It's not necessarily the peat that is the problem, but the pellets are encased in a netting that can inhibit root growth in spite of what the manufacturers say. If you use them to start your plants, cut and carefully peel the netting off when you pot up or transplant to the garden. Don't use 'garden soil' as it will carry bugs and pathogens that can kill your seedlings. Straight peat can compact, dry out and crust up, or hold too much moisture...starting mix has peat with vermiculite and other stuff(perlite?)mixed in. It is also sterile. I use Jiffy starting mix in cell packs, then use potting mix when I pot up to 8oz cups after a few sets of true leaves. As for peppers, you can find a lot of info perusing the Hot Pepper forum(growing info applies to sweet peppers too). There will be as many different methods as there are posters, and no way is THE way. What works for one may not work for another. Don't forget to read the FAQs at the top of the forum page. Peppers seeds need warmth to germinate, about 85 degrees is ideal, but they will eventually sprout at temps a bit lower. Keep the medium moist, but not wet. Some varieties will take longer to germinate than others and I've found it's best to keep different varieties in their own cell packs or pots so you can take sprouted ones off of the heat without disturbing the others. Don't fertilize your seedlings until they have a couple of sets of true leaves, and then do so with a very weak solution. Also, you don't say where your location is, if you're starting your seeds indoors, what kind of light source you have(lights, bright window?)and that info would help with feedback. Hope this gives you a starting point. Here is a link that might be useful: hot pepper forum

No, it is not necessary to ferment chili seed. I never have and I've never had a problem. Now tomatoes are a different story... Tomatoes have evolved to include a natural seed germination suppressant within ripening fruit. This stops ripe seed from germinating within the fruit. The fermentation strips away the suppressant. Bill

Welcome Joe. Since you are new perhaps you didn't realize that all wants and haves are posted in the Tomato Seed Exchange . If you go to the top of this first page, look just above and to the right of the first thread and you'll see a link labelled EXCHANGE, and that's where all posts about wants and haves and trades are to be posted. Hope that works for you. That tomato seed exchange was set up by the former owner of GW, Spike, b'c there were so many such posts here in the discussion section it was getting ridiculous. Now folks can go thru the postings and see if anyone has the tomato varieties they want, post their trade lists, etc. and it's all in one place. Carolyn

I slice the peppers and put them into a cold water bath to rinse and help pull out the extra seeds. Doesn't get them all but I like a bit of heat to my pepper jams. Also don't forget to wear gloves.