and seedling growth that is very helpful the following seasons. Jennifer |
RE: confused about timing of pepper seed starting
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I understand that by starting seeds inside early, you can get a head start. But when it is cool and you plant them in your garden, they will just sit there and do nothing.
So the differences in size of seedling is not that much. When the air and soil get warm, the small ones will catch up real fast. |
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