Okay. I read your question differently. Maybe one of us will answer your question. If you don't have grow lights and a set up for starting inside, you want to know how to do it outside, right? I do this sometimes. In the spring, as the weather is beginning to warm, I fill small pots with potting soil and sow the seeds into them. Not lots of seeds, maybe 2 or 3 of a kind into each four inch pot. (Be sure to label the pots with the name of what you sowed.) Water the pot well and let it drain for a good hour or so. Then, depending on the type of seed it is, I enclose the pots in a ziplock plastic bag, set it under a glass jar, or something of that sort, set it in a shady spot and watch it carefully. Usually in three to seven days, the seeds will show germination. At that point, I take them out of the enclosure and set them in a semi shady spot where I can continue to watch them. If the weather man calls for frost, I bring the pots inside, but take them back out when it warms back up. I fertilize the baby plants with half strength fertilizer every week or two and once they have 2 sets of true leaves, I cull out all the weaker ones and leave the one strongest plant. (Cut them out at the soil line. Don't pull.). When the plant is large enough to fend for itself in the ground, AND when the ground is warm enough for the plant to grow there, I put it into the garden. The entire process takes about six to eight weeks, depending on the type plant. It is, of course, imperative that the plant never be allowed to dry out. Last year, I waited until my last frost date and sowed all my tomatoes outside on that date. They grew outside from day one and didn't need to be hardened off. They caught up to the storebought transplants in a hurry. The ground wasn't warm enough to receive them on the first "safe" date anyway. If you have a seed that needs scarification (damp chill), you can sow the seeds into pots during winter and set them outside and they will come up on schedule in the spring, as long as the soil stays moist. My winters are usually wet enough that I do not have to water. Alot of flowers and ornamentals require a scarification period. Case in point: cleome. These outside procedures will work for lots of things. Probably everything, if you are patient. Plants like peppers and eggplants have to have very warm soil and air to germinate, and the peppers take longer than tomatoes to grow to a transplantable size. This could be a problem for you if your growing season is short. I start my peppers inside 10 to 12 weeks before my last frost date, because they need that long to reach transplant size. You are correct. Seed in nature falls to the ground and just comes up. However, you must remember that Mother Nature sows LOTS and LOTS of seed so that a small percentage of them will actually make plants. Since we never have that big of a supply of seed, we have to hedge our bet by learning what conditions are favorable to each plant and then try to provide those conditions. I would advise you to read as much as you can about each plant you want to grow...and then just try. There is no replacement for individual experience: your climate, your seeds, your soil, your technique. You'll have some failures, but you'll have successes too. Each one will teach you something if you pay attention. Start with "easy" and inexpensive seeds at first. Be vigilant. Take good notes, and you will learn how to grow things. If this is not the answer you need, or if it's so elementary that you already know this, I apologize ahead of time. Hope it helps.

The only U.S. native pepper is what we call chili pequin (pronounced pe KEEN). My bird-planted pequin is evergreen, bears pretty much all year long, is about 3' tall and 4' wide after 18 months. It's also called bird pepper, tepin, chiltepin. Mockingbirds especially love the fruit. The fruit is teeny (about 1/4" long) so I can't imagine how small the seeds are. A couple of the little devils put whole (or crushed a bit) into soups, stews gives a good zing. Tomato Growers Supply has it listed as Chiltepin #9148. Also have a link to some additional info below. Monica Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia Entry on Chili Pequin

Indeed, Judo & Peppers. I had no idea there was such a plant that looked like the Tepin. And Woohooman, same here. I agree, it does look like it a little tepin.That's why I posted the photos. Always good to get many opinions. Oh well, my newest pepper venture will start in a couple months. I will try and start a thread since I created this account.

dustin - many of the supermarkets carry a variety of peppers that will grow, with irrigation, where you live. Hungarian hots, Banana peppers, even Habeneros can be found in most grocery stores. I grow a Thai Bird pepper that is extremely hot, yet tasty. If you'd like some send me an e-mail fawnridge at bellsouth dot net and I'll tell you where to send a SASE.