I have a # of Anaheim and Martha wonder bell pepper seedlings that are doing great in the GH under the grow light. (Yah - it seems like I can grow peppers ! just not radishes). They are starting to get taller (now that the gnat problem has subsided). Question I have is how much longer can I leave them under the light? Or do I need to get them transplanted sooner?

I'd like to wait a couple weeks maybe (until my addition to my small GH is done) I don't have any more space for pots on shelves of the floor in my 6 x 8 GH.

You can transplant when they have first true leaves. Most likely you can hold them a couple of weeks yet. Peppers are somewhat slow groweres until the hor weather hits.

What are they started in? How big are they, i.e., 2", 3"....

How about a photo?

Oh, I did forget to attach the photo. I think they are about 3" long - they've been growing for 6-8 weeks (very slowly). Suddenly they have started to jump. Not sure what "true leaves" are but I've seen that term come up here on the site -- will have to google that and educate myself.

The first green you see are the cotyledon. The next leaves are the first true leaves. Yours have that and more!

I'm not sure if you planted the seeds in those pots or if you have already transplanted them, but they should be fine in those pots for a few more weeks. My peppers don't have first true leaves yet.

Those look great! How long ago did you start them?

@woofie I planted them 6 or 8 weeks ago. They grew very slowly for quite some time, but the last few weeks they have really taken off.

Sigh, mine haven't even germinated yet and I have no patience!

For the size pots they are in I don't know why you would need to transplant them, they should be fine until you plant them out. (I start my peppers in 6-packs (8 packs/flat) then pot up to 3-inch pots, then outside).

@weedwhacker my plan is to plant them in buckets - I don't grow in the ground (too much bending over, and likelihood of running into snakes - although I did have a garter snake in my parsley pot last summer). Good to know that they aren't in dire need of transplant right now though -- so much of this is new for me. It will be only a few weeks and I will be able to put things outside in my fenced garden area.

Carol, I think your peppers will do very well in the buckets -- just make sure they have some drainage.

Carol, depending on where you are in Central Texas, I would probably suggest waiting til mid to late March before transplanting them into containers. Last year, I grew several pepper varieties and tomatoes in containers as well as my raised bed gardens. Peppers outside won't grow fast until the temp starts to rise. You can grow pepper seedlings in 6" pots until they are 8-10" tall without a problem. Remember when growing in containers plants need to be watered and fertilized more frequently than when planted in-ground.

@poohdaddy thank you. I'm in Georgetown - I will take your advice and wait awhile until I move them out of the GH. Thanks much.