You Grow Girl™

Posted: 20-03-06 20:55

Does anyone else think it would be interesting to compare notes on different hot pepper varieties in the same thread?

I just put eight seeds in dirt -- four African Fish and four Ring of Fire. Last year we had nice Thai Dragons and Jalapenos, but we bought those as little plants. This year I'm starting from scratch.

Posted: 20-03-06 20:58

I've got some jalapeno, habanero, and the burpee "hot mix" pepper seeds. Gonna start a few of each this coming weekend! I'd be happy to join!

Posted: 20-03-06 21:16

The big thing with hot peppers is they have an insanely long growing season... so I'm starting them early, and I think I may put them in pots so I can bring them back into the house in the fall and they can live out their natural lifespan.

Posted: 20-03-06 21:49

Yeah, I'm going to start more seedlings than I think I need. I have a few friends that live in apartments with balconies that are hot pepper addicts.

Posted: 20-03-06 23:49

I'd like to join in, too! I'm starting some cayenne, jalapeno, Hungarian black, Caribbean red, and another giant Thai hot pepper to replace the one that is currently dying slowly on my front porch. Crying or Very sad

If I wind up with too many, well, my Dad can never have enough hot peppers for cooking!

Posted: 21-03-06 0:58

Can I join? I just got some Pepper Fish, and Cayenne seeds today Smile

Posted: 21-03-06 8:21

I know they are pretty common everywhere, but I have lots of jalapeno seeds I can share if anyone wants to try them for this grow-a-long.

Posted: 21-03-06 11:03

Okay, I've sown the following hot pepper seeds in a hodgepodge of containers:

Park Bio-dome- Hungarian Black (1), Cayenne (1), Jalapeno (2)

Jiffy Pellets in a Tupperware covered with plastic wrap- Hungarian Black (1), Cayenne (1), Thai Giant Hot (1)

Also a few bonus sweet peppers: Cubanelle (1), Golden Greek Pepperoncini (1), Pimiento (1)

TCBY frozen yogurt cup with clear lid- Caribbean red habanero (3)

All of the containers are outside on the front porch where they should get plenty of sunlight and heat (avg. daytime temp in Orlando is in the mid-80s now) and be protected from the playfully destructive attentions of my younger cat, Neville. Also, my usually accomodating boyfriend is tired of seeing my collection of ghetto-looking seedling starter trays lining the master bathroom window sill and counter.

I can't help it if the master bath is the ONLY windowed room in the house with a southern exposure, can I?

Razz

Posted: 21-03-06 12:26

I wish my bathroom had a window. It would be nice to have plants in there. Then again, the ventilation is crap because the window is painted shut and it's a basement, so it might get moldy. Aah well. Mine are in an egg carton under a clear plastic lid, under my sun lamps.

Here's some interesting stuff to read while we're waiting for germination... for those of you growing fish peppers, these are an American heirloom that can be traced back to the black communities of pre-1870s Philadelphia and Baltimore, where they were mainly used with seafood (hence the name).

They're a rare variety today, so they're a good candidate for seed saving. I'm going to try to keep them away from my other peppers so they don't cross-pollinate... and get some gloves and goggles so I can get the seeds out without subjecting sensitive skin to the full power of two hundred thousand Scovilles.

I feel like some kind of mad-but-still-ethical scientist. Laughing

Posted: 21-03-06 12:39

ooo can i play?

I have some Poblano chile seeds, and Goat's head hot peppers i'm planing on starting...

But i think i need a heat lamp or mat of some kind cause it's a bit chilly at my desk...
Confused

Vanmessa

Posted: 21-03-06 12:40

I think I may need some protective gear to work with the Caribbean reds when they come up, too.

They are around 445,000 scoville units, twice as hot as a standard Habanero Chile and over 80 times hotter than an Jalapeno Pepper. They are reputedly the second hottest pepper on the planet, Laughing

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Posted: 21-03-06 19:20

I just ran across a huge selection of hot pepper seeds at Reimerseeds.com and saw their page of tips for growing hot peppers.

It looks like plastic tray covers and the overly moist environments provided by peat pellets are not recommended, so I may have to re-think my current set ups.

http://www.reimerseeds.com/HotPepperGrowingTips.aspx

Growing Hot Pepper from Seeds

Growing hot pepper from seeds can be enjoyable and sometimes frustrating as the germination can be slow and irregular even when grown under the optimal conditions. Some varieties can take up to 6 weeks and longer to germinate so you must be patient.

The home gardener must understand that varieties come from humid tropical regions and others come from dry desert regions. After years of testing, and by trial and error, we have come up with the best method for growing hot peppers. You should follow the planting instructions below to prevent poor germination, even if you have been growing hot peppers for years using other methods.

Common Mistakes

* Using potting soil instead of lightweight seed starting mix
* Over-watering the seeds before they sprout
* Too low temperature
* Inadequate ventilation

Type of Pots

The best method is to use plastic cell packs or plastic 4 square pots. If you are reusing the plastic pots from last year, remember to soak the pots in 50% bleach before using them. Do not use peat pots as they tend to absorb and retain too much moisture for growing some types of hot peppers.

Seed Starting Mix

Use good quality lightweight seed starting material with slow release fertilizer mixed in. We recommend using Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix.

