[fletcherbaker]

I planted my first ever chillis a few weeks ago and they all germinated to my suprise :ohmy:iv potted them on to bigger pots as they were becoming leggy they seem to be doing ok but still have only two big leaves is this what should happen or have i done something wrong any advice please!!!After looking at photos of other chilli plants they look like they should be producing more leaves by now thanks!

[Yorkie]

They will be getting leggy because they are not getting enough light.

Did you use tin foil behind them to maximise and reflect back the weak winter daylight?  The days are IMHO far too short for strong plants to grow yet on a window sill.  I have difficulty with leggy plants which I start off in April.

Did the packet say not to start growing until Feb at the earliest?

[fletcherbaker]

To be honest no it said early march but by speaking to a few people on here they said it should be ok,do you think its to early for them then or by putting foil behind them will it help!

[mr Isaccs]

Most of my chilli seed packs say to sow in march but i sowed some a week or so ago, good germination but mine are also getting a bit leggy.
     It was just an experiment planting so early this year ( mainly due to impatients ) but I do tend to plant exactly the same in a month or so and monitor the difference.
     What varieties are you growing FB

[Yorkie]

I don't grow chillies myself but my thoughts are that it would be better to follow the seed packet and resow in March - I don't think you're likely to recover these into strong plants.  But others may disagree who have grown chillies and know more about these particular plants.

You will see repeated warnings here about it being counterproductive to sow too early, sorry

[DD.]

I'd got that many chilli and sweet pepper seed, I thought I'd risk it at the same time as I sowed my toms.

The foil went up behind them as soon as they emerged and they are looking fine,  prevention is better than cure.

[fletcherbaker]

Hi Isaccs,Im growing Tabasco,hot wax and Jalepeno just a trial run really but was hoping they were going to be ok!

[Lardman]

I planted my first ever chillis a few weeks ago and they all germinated to my suprise :ohmy:iv potted them on to bigger pots as they were becoming leggy they seem to be doing ok but still have only two big leaves is this what should happen or have i done something wrong any advice please!!!After looking at photos of other chilli plants they look like they should be producing more leaves by now thanks!

All the varieties you have listed could have been left until March and you'll have still had a decent crop. Best thing to do is to pot them on and bury the stem almost to the cotyledon, they'll eventually grow more roots. And as DD says get some foil behind them light levels are really low at the moment most enthusiasts have lights setup as the sun just isnt good enough.

Expect to see true leaves in about 2 weeks.

[mr Isaccs]

I wanted to grow jalepeno this year but neglected to get the seeds,
I'm growing scotch bonnet (again), cayenne(again but my favourite for a chilli con carne),chinese bell (seeds taken from bird seed),banana chilli, Tepin, Bhut jolokia(can't wait for that one) and an unknown variety that I got from a friend(I'm calling it the Nigel).
Oh and a tomato lookalike(also from Nigel).
     I think I'm going a bit chilli crazy.
Good luck with yours FB

[spottymint]

Hi

Mine are about an inch high, only 2 leaves & they were sowed in January.
They were moved to cooler conditions as soon as they germinated.

I have them in good light & will pot on in March/April, Chili's I find are slow growers, seems to take ages to get going after germination, almost like they have stopped growing at times & then they seem to put on agrowth spurt.

I have done this for the last 2 years & my plants have been fine.

Hope others can offer better advice. 

[fletcherbaker]

Well thats filled me with confidence spottymint im going to repot them down to the cotyledon andput some foil behind them hopefully all will be fine then fingers crossed!

[bigben]

I have exactly the same problem as fletcherbaker so thanks for the burying idea will do this tonight. My jalapeno and big Jim have come up by two other types have not but I will also do the foil idea - thanks

[Kate and her Ducks]

I tend to plant my chillis a bit too early (I always get a bit too eager to get something growing) and it is common for them to get a bit leggy but when I pot them up I just bury them a bit further down so the compost come half way up the leggy stem and they have done really well in the past.

Interestingly mine don't seem so leggy this year although a couple of varieties will need earthing up when potted on.