I've been collecting data on sprouting times in my seed trays this year. Questions about "how long does it take?" come up often, so I thought this might be moderately informative to some.

Tray 1: Chinenses (habs), plus bulgarian carrot

day 5: 7.8 % sprouted (that is, ANY green showing)

day 6: 19.8 %

day 7: 33.6 %

day 8: 43.9 %

day 9: 54.3 %

day 10: 59.5 %

day 11: 62.9 %

day 12: 65.5 %

day 13: 65.5 %

day 14: 69.8 %

day 15: 74.1 %

Data collection is now over, as of Day 15 (3/22/10)

Note: no Bulgarian carrots sprouted, and the Orange Habs were 2 for 12 - those account for most of the non-sprouted seeds.

Tray 2: Non habs - they sprout much faster than habs

Day 4: 7.6 %

day 5: 13.8 %

day 6: 40.3 %

day 7: 74.3 %

day 8: 81.9 %

day 9: 86.1 %

day 10: 88.8 %

day 11: 90.2 %

data collection on this trady is complete as of today, 3/22/10

I'm happy to mention that the germination rate on my seeds from Tomato Growers seeds was, as of today, 100 %. Burpee's seeds were around 96 %.

I have also sliced the data by cultivar, if anyone is interested. Some of it is interesting. For instance, the Jalapeno Earlys from Burpees germinated 100 % by day 7 and most of them were up by day 5. Very fast indeed. Conversely, there are some habs that are only now getting going, on day 16.

a newer variety, the Hottie, which is supposedly a half-the-heat, twice-the-size habanero type, germinated 100 % in 5 days, and were putting up 2nd leaves on day 13.

the trays include the following varieties;

polish paprika

organic jalapeno early

red mushroom

paper lantern

aji limon

fatali

red habanero (very fast 100 % germination - from peppermania)

orange hab

hottie

morouga red

chinese 5-color

bulgarian carrot (last year for these; tired of fighting them)

costeno amarillo (slow to sprout but coming on strong)

italian roaster

giant marconi

grande hybrid jalapeno (wicked fast sprouting - 4 to 5 days)

hot finger

mariachi

biker billy

serrano del sol (another 4 day sprouter)

thai hot

jimmy nardello

caysan

mesilla