I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds?

Dean W. · 12-29-2009, 11:43 AM

I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? I got grow lights and a heat mat now. I guess I can start at any time. I live in zone 8b. What do you think?

jeffreyp · 12-29-2009, 02:10 PM

I'd probably wait until march, after a month they should be large enough to go outside.

wordwiz · 12-29-2009, 02:51 PM

If they are superhots, as soon as possible. Peppers like the Bhut Jolokias can take up to 150 days to produce ripe pods - and they can take longer to germinate than others. I sowed some Bhuts last year the day after Christmas and I live in Cincinnati - Zone 5.

Mike

Dean W. · 12-29-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wordwiz

If they are superhots, as soon as possible. Peppers like the Bhut Jolokias can take up to 150 days to produce ripe pods - and they can take longer to germinate than others. I sowed some Bhuts last year the day after Christmas and I live in Cincinnati - Zone 5.

Mike

Yes, I have some Bhut Jolkias. Maybe I should start them today. I got a couple of under the counter grow lights. I guess they'll do the job?

turtile · 12-29-2009, 04:06 PM

If you are using grow lights, I would start them now. It will take a few weeks to harden them off to the outdoors.

In local greenhouses in Delaware, hot peppers are usually started in February.

Dean W. · 12-29-2009, 04:54 PM

Cool, thanks! I better get busy.

Dean W. · 12-30-2009, 12:52 PM

Okay, I finally got the Bhut Jolikia and others started. Boy they are burning hot! I accidentally touched my face and now it's burning from handling the seeds.

Here is my setup.

wordwiz · 12-30-2009, 01:20 PM

You really don't need the lights until the seeds germinate but once they do, you want to get them as close as possible to the plants. Also, go very lightly on the Nitrogen while they are smaller - I love Tomato-tone. It builds stronger roots.

Mike

Scuba_Dave · 12-30-2009, 03:05 PM

I need to start mine in maybe Feb
Last year I waited too long
They take longer to germinate then other seeds

sirmoebly · 12-30-2009, 04:10 PM

Started mine March 15, 09 & sprouted March 25 & planted out May 1st.... but I will start mine a little earlier. I have been logging planting times....

djmb74 · 12-30-2009, 06:41 PM

Anyone here overwinter there pepper plants? Met someone that gets 3 years of peppers out of each pepper plant...

sandy0225 · 12-30-2009, 07:04 PM

You want those lights a lot closer to the plants when they come up. Like a couple inches at the most over the top.

I have a bhut jolokia that's starting to turn red in the greenhouse. Peppers are easy to overwinter. My sis has 4 yr old jalapenos that she grows as a houseplant in the living room each winter. Peppers will live forever if you take care of them.

sirmoebly · 12-30-2009, 08:40 PM

Martin, I didn't know you could keep peppers all year..... Not hot peppers but are you talking about regular peppers like your regular hybrids? Never thought about it.... so cool......

jeffreyp · 12-31-2009, 10:28 AM

I've grown cayenne peppers year round, just keep trimming them back.

Dean W. · 12-31-2009, 10:49 AM

I used to grow them year around when they were in pots. I would bring some indoors. I had some peppers 6 feet tall.

I think they are all dead now. Twenty degree freeze doesn't help.

Thanks for everyone mentioning light placement. I'll move the lights before they emerge from the soil.

12-29-2009, 11:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 239,908 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? I got grow lights and a heat mat now. I guess I can start at any time. I live in zone 8b. What do you think? __________________

12-29-2009, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
jeffreyp Zone 10, South Florida jeffreyp's Photo Gallery Location: Royal Palm Beach Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 870 BananaBucks : 142,608 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 30 Times Was Thanked 590 Times in 298 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? I'd probably wait until march, after a month they should be large enough to go outside.

12-29-2009, 02:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
wordwiz Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 24,130 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 60 Times in 34 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? If they are superhots, as soon as possible. Peppers like the Bhut Jolokias can take up to 150 days to produce ripe pods - and they can take longer to germinate than others. I sowed some Bhuts last year the day after Christmas and I live in Cincinnati - Zone 5. Mike

12-29-2009, 04:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
turtile Junior Member turtile's Photo Gallery Location: Delaware Find me on the map! Zone: 7a/b Name: John Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 235 BananaBucks : 46,514 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 181 Times in 108 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? If you are using grow lights, I would start them now. It will take a few weeks to harden them off to the outdoors. In local greenhouses in Delaware, hot peppers are usually started in February. __________________ http://www.unusualplants.net/

12-29-2009, 04:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
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12-30-2009, 12:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 239,908 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? Okay, I finally got the Bhut Jolikia and others started. Boy they are burning hot! I accidentally touched my face and now it's burning from handling the seeds. Here is my setup. __________________

12-30-2009, 01:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
wordwiz Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 24,130 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 60 Times in 34 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? You really don't need the lights until the seeds germinate but once they do, you want to get them as close as possible to the plants. Also, go very lightly on the Nitrogen while they are smaller - I love Tomato-tone. It builds stronger roots. Mike

12-30-2009, 03:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Scuba_Dave Location: South of Boston, MA Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Dave Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 732 BananaBucks : 60,536 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 501 Times Was Thanked 1,218 Times in 451 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,414 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? I need to start mine in maybe Feb Last year I waited too long They take longer to germinate then other seeds

12-30-2009, 04:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
sirmoebly sirmoebly's Photo Gallery Location: Oak Harbor, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: Moe Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 378 BananaBucks : 24,115 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 181 Times Was Thanked 160 Times in 92 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? Started mine March 15, 09 & sprouted March 25 & planted out May 1st.... but I will start mine a little earlier. I have been logging planting times....

12-30-2009, 06:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
djmb74 djmb74's Photo Gallery Location: Longwood. Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Martin Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 631 BananaBucks : 234,780 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 334 Times Was Thanked 642 Times in 243 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? Anyone here overwinter there pepper plants? Met someone that gets 3 years of peppers out of each pepper plant... __________________ PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!

12-30-2009, 07:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 362,761 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? You want those lights a lot closer to the plants when they come up. Like a couple inches at the most over the top. I have a bhut jolokia that's starting to turn red in the greenhouse. Peppers are easy to overwinter. My sis has 4 yr old jalapenos that she grows as a houseplant in the living room each winter. Peppers will live forever if you take care of them. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

12-30-2009, 08:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
sirmoebly sirmoebly's Photo Gallery Location: Oak Harbor, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: Moe Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 378 BananaBucks : 24,115 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 181 Times Was Thanked 160 Times in 92 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? Martin, I didn't know you could keep peppers all year..... Not hot peppers but are you talking about regular peppers like your regular hybrids? Never thought about it.... so cool......

12-31-2009, 10:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
jeffreyp Zone 10, South Florida jeffreyp's Photo Gallery Location: Royal Palm Beach Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 870 BananaBucks : 142,608 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 30 Times Was Thanked 590 Times in 298 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? I've grown cayenne peppers year round, just keep trimming them back.

12-31-2009, 10:49 AM	#15 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 239,908 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: I wonder when I should start my pepper seeds? I used to grow them year around when they were in pots. I would bring some indoors. I had some peppers 6 feet tall. I think they are all dead now. Twenty degree freeze doesn't help. Thanks for everyone mentioning light placement. I'll move the lights before they emerge from the soil. __________________

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