I plant that many in each container so that i get at least one per container. I decided to skip the small peat starter kit method. I went straight to the 3" starter pots. Then after a while (probably another week or so or when they start getting true leaves) I will decide which is the strongest looking in each container and I will cull the rest. I will end up with one per container and I will keep 20-30% more containers of plants than I plan to end up with in case a couple die along the way. I can always give away the the extras. I built in "unpreventable loss" all along the growing process. But I am not going to have much loss at the sprouting stage this year. Last year I planted 4 or 5 bhut seeds in a single 4" container and didn't have the heart to just keep one so when three popped up, I carefully dug out two and moved them to seperate containers. I would suggest doing this early like around the time they are getting their first true leaves. If you wait, the roots get too big and inter-twined. But this year, I wont be transferring any. I planted at least three containers of each variety I want to grow. Of those, I will probably wind up with just one or maybe two. The others I will give away if they make it. I basically planted three times the number of containers that I want to wind up with for each variety. For example, I want about 4 Sweet Banana pepper plants so I planted 12. Bruce

I had this problem too. I was told to sow a little deeper. The instructions on my cell flat said just barely cover the seed with your seed starter mix. Well, I poked the next round down a little more and didn't have but a couple with the cap on. Also, since my flat is covered, what caps I did have were pretty moist. I was able to work some caps off gently but there were a few that just wouldn't happen for me. I didn't know that true leaves would still come if you snipped off the end. Hmm.. I learn something every time I log in. :) Erin

ohh.. you mean fresh out of the bag? Then maybe. Still, it shouldn't smell like manure unless it's maybe bagged GARDEN soil where once it's added to the garden, it can be broken down. If you ever get a potting soil that smells like that, give it some good flushes and wait a good couple weeks before planting. Usually an indicator of unfinished composting. Btw, I'm with Josh on letting it go. And yes, I'd keep plucking pods and buds for awhile. It may have been stunted some but it looks like it just might recover. It's hard to kill a pepper plant. Kevin

I figure the farmer had acres of the peppers growing. if the peppers come from Mexico as authentic peppers then the Mexican farmers cross their peppers. this gives stronger plants etc. but again no problem as the plants then give different peppers. I like that. Once I separate out the peppers and save the seeds they usually grow true. In reality this is where all the peppers come from. to the mexican farmer he wants good hot peppers and is not into some academic idea of purity. he knows that mixing up the genes makes for healthier plants. besides to them, they are all the same thing with different shapes. try it, you will like it. All good pepper fans gather seeds from the market. Jean Andrews talks about collecting peppers all around the world. her favorites were from fresh peppers purchased in the market. then she grew out the seeds. Have Fun. Grow Native Peppers.