Oh yeah, don't make the same mistake I did of starting sweet peppers and hot peppers all at once. This is why... But yeah, ghost peppers are slow growers, and here in tennessee I started mine at the end of february, and could have gotten by with starting them back in january.. Where you live I'm not sure, and I'm not sure if it's too late to start them now.. I'd assume so. You could look into ordering some plants this late in the year though, and avoid having to get them started and such. If you are really wanting to start growing from seed, I'd suggest getting started next year. When I started germinating hot pepper seeds I bought 2 4ft t8 fluorescent shop lights with 6500k t8 bulbs, a 4 foot long seedling heat mat with thermostat set @ 83 degrees, as well as a fan. Some people are particular with how they give plants light, and fan and such. Myself, the lights at first ran 24 hours, and the fan runs 24 hours a day. I've been giving them a little less light lately to get them ready for the move outside, as well as I've started hardening my plants off this week. But like Kevin said.. you can germinate seeds in a lot of areas lol, just somewhere that stays a constant 80ish degrees. I avoid the oven technique, I'm afraid of that one hah. Starting mix, I personally used some miracle gro potting soil (not the moisture control stuff, avoid it,) and mixed in some composted cow manure I picked up as well. If you plan on growing in containers, there are a lot of people that swear by the 5-1-1 mix, but it's just too much work for me, and my stuff is going in the ground. The only advice that I know anyone else here will agree with me on, is just don't over water. Don't be too careful and underwater either. Check up on your plants often. When mine start to wilt just a little, I water from the bottom. I find that the easiest method to determine when to water. Like I mentioned before, some people will go to extents of measuring out how much and have it on a specific schedule etc, but when I have to keep 300+ plants watered, no way. lol Hope it helps, and if you have any more questions ask away. The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask!

Hi Philip.. It broke my heart seeing that one plumie busted. I haven't had that happen, have read many stories on here of dogs, squirrels, wind..etc wrecking plants. Never thought it would happen..but. sad was a pure white that glistened in the light, with a orange or yellow center..dern. Rats, I haven't seen any..except one! which freaked me out. Saw one coming up through my block wall, saw his head come up, screamed for my husband..and quickly put a brick there. Probably around, just do not want to see any. Squirrels do enjoy them and their running around until they destroy. then not so cute. OOOOh thanks on putting on the article on larve on plants. I left the ugly bugs funny things on my plants. I have a crop of lady bugs all over my plants..so thanks for that thumbs up. How are your plants? was in Phoenix this weekend, was so hot..thought of you. Karen B

Mary, my response was a bit tongue-in-cheek. However, I do believe gene manipulation is in the future. People have a natural desire to see how far they can go with science. To me, it's similar to the whole fertility scenario, though I realize it is completely different than cloning. It started off as a way to help infertile couples have babies, and it's evolved to designer babies, where parents can choose the sex, eye color and hair color. And I fear that will go even further as technology improves. We may someday have all babies born beautiful, with high IQ's and in perfect health and while that sounds nice in theory, I think it would be a disaster. What starts out innocently enough with ways to eradicate diseases or horrible disabilities will venture into pre-determining height and build and facial features and anything else that can be adjusted. I'm far from a scientist but I really don't think it's that far out there. I realize cloning a dog is not nearly as extreme as the picture I'm painting but who knows what will come next!

"has to balance what's best for him and best for you. And sometimes they just aren't going to work. IMO, childs needs come first." See, this is interesting. I think what is so interesting and diverse about this forum (or even when talking to friends in RL) is that EVERYONE is going to have their own opinion; and that opinion is one we have formed based on our own experiences and perspectives. Nivea, you were treated in a really cruel and hurtful manner by your SM, correct? (or am I mixing you up with another poster?) I believe it was you. Anyway, naturally, you are more inclined to empathize and identify with the child (stepchild) and perhaps even project a bit of your own feelings; and that's normal, we ALL do that. Just as I am more likely to identify with someone like Ima or Lamom or Silver, someone who is a SM dealing with difficult situations. Anyway, I know what you mean about the child needing to come first; but I think you are saying this out of your own experiences, which included being emotionally hurt by your cruel and emotionally immature SM who insisted HER needs come first. Correct? That is awful that happened and it's sad that your father allowed you to be pushed aside. (And please correct me if I am mixing up your history with someone else.) Our situation is a little different in that DH had continually made the mistake of doing things to harm our marriage---all under the guise of "it's best for SS." But a lot of what he was doing wasn't even really best for SS. DH wanted me to smooth things over and be nice to BM, even after she attacked me in front of SS. Sure, it might be superficially easier for SS if everything seemed hunky-dory again. But in the long run, what lesson is that teaching him? That violence is acceptable? That it's okay for his mom to behave like that and I will just pretend that everything is okay? Those aren't lessons I want SS or DD learning. So sometimes what IS best for SS isn't necessarily what one might think at face value. Sure, it would be more *pleasant* for him in the short term, but in the long run, I think it does more harm than good. (I don't think this particular weekend issue is even really about anything being "best" for SS, though.) And one thing our marriage counselor has been helping both of us see is that sometimes what's best for the marriage has to come first. And I will say this with 100% conviction: it would NOT be in SS's best interest for DH and I to divorce. Not at all. That would be one of the worst things that could happen for both him and my DD. I may be "just a stepmother" to him but I have been a positive and caring person in his life for almost 7 years. He views my daughter as his sister. He genuinely loves our family and feels a TOTAL part of our family unit...because he is! We are not just some people he spends a few days a month with, he has two families and we are one of them! If that unit were to dissolve, it would honestly devastate SS. It would devastate my DD, as well, but I really think it would be worse on SS. He is very sensitive to these things, and he is the type of child that turns his upsets inward. I know if he were to lose his family, it would really impact him negatively in an emotional sense. So in marriage counseling, one thing DH is having to focus on is sorting out when SS's needs really DO come first, and when it's just BM manipulating "in the name of their son." Obviously, there are times that the child's needs have to come first---heck, that is 95% of parenting! But it is my belief that this is not one of those times. SS's mom is doing well and there is no reason he can't be with her.