[JulesJ]

My first lot were sown 7th March (3 weeks ago). Second lot done 22nd March, both in heated propagators under southfacing window in the house. They're supposed to take 7-14 days. Am I doing something wrong, or are they just taking longer than I expected? Should I have soaked them first? I have more seeds so can resow if necessary.

Woodland anemones sown indoors without bottom heat 8th March - no sign of those either. We won't go into the busy lizzies - I know there's another active thread on them.

Any hints welcome.

[SpudtheBinx]

It could be your compost. I watched the gardeners world special about peat last night and they showed Which testing various composts and some killed the seeds! I was gobsmacked and the Which tester was saying a lot of people think they failed where as it's the compost.

[JulesJ]

Hmm I watched some of that too ... it's Homebase John Innes No 1, which has been great for everything else. Any suggestions for alternatives?

[SG6]

May be wrong, and cannot recall exactly, but I think that my peppers last year failed to germinate at the first batch.
I sowed the second batch but left the seeds on the surface.
The first lot had a slight covering of compost.
The second lot germinated.

[sunshineband]

They may be OK you know -- I sowed peppers on 13th March, along with chillis, etc and everyhting else is up except the peppers. No reason to think there is anything wrong with them, so I'm letting them alone for now.
Unless your soil is waterlogged or bone dry they should be OK if other seeds have germinated in that compost I guess it's not the KILLER sort 

[andreadon]

hmmm.
the first year i grew peppers, i sowed a batch but nothing happened.
so after 3 weeks i started again (in the same tub) - one week leter, there were the pepper seedlings.
second batch worked, i thought....
no! two weeks after that the second lot started sprouting!
i was rather inundated...
 

[paintedlady]

Some varieties seem to be taking longer than others this year, yet they are all in the same compost, on the same windowsill.  Without a heated propagator, it has not been unknown for some of my capsicum seeds to take 4-5 weeks to germinate though I am now stretching into the 7th week with some of them now 

[goose]

ive always found them slow, and with the last two summers being rubbish, i have struggled to get them to ripen.  ive decided to give them a miss this year, although i always get itchy fingers when i pass the seeds in the garden center as i feel like im missing out ...good luck.

[richyrich7]

I'd be looking to get it out of the window for a start, it's quite easy to cook seeds in a heated propagator, especially if there's no thermostat in the propagator you'll have heat from the sun and the heater !!.  I've done it  myself in the past. 
The temperature can fluctuate quite a bit in a window so again this does not help they like a steady temperature if you can.

 There's still plenty of time to re-sow again if you have to, but give them a few more days yet. 

[peterjf]

add a bucket of sharp sand to a full bag of cheap compost , , maybe a little perlite too

[JulesJ]

Thanks for the tips - the first seedling from the 22nd March batch has emerged overnight, so I've taken the pot off the propagator but kept it in the light with its lid on so as not to shock it.

[cabbagehead]

Hi, I've been growing sweet/chili peppers for some years with a good success rate. The first thing to remember is peppers need warmth so keep your propagator no lower than 70f. Use a good well drained seed compost. Water the compost a day befor you sow your seeds. Peppers seeds realy do not like to be too wet. They will rot. Cover 1/4inch and do not over water them in. Seeds can take up to 28 days to germingate, even longer.

I would leave your new seedlings in the propagator until they have a good root system. Transplant into 3" pots. Put back in propagator for a few days. Never transplant peppers into a larger pot unless they have a good root system in the pot they are in. Grow on to 9"/12" pots. Planting outside? A hot well protect spot.

NEVER OVER WATER PEPPERS
You can let the soil get quite dry, water in the evening.

When you have flowers, gentlty shake the peppers to help polingation.

Hope that helps. Remember!!!!!! do not over water your peppers.

Peppers are great to grow. Good luck. 



These three little guys are Dorset Naga a seriously hot pepper. Grown as above.
After the photo they went back into the propagator. Enough excitement for one day.
Can you send photo's of your peppers?

[JulesJ]

Thanks for the tips - I've only got one peeping through the compost as yet. I'll try and post pics when I've got more and bigger ones.

[paintedlady]

I sowed several different ones 7 weeks ago, and only certain varieties had germinated.  I had given up on the others but they happen to be in the same seed tray when blow me, 3 have germinated since yesterday so there's a good chance yet some more will pop up 

BTW - they are not in heated propagators 

[andreadon]

tehy will be if they're in a sunny window!
well, at least  for the time that the sun's shining....