This is my second year growing Bhuts. They take a very long time to sprout--I just about gave up on them last year. they prefer very warm soil when germinating--we bought a pad to warm the soil to about 90. I have 9 of them up and doing well so far under a grow light.

Be very careful when transferring them outside. The 12 I had last year got too much sun too soon--I lost all but two. I also think I waited too long to transplant them to larger pots.

But you'd better believe the tales you've heard about the heat. Unless you've been eating habs for a while you're going to get scorched. Definitely not for the unitinitated!

My two plants from last year are overwintering in a big greenhouse and are as happy as clams.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. How how long is too long to wait?

I have had them on heat the entire time since planting. Temperature is about 87 degrees F.

Also, I have been eating hot peppers my whole life and constantly enjoy habs and hab sauce that I make.

Thanks for the info!

FWIW, I was germ testing some Bhut seeds from last year using the "paper towel/baggie/on top of the cable box" method. All germinated in 7 days. I just popped them in some soil yesterday.

I'm not sure how much longer I'd wait before starting another batch and/or acquiring more seed from a DIFFERENT source. Since you're in VA, you might want to check with Uncle Steve. He's in Fredericksburg. I got some seeds from him last year and they were close to 100% germination. Remember, it can take 120+ days to get ripe pods, and our growing season isn't all that long.

jm2c

Good Luck and Happy Growin.

Here is a link that might be useful: Uncle Steve's

I sowed mine on 2-15 and got my first sprout today, the 23rd. Its got to be the heat mat that made it happen so fast. The other species only took as few as 5 days.

I am on 2 sides. Abandon all hope on this batch and be patient. Mine took a long time (didn't record, sorry but .. over 2 weeks for sure) but I used Fafard starting mix in a covered flat on a heating pad and got 100%. I have had very bad luck with peat pots. I know several people use peat pellets but the peat pots I bought once.. 100% failure. Could have been me though... but I would start over to be safe. Personally I would leave what you have alone just in case but yeah.. mulligan.

Not sure where you are in our fair Commonwealth but from what I've read, BJs take awhile to be fully ripe. This is my first year with these bubbas too.

Hmmm... Thanks for the replies.

It was definitely frustrating in that everything else came up without a hesitation, and these just sit there.

I just ordered a 432-Watt T5 system, so I think I would like to give it another shot, seeing as I can bring a few inside perrenial style. Anyone have any seeds they would like to trade or SASE me?

Appreciated!

Adam

I dried pods from last year and planted them along side seeds from NMSU, not one of mine came up, I know they would have been crossed more than likely but I just wanted to see if they would grow. I received 67 seeds from NMSU and 64 sprouted and are doing well under my little light system. This is my first year growing from seed, so I am sure I got really lucky, used a heat pad and cracked the heat up a little in my spare room. Some came out in about 7-10 days and then it was just every day seemed like I had few new ones. I did use jiffy pellets. I had given up on 4 of them, but one of those actually sprouted and it was at least 30 days since planting it.
Good luck

Three of twelve popped through today!

Lets hope the "longer germination - hotter pepper" myth holds true. In that case, I am in some serious trouble!

I live near notre dame in indiana i started my peppers on march 28 and it took a while to germinate all but 1 died due to overcrowding i orderd the worlds hottest pepper can from thinkgeek and now im getting problems with my pland i will put up pictures in another post anyone know whats wrong and what to do to stop it

here are the plant pics

Here is a link that might be useful: the pics