Sheila,

Were the pepper and tomato seeds in the same flat at the same time?

Are we talking one of those Jiffy domed setups and their heat pad?

jt

i prefer to use a heat mat and cover.
i use those disposable (but i reuse) 4pks and just lay a peice of plastic wrap on top.

i use a spray bottle to water and dont get tooo damp, let top dry almost completely.

and i am sure you know but your tomatoes will sprout much faster than your peppers.
toms peppers up to 2 months.

good luck and happy gardening
Michael

thanks guys for the quick response.

No, they were not in the same flat.

Maybe I'll try misting lem like you said Michael. I gave the a good amount of water before I put the cover on and they never did dry out. Maybe that was my problem. Just need to tweek it a little a guess. Thanks again,

Sheila

I cover my seed flats with "Cling-Wrap" and cut away over the seedlings after they "break-surface". I also use a standard heating pad set on LOW underneath the flats. Works good for me.

Sheila,

It's the "only a few peppers around the edges" part that intrigued me the most.

You can't really provide too much info. The # of seeds, the type of heating mat etc. There are people here (JohnF) that can probably sprout a coconut and for sure can help with peppers giving enough info.

I like Michael's misting suggestion. I use a spray bottle myself. However, with a dome you shouldn't have to use very often if the starting medium was properly hydrated to start with. Use a thermometer to monitor temps inside the dome. 86°F is what you want for both tomatoes and peppers. The lower you go the slower to germinate. Too high is detrimental too.

You mention that you use flats. There are flats available with holes in the bottom that are perfect for getting your medium thoroughly saturated. Put one inside a regular flat, flood with water, let sit for a few hours, remove and let drain for an hour. The soil mix will be perfectly hydrated.

10 days. If I don't see action within 10 days then I am adding more seeds to the mix.

What jt said. Also is there a way to check your mat to see if maybe it's not heating uniformly?

john

Two things come to mind with your situation. First, you may have gotten seeds too deep with your planting routine. Second, Flats may have overheated either from heat source or possibly from sun coming through window. Border plantings likely would dry out slightly quicker and dryer media would provide a temperature buffer.

However, the opposite problem of drying out seedlings can be harmfull too. I prefer a metal ruler edge to make uniformly deep rows in a flat and then only cover seeds to the surface level, press the entire surface for good seed-media contact, soak thoroughly without moving media, drain all excess water for a few minutes and then insert each flat into a 13 gal. new garbage bag and set in a warm, dark area. Most tomatoes are up in 3-5 days and peppers in 7-10 days.

Whatever you do get the covered flats out of the sun. That greenhouse affect can raise temps to severe cooking levels. Even with a bottom heat source you risk overheating if you cover the plants. You might be wise to invest in a thermometer and monitor your soil temperature under your existing setup.

Wow, you guys are good.

John, I use the average heat mat with NO temp control. Just plug it in. Big enought to fit two flat on.
Maybe I should invest in one with a control.

Also, just Green Bell peppers and Hungarian Hot Wax.

GREAT tip on filling the bottom, letting it soak, them letting it drain. I will do that this year.

I usually put dry Pro-Mix, seed, THEN water, then cover. To be honest, when I checked them, it did feel like a sauna sometimes but thought it was normal because my toms came up in no time.

And yes, it was unusual to see them around the edges only. Couldn't figure that one out. Maybe un-even heat??

I need to up-grade.
Thanks so much again, you guys rule!! ;)

Sheila

i think around the edges might be that too much water. the edges would dry out faster and maybe there is your answer.
? as for the heat mat, i use the same no comtrol one and is fine. just some tweeking like you said.

John, I use the average heat mat with NO temp control. Just plug it in. Big enough to fit two flat on.
Maybe I should invest in one with a control.

Sheila,

Absolutely. Wally World has heat pads (in the Pharmacy section) that have 3 settings for under $20. Wiring in a cheap rheostat from Home Depot would fine tune even more, but not necessary. A trip to Radio Shack for one of the indoor/outdoor recording thermometers with outdoor sensor on a wire recommended too.

Christmas tree lights (the old fashioned bulb type) in a cardboard box can also be very precise as to temp. Just screw in as many bulbs need for whatever temp you want.

jt

Whether to cover or not also depends on the humidity levels you've got. Since it's always 95%-100% humidity where I live, covering them is pointless and even induces rot. In coastal CA humidity was also 90-100% year round and covering was a bad idea there too.

as for the heat mat that is up to your climate. the domes i leave off tell the second time i water the flat. Which i water verry little then and but the dome on at that time. i live in ohio and use a spare room with the windows face to the west, get sun about five to six hours a day. i have had no problem. i strat 110 hot pepper plants,6 of red and 6 yellow tommatos, and lots of flowers, no problem.
dan
let it burn

I use the cheapo, no control heat mats. Tomatoes, I take the dome off after 2 days, they sprout days 3 and 4. Usually, I can see the seed casings breaking up when the dome comes off. With peppers, I take off the dome in 7 days, and then mist to keep the top moist. We live in a very arid place, humidity is often in the single digits. They sprout between 10-14, and if not by then, I start over because I don't have that much of an outdoor pepper growing window around here. My issue with peppers is not to get them too deep, or on the surface. About 1/8 inch, 1mm, is about right. Its best to spread them on the damp surface, then use a strainer / sieve and sprinkle the right amount of fine stuff on top. Tomatoes, it doesn't seem to matter that much.