When to plant pepper seeds?

[MadMardigan]

Ok, so I got some super hot seeds, germination period can be up to 100 days.

So what I got is:
Deadpool
Death Spiral
Carolina Reaper
Dragons Breath

What do I need to know about growing them?

 

[marsman365]

I started my Carolina Reapers in early March inside last year. Took longer than expected to germinate. Plants did w3ll throughout the summer, but didn't produce a lot of fruit until later in the season. I overwintered 5 plants to get a jump-start on this coming year. Going to start some seeds last week of January/first week of February this year. Just my experience with the Carolina Reapers. Last year was the first year I did any super hot peppers. BtW, they LOVE the heat in the dead of summer. That's when they really took off.

 

[MadMardigan]

I started my Carolina Reapers in early March inside last year. Took longer than expected to germinate. Plants did w3ll throughout the summer, but didn't produce a lot of fruit until later in the season. I overwintered 5 plants to get a jump-start on this coming year. Going to start some seeds last week of January/first week of February this year. Just my experience with the Carolina Reapers. Last year was the first year I did any super hot peppers. BtW, they LOVE the heat in the dead of summer. That's when they really took off.

Cool. I will start mine in February to germinate then.

I’m excited to give the hurt berries a go.

 

[noway2]

Guess it’s time to order some grow lights and other things to start some seeds.

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

Cool. I will start mine in February to germinate then.

I’m excited to give the hurt berries a go.

You van plant them now. The more mature they are when it warms up outside, the sooner you'll have fruit. My overwinter habanero plants started fruiting in late spring until frost. The plants seeded in March/April didn't fruit until almost fall.
Use heat to get them sprouted and growing faster.
Something like these

 

[marsman365]

You van plant them now. The more mature they are when it warms up outside, the sooner you'll have fruit. My overwinter habanero plants started fruiting in late spring until frost. The plants seeded in March/April didn't fruit until almost fall.
Use heat to get them sprouted and growing faster.
Something like these
View attachment 567609

I did fail to mention I used a heating pad to help germinate, and an led grow light once sprouted. I really think the warmth to germinate the super hots is key.

 

[MadMardigan]

I did fail to mention I used a heating pad to help germinate, and a led grow light once sprouted. I really think the warmth to germinate the super hots is key.

I’m going to start germinating last week of the month.

I’m really interested in growing them to make some hot sauces, and give some to friends.

 

[noway2]

I’m going to start germinating last week of the month.

I’m really interested in growing them to make some hot sauces, and give some to friends.

I’m planning on ordering some Scotch Bonnet seeds and starting them. Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t.

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

I’m planning on ordering some Scotch Bonnet seeds and starting them. Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t.

If you don’t already have a seed starter setup with a heater. You’ll want the soil ~75-80 degrees.
Get something like this
Amazon product ASIN B0BDXP62PS

 

[noway2]

If you don’t already have a seed starter setup with a heater. You’ll want the soil ~75-80 degrees.
Get something like this
Amazon product ASIN B0BDXP62PS

Great suggestion, thank you. No, I do not have one. I was planning on ordering some grow lights too, so I will add that to the list.

 

[Glade8r]

Waxing moon ends this month on the 28th. I would start seedlings between the 28th and Feb 4th. (Farmers Almanac)

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

Great suggestion, thank you. No, I do not have one. I was planning on ordering some grow lights too, so I will add that to the list.

I wasn’t able to germinate habanero without the heat pad.

 

[beamernc]

I tried several years to start ghost peppers and could never get them to germinate, even using a heat mat and seed from different suppliers. Found that for just 2 plants, it was much easier to buy them from a nursery. Problem is, that a lot of times the plants are not what they are labeled as. The 2 hot peppers that I am overwintering upstairs, were supposed to be ghost peppers, but I believe they are a type of scorpion instead. If they survive this winter, this will be their 3rd season.

 

[MadMardigan]

Now, when I plant, how do I keep them from cross pollinating and not crossing the different plants?

 

[MadMardigan]

None have sprouted so far.

Hopefully they do soon though

 

[noway2]

None have sprouted so far.

Hopefully they do soon though

What kind of seed did you plant? Hot ones take a lot longer to germinate and don’t have as good of a success rate.

 

[MadMardigan]

What kind of seed did you plant? Hot ones take a lot longer to germinate and don’t have as good of a success rate.

Deadpool
Death Spiral
Carolina Reaper
Dragons Breath

 

[noway2]

Deadpool
Death Spiral
Carolina Reaper
Dragons Breath

How long has it been? Also did you pre soak them in salt Peter or anything to help germination.

 

[MadMardigan]

How long has it been? Also did you pre soak them in salt Peter or anything to help germination.

They are still on the heating pad and soaked in paper towels, it’s been 30 something days, I know it can take up to 100 for them.

 

[noway2]

They are still on the heating pad and soaked in paper towels, it’s been 30 something days, I know it can take up to 100 for them.

Maybe try putting them in some potting or seeding soil. Dunno. It’s frustrating for sure.

 

[MadMardigan]

Maybe try putting them in some potting or seeding soil. Dunno. It’s frustrating for sure.

I’ve got some in soil, some in hydroponics with heat, and then heating pad for some lol

 

[JohnFreeman]

I got some hot Hatch green chiles to sprout pretty quickly by leaving them over the heat register on the floor a couple weeks ago.
I used peat pots sitting in a small aluminum tray.

 

[Marturo]

We normally start our peppers in mid Feb. Under Fluorescent lights.

That was with Fluorescents. Moved this year to LEDs.

In 2 weeks most all peppers were up & all sprouts were trimmed to 1 seedling.

We never had seedlings do this well under Fluorescents before.

This is under lights still, they have not seen daylight yet.

First day outside, sunny & warm. The frost man is still coming.

Back inside again, it's 30 F outside & the plants are back inside again.

The truth of my story is: Be carful when you start your plants.
In 50 years of starting plants, I have never had a tool like these new LED lights before.

Next season we will start our plants on March 1st.

I have been starting seeds in so many ways & even if I'm late a good crop can still be had before frost.
Last season we started Winged beans & bitter melon in late June, & still got a taste before frost.

 

[JohnFreeman]

Those look great!
Frost man was here this morning in JoCo.