First post

18 years ago

Hi, long time lurker first time poster. This probably the best forum I've found for hot peppers.

I live in Northern Indiana. I definitly like my peppers hot. Last year I grew Orange Habanero, Super Chilli, Long Slim Cayenne, Jalapeno, and Orange Scotch Bonnet. They were plants which I purchased as seedlings from a local green house. Though I'm quite experienced eating and enjoying hot peppers I'm certainly green when it comes to growing them. In hindsight I realize I didn't do that good of a job raising them last summer and let them die off rather than over winter. There were a lot of things I did wrong like letting them get too dry while they were seedlings in the flats, not pinching or pruning(I was too excited that they were flowering), eratic watering/fertilizing. What I ended up with was 27 plants that could not support their own weight that were top heavy and weak and did not produce as you'd expect from 27 plants. I did get penty of chillies which I shared with my co-workers. I still have a plate full of dried super chillies, cayennes, Jalapanos, and a mystery pepper that was supposed to be a super chilli but looked more like a small cherry pepper.

All in all the first years experience was exciting and now I'm hooked. I can't forget the feeling I got when the first baby pepper showed up and watching as the the plants develop. Every chance I could get I was out looking at them. It's definitly a fun hobby. I can see how these plants are as fun to grow as the peppers are to eat. Plus it's that much more satisfying knowing your cooking with peppers you grew in your own garden. :) I learned a lot durring the process in not only what to do but what not to do but all in all not a bad first attempt.

This year I'm going to attempt to start from seed. I've got 10 varieties this time: Jalapeno, Hungarian Yellow Wax, Serrano, Red Savina, Orange Habanero, Long Slim Cayenne, Charlstown Hot, Thai Sun, Thai Dragon, and Red Scotch Bonnet. I'm currently shopping for the necessary equipment like lighting, seed starting soil, flats/cells/etc., and tea. I've never grown anything from seed before so I'm learning as I go. My fail safe is buying seedlings should I not have sucess with the seeds. Any advice for someone who is growing from seed for the first time. I have not purchased anything but the seeds yet.

What kind of seeding soil should I look for and should it differ based on the individual types I'm growing? Will average seed starting mix work?

What kind of Lighting would be sufficiant to start the seedlings before potting them to later go outdoors? I don't intend to grow the full plants indoors but rather just get them started.

What kind of cell trays, flats, etc. would be the best for the seeds? I see a lot of peat cell trays that look like cardboard around the outside wall of each cell.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Thanks,

Mike

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Comments (12)

lil_rhody
18 years ago
peppermike
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you Rhody I'm glad I joined the forum there have been several times where I'd either wanted to post or reply and add comments but I finally signed up I'm looking forward to discussing one of my favorite topics with fellow chilli heads. This a great forum for help and to pass on your own knowlege and experience to help other newbies to learn the ways of the pepper.
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lil_rhody
18 years ago
My personal list of supplies for seed starting are:

- standard plastic trays filled w/ 72 count plastic cells

- seed starting medium (either store bought or custom made)

- heat mats w/ thermostat and thermo-coupling for use under the trays (optional)

- styrofoam cups w/ holes in bottom to transplant seedlings into

- standard fluorescent shop light fixtures w/ 40W bulbs (after seeds have sprouted)

- small electric oscillating fan for air circulation (optional)

- diluted liquid fertilizer when seedlings become well established

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peppermike
Original Author
18 years ago
That looks like a good list to me. I've heard of using heat pads even the ones you buy at pharmacies. The styrofaom cup ides is interesting I"ve read of so many different things that can be used for seedlings. I have a full package of styrofoam cups that I rarely use that would be perfect. I'm assuming the whole in the bottom is for drainage and possibly bottom watering them. On the diluted fertilizer I've read and used the Epsom salt mixture as a fertilizer would that work?
naturalstuff
18 years ago
I keep seeing 40watt bulbs but the 2 ft fixtures only max for 20 watts (which is what I have). Is 40 better for peppers? Mine seem to be growing pretty good under 20 watts.

P.S - Welcome aboard peppermike!
lil_rhody
18 years ago
You're correct naturalstuff. My equipment is tucked away in the basement. My fixtures are 4' long and hold two 20-25W bulbs each fixture.

Previously without giving it much thought, I must have confused a single bulb wattage w/ the combined wattage of the two bulbs per fixture. Hope I haven't mis-directed anyone. Sorry for the confusion.

Paul B.
peppermike
Original Author
18 years ago
My thanks to both of you. Gives me something to look for when stop at the garden store. I can't wait to get started. I"m not 100% sure when I should start the seeds and when that is for zone 5. Last year I bought my seedlings on Mothers day and panted them on Memorial Day.

Thanks,
Mike
naturalstuff
18 years ago
Anytime in March is perfect for you. I'm in Zone6 and can start them end of February since my last frost date is April 22. 8 weeks sooner is Feb. 25th. So 8 weeks before last frost for Z5 should be at least March.
peppermike
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks naturalstuff that gives me some more time to plan which I need to get all the necessary items I started pricing things at the local stores like the cell trays, lighting, soils, fertilizers etc. I even have time to ad a few more varieties of peppers.

When I do eventually pot these peppers I'm thinking I should pot them one plant per pot instead of last yer putting as many as 4 plants per pot.
lil_rhody
18 years ago
"I even have time to ad a few more varieties of peppers."
This time of year people who experience cabin fever or spring fever can become impatient. If you're not careful you can end up w/ more peppers than you planned for. Managing all thoses seedlings can become a chore.

My second year of growing peppers from seed I grew 43 varieties which ended up leaving me w/ over 320 seedlings to manage indoors.
Since then, I narrowed my list down to favorites with a little room to experiment with exotic types.

Paul B.
rustiksandkandles
18 years ago
I can soooo relate to your post Lil Rhody!
byron
18 years ago
> Epsom salt mixture as a fertilizer

Epsom supplies 2 elements needed out of 16

Magnesium and sulphur

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