Chilli & Sweet Pepper Seeds

OB · « **on:** March 25, 2008, 21:49 »

Hi All,

New here and new to the whole growing veg thing so please be gentle. I have just moved last autumn and finally have a garden so trying to make the most of it.

I planted some Chillis (Hot Stuff) and Sweet Peppers (Capiscum Worldbeater) about three weeks ago. They are in a heated propogator which is in my conservatory but I have yet to see any seedlings. I have been keeping the soil damp by spraying each day but wonder if it has been damp enough and the soil under the surface has been too dry?

Would this cause a problem or just mean they will take longer? I am now keeping them more moist but don't know if i'd be better just to start again?

Thanks in advance

OB

Aidy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2008, 22:05 »

Some chillis are notorious for long germination periods and three weeks can be quite normal. give them a while longer, it is sometimes worth soaking them for 24hrs before planting, I do this with haberneros. Welcome to the forums.

sharky · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2008, 00:24 »

My peach habs took six weeks to pop up. :oops:

Earl Grey · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2008, 06:26 »

I sowed some sweet pepper seeds in February and they took 4 weeks to come through. I stand the pot of compost in a tray of water for 10 minutes, sow the seed and then cover the pot with a little bit of cling film.
I have found that this keeps the moisture in and I don't need to water again until the seed germinates.

puravida · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2008, 07:46 »

mine took ages too

Sadgit · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2008, 08:32 »

no sign of my habs after a few weeks but this is normal as already said. My other chillis are doing well and are about 3 inches high

OB · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2008, 08:45 »

So is the view that I just keep waiting? Being in a heated propogator and possibly too dry won't have harmed the seeds?

OB

Aidy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2008, 10:21 »

yep, that are pretty tough cookies, just make sure the compost is damp tho, not wet or they will rot. pop a bit of water in the propogator to make it humid.

kezlou · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2008, 19:40 »

I know exactly how you feel it took almost six weeks for my cayenne and pimento chillies to finally start growing. Great advice i received off the forum was to make sure the propagator was lightly sprayed at least every two days.
Worked a treat for me!

Fat Hen · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2008, 21:19 »

You can gestimate the amount of moisture in the soil/compost by "weighing it" in your hand and comparing with the dry'ish compost when you first filled them.

Sometimes this is the only method as colour is very similar wet or dry.

I generally give mine a quick spray daily in heated propagator with a very dilute hydrogen peroxide solution to combat fungus/damping off.

I also leave the vents open from day 1.

I find with chillis there is no rule. Some varieties which are notoriously difficult to germinate may come up in a matter of days. Others which are regarded as easy may take over a month.

Much depends on age/viability of seed. How has it been collected.

If it's from oven dried chillis you could wait for the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and they still wouldn't of germinated.

OB · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2008, 08:08 »

The seeds are from Suttons so they should be fine. I have been spraying them but was worried that this may not have been enough moisture. I'll just have to keep waiting..............

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