[Middlesexbloke]

Happy New Year all 

I know it's early, but I'd be grateful for some advice on growing sweet peppers from seed. I know they need to be started early to get the best crop. When is good to sow? And should I invest in an electric propagator? Last year I grew a few from seed on a sunny windowsill but it was a bit late I think. I'll be growing the peppers in my polytunnel come May time.

Thanks!

[brianc]

Hi Middlesexbloke
                        I start my peppers off middle of february , but my g/house is heated and i grow on a heatmat.
                        I have temporary shelves suspended near the top glass so that my plants do not go leggy.
                        I do not have the heat too high in the g/house as too much heat and not enough light makes
                        the plants leggy.

[Kristen]

Lack of sufficient light is the main problem, early in the year, particularly if growing on a windowsill (light nothing like as good as a greenhouse/conservatory, and only from one side).

One way around that is to buy plants from the garden centre. They will already be 6 - 8 weeks old, so you can buy them 6 - 8 weeks later than you would have sown your own and be "evens"

Usually much less choice of varieties when buying plants, rather than growing from seed. Sometimes very little it in cost-wise though, particularly if seed is expensive - like F1 all-female-flowering Cucumbers and a pot full of Sweetpea seedlings.

[sunshineband]

I have also found that variety does make a difference. Last year I grew some plants I bought in - California Wonder- alongside some I had raised from seed -- King of the North(Realseeds) -- and the second ones beat the first hands down.

They were planted out into enriched soil at the end of April, under a 1m high cloche which the cover of was old and worn so had lots of small holes in it. Protected the plants from the wind OK and they did not get over heated either. When ever I fed the tomatoes, these were fed too.

California Wonder did crop, but KoftN gave masses of fruit, some quite large, which ripened fully and tasted excellent.

I started the seeds off in a windowsill propagator in February and potted them on into 9cm pots which went out into the warm greenhouse in mid March.

[Kevin67]

Thanks for your post, sunshine. You've inspired me to give that a go!

[sunshineband]

Thanks for your post, sunshine. You've inspired me to give that a go!

And they are also open pollinated, so if that is all you grow then the seeds come true too 

[beesrus]

In my mind, with my facilities, sowing early is essential for sweet peppers. I can't imagine being able to do that without an electric propagator, it's a godsend for peppers and toms. And let's be honest, for those who had success last year, the Summer was exceptional for pepper growing, so that is as good as it gets in this country. If the crop was only so so, the early part needs to be tweaked somehow.
Unlike an airing cupboard, a propagator has light levels and residual direct heat so important in those first 2 or 3 weeks after germination. I sow in mid Feb at the latest. After that we can all make do and mend for the intermediate weeks of March in our own particular way to supply the required warmth and light. I then personally get mine out into the cold greenhouse first week in April,  but they are double insulated under domes inside the greenhouse. In fact, almost tripple insulated, but even then, the light levels are so much better than at home. Really cold nights with minus temps see me taking them home overnight, but that is very rare.
Decent well thought out and mixed potting compost is a good idea for peppers, not just multi purpose.

[sunshineband]

Beesrus' comment about compost reminded me -- some of my plants did 'sulk' for a couple of weeks until I re-potted them after feedback on here, to use Verve, when they perked up no end.  Those in the Verve from Day 1 grew much more strongly. Other good quality composts would do the job as well I am sure

Choose wisely, my friends 

[surbie100]

Choose wisely, my friends 

    

[Middlesexbloke]

Thank you kindly for your replies 

I'm going to get a propagator with some vouchers I received at Christmas. The pepper plants will be grown on at home until late April when I'll put the polytunnel back up and then they can go into that. Am trying a couple of early varieties from real seeds so fingers crossed they'll be good.

I've seen Verve compost mentioned here quite a few times, is that from B&Q? What would be a good potting mix for peppers (and toms, for that matter) as I'll be growing everything in pots in the polytunnel?

[sunshineband]

Thank you kindly for your replies 

I'm going to get a propagator with some vouchers I received at Christmas. The pepper plants will be grown on at home until late April when I'll put the polytunnel back up and then they can go into that. Am trying a couple of early varieties from real seeds so fingers crossed they'll be good.

I've seen Verve compost mentioned here quite a few times, is that from B&Q? What would be a good potting mix for peppers (and toms, for that matter) as I'll be growing everything in pots in the polytunnel?

Yes verve is from B&Q. There are other mixes which are good too, but they mainly seem to be ones that re not available anywhere near here 

If you are growing in post you could use grow bag contents, one of the decent ones not el cheepoes as these are as bad as the poor compost bags.

You will need to feed the peppers as you would tomatoes, so "added food" is not necessarily a selling point. Plump bags usually is however 

[Annen]

I have also found that variety does make a difference. Last year I grew some plants I bought in - California Wonder- alongside some I had raised from seed -- King of the North(Realseeds) -- and the second ones beat the first hands down.

They were planted out into enriched soil at the end of April, under a 1m high cloche which the cover of was old and worn so had lots of small holes in it. Protected the plants from the wind OK and they did not get over heated either. When ever I fed the tomatoes, these were fed too.

California Wonder did crop, but KoftN gave masses of fruit, some quite large, which ripened fully and tasted excellent.

I started the seeds off in a windowsill propagator in February and potted them on into 9cm pots which went out into the warm greenhouse in mid March.

I think California Wonder must be a late variety, in our climate anyway, because the same happened to me. The yellow pepper Mohawk I raised at the same time produced earlier and profusely. I am attempting to overwinter the California Wonder to get a head start on the season.

[sunshineband]

Let us know how you get on with that Annen. I overwinter chilli plants sometimes so peppers could maybe manage too, especially if they have not cropped much

[Kristen]

I think California Wonder must be a late variety, in our climate anyway, because the same happened to me. The yellow pepper Mohawk I raised at the same time produced earlier and profusely.

I have grown California Wonder for years, never had a particaulrly good crop, but I'm a lazy grower so they don't get much TLC so I didn;t have higher expectations ...

... grew some F1's last year (bought seed in the 50p-a-packet sale) and they all cropped earlier and heavier.

Figure I will give more attention to F1 Pepper varieties in future

[Annen]

Let us know how you get on with that Annen. I overwinter chilli plants sometimes so peppers could maybe manage too, especially if they have not cropped much

I believe MoS overwinters peppers quite regularly.