Seed Sprout

We do not recommend using Seed Sprout to germinate hot pepper seeds. We have not tested this product for growing hot pepper seeds.

Planting Method

Fill the plastic containers with the seed starting mix. Plant the seeds 1/4" deep, or as a general rule, twice as deep as the size of the seed. Remember if you plant the seeds too deep, they may not sprout and rot. Write on a plastic garden marker the variety name and date, then place it in the cell pack or plastic pot.

Water the seeds with very hot water. This will speed up the germination process. Then place the pots in an environment where the temperature will remain around 85 degrees. Some hot pepper varieties may not germinate and rot if the temperature is below 85 degrees. A small utility room will do if you do not have an indoor garden stand greenhouse.

Do not use plastic tray covers when growing hot pepper seeds. They tend to create an environment that is too humid for some hot pepper varieties to germinate. Make sure you have adequate overhead ventilation, as seeds need the proper amount of air (oxygen) to germinate.

The seeds do not need sunlight to germinate, but once they sprout you need to place them under fluorescent lights for 10 to 16 hours per day. You can reduce the temperature to 70 degrees after they sprout.

After the seedlings reach 2" tall, water the plants once a week with half concentration of liquid plant fertilizer. This will enhance the growth of the plant and give them a good start. After they reach 4 tall, you can water the plants with full strength liquid plant fertilizer. Keep using the overhead fan to prevent disease.

Transplant the plants outdoors in the garden when the plant has reach at least 12" tall, and 2 weeks after the last frost date. Check your Cooperative Extension Office if you are not sure of the last frost date. Always transplant outdoors on an overcast day, preferably a day before rain is expected.

We recommend using ROOTBLAST and Tomato Alive! Plus organic fertilizer when transplanting outdoors. This will enhance the root growth which is very important in having healthy and vigorous plants. Your harvest will increase by some 300% if you use these organic fertilizers.

Use black landscaping material to protect the plants from weeds and disease. When it rains, sometimes the soil splashes underneath the leaves which can cause disease. Landscaping material greatly eliminates this problem. It also warms up the soil and retains moisture. To prevent the branches from breaking off with the heavy yields, use round tomato cages. We recommend using soaker hoses or drip irrigation too. They will simplify the watering process.

Apply Osmocote Outdoor & Indoor Slow Release Plant Food around each plant and your are done! Periodically spray the hot pepper plants with Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food.

Growing Hot Peppers in Containers

Peppers can be grown all year long in containers. It is suitable for apartment dwellers and gardeners who live in cool regions where the number of growing days are limited. Many pepper enthusiast grow peppers in pots so they can have fresh peppers all year long. Its best to use 5 gallon containers so the roots do not get too over-crowded. Please click Container Gardening for tips on growing hot peppers in containers.

Posted: 21-03-06 19:26

They like to be less dry? Bah. Shocked

*removes lid from tray* (Yeah, I've pretty much done everything wrong already.)

I was going on what last summer's peppers liked in the way of weather... they were happiest when it was hot and humid. At least, that's when they seemed to grow the most. I may get some proper seed-starting medium and try a second tray of these, and do it by the book this time. Razz

Posted: 21-03-06 20:55

Yeah, I need to fix my completely wrong, mini-steam room environments, too.

Well, at least I now know why so few of the pepper seeds I tried to start in peat pots in January actually came up. Rolling Eyes

Posted: 21-03-06 22:21

I tend to mistrust how-to lessons from companies like that, because of course regular potting soil won't do and I should buy their special seed-starting mixture... I have a feeling the optimal setup is somewhere between what I have and what they describe. Wink

Posted: 21-03-06 22:45

Indefatigable wrote:

I have a feeling the optimal setup is somewhere between what I have and what they describe. Wink

True! I think that temperature has more to do with successful germination than anything else. It was just too chilly in January (~ 65 F in the bathroom I mentioned) without a heating mat. I'm not going to pick up any seed starting mix, but I *will* take the covers off my froyo container and the Jiffy pellets. At least I've got the temperature part of the equation down pat here in the land of Mickey Mouse.

Laughing

Posted: 21-03-06 22:49

ok im in.
i got habanero and sweet pepper... no room for thai, so i'll start when i transplant my zukes and make space in the little indoor greenhouse.

Posted: 22-03-06 8:41

Well, I've moved mine to the top of the fridge and taken the lid off them. That's probably the warmest spot in the house. It's an energy-efficient fridge, so it doesn't leak a lot of heat upwards, but a lot of warm air moves through there because of the ceiling furnace vent in the kitchen.

Last night I had them sitting on top of the TV all evening, which is also warm.

Posted: 22-03-06 13:18

I just started my cayennes and fish peppers last night. Our fridge isn't warm at all on top either and any of our electronics are inside shelves so I can't put anything on top. I ended up putting them on top of my hanging fluorescent lights which seem to be just warm enough.

Posted: 22-03-06 14:33

All of my seed starts are back outside with the lids off except for the ones in the bio-dome since I'm starting a variety of other seeds in there besides the peppers. Daytime temperatures for the next 10 days will be from 70-85 degrees F, which should be ideal during the day. I'll bring them inside in the evenings when it may drop down to the upper 40s.

Which varieties are you all looking forward to the most?