You need to start them early indoors. I had great germination and about 12 peppers per plant with the variety Northern Star

Joanna:
Do you start your peppers seeds in anything special? I've only started peppers for the first time last year and struggled a bit. Do they need a special starting mix? I know they need heat?
Any advice is appreciated. This year I'm not only trying to start seeds for my own garden, but also started peppers for our Master Gardener's demonstration veggie beds--I need to try to get this right the first time.

I use Premier Pro-Mix PGX seed starting mix (web link to the right). And I did use bottom heat. The package says 75-85ºF/25-30ºC
7-10 days to germinate. Poor germination is a result of too cool or erratic temperatures. I bought the same variety from the same supplier as last year.

Mine are not even that good. I started mine 31 days ago after what was mentioned on the germination. (Good points)

Ted--is that a hydroponic set-up in your photo?

mom2goldens said:Ted--is that a hydroponic set-up in your photo?

yes, my first yrs experimental DWC (Deep Water Culture) learning curve.

that is so beyond me

Onewish1 said:that is so beyond me

hahaha, like I mentioned (experimental), I am still in the learning process as well. Pretty fun so far with some losses and with some stunting of course.

Day 35 of the sweet banana peppers with the day 35 oldest Toms and Cabbage in the back.

they look nice!

Guess I should get my peppers started! I've been waiting for warm weather but it came and went really fast down here

MollyD

Since tomatoes have their own thread, it's only fair that peppers do also. What's on your list for 2010?

I'm starting:
Holy Mole
Paprika "Alma"
Ancho (although none of mine have sprouted, and it was the last of my seed )
Anaheim Chile
Chervena Chuska
Buran Sweet

Ornamentals:
Purple Flash
Black Pearl
Medusa

Grew the first 3 last year with pretty good success (my paprika only got 1 fruit, but it was sooo good) Of the ornamentals, the Purple Flash is new for this year, but I have 5 healthy seedlings started.

I have the following pepