[cheshirecheese]

I posted a query a few weeks back about the variety of chilli I was after.  I've subsequently bought four varieties - Jalapeno, Giant Cayenne, Cayenne Thick and Numex Pinata.  I started them off in an unheated propagator in the study, as it has an enormous window and benefits from the best of the sunshine from early in the day.  So far, I've had pretty good germination from all the varieties other than the Jalapeno (which has only produced two rather spindly seedlings) but I think that's down to the quality of the seed. 

I know I need to pot the seedlings on when they have two pairs of leaves, but they only have one pair at the moment and they're getting a bit leggy (I took the lid off the propagator a few days back once they looked sturdy enough).  Do they need to be somewhere a bit cooler?  Any advice as to how I should advance will be gratefully received!!

[Yorkie]

The legginess will be down to light levels, mainly.

Do you have some aluminium foil behind them to reflect the light back onto them? Are they actually on the windowsill?

[cheshirecheese]

No, never heard the aluminium foil tip before - will rectify it immediately!  As for their position, the window sill isn't quite deep enough so they're sitting on the edge of the desk which butts up to the window sill (the side furthest from the window is about 12" away).  I turn them two or three times a day to keep them straight.

[mattwragg94]

i potted my chillis on when they had there first set of leaves (mainly because i'd sown too many in the pot and they where getting a bit over-crowded), needless to say i had no losses and they have all got around 6 leaves.

[cheshirecheese]

So where are you keeping them now, Matt?

[mattwragg94]

ive got them in my un-heated greenhouse - but only because i had no room for them in the house and my greenhouse is in a shelter position and keeps the heat in well. (at the two leaf stage they went in by the way)

[Lawrence]

Whoever thought of the foil trick, it is a work of Genius!
It also saves you having to turn them around.
One thing a lot of the chilli growers do is bury them up to their necks when you pot them on, ie  have the leaves just above the compost. So if they get a bit leggy it is not so bad.

[galen]

Cheshirecheese

I've often found Jalapeno's to be poor germinators, given up on them this year.

I keep mine on south facing windowsills, backed with silver foil, all year round. Fortunate to have lots of them.

May have a problem this year, discovered one of the varities I'm growing this year reaches 120cm in height. I'm going to have to rig something up down the allotment, don't have a greenhouse so may have to use those plastic tomato houses you get in Wilcos

[Lawrence]

I grew all mine outside last year. I only put them in the greenhouse when it got cold.
I was planning on doing the same this year.
I pot them up into builders buckets because they are so much cheaper than pots, and they have a handle to carry them with!

[shokkyy]

There's no doubt chillies are heat loving plants, so the more heat you give them the better your crop is likely to be. Right now my plants are sitting on a windowsill with foil behind them. I won't try to move them outside until the temps are quite a bit warmer than they are now.

I've always grown them in a cold greenhouse (I mean really cold, glass missing) and they've always done well there. It gives them a bit of protection from cold winds and the glass just amplifies the heat of the sun.

[viettaclark]

My Jalapenos sown last year were pants. Spindly, short plants, no flowers. 2 out of 4 died.
I overwinter my chillies inside on a window sill and was surprised when one out of the two remaining Jalapenos came through and is leafing up nicely.
I think they need a VERY long season and last Summer was not good so maybe I'll get a couple this year.
By the way....I have 4 chilli plants that have been through 2 Winters now and give me chillies in May!!! My son gave me 5 seeds for Mothers' Day.....2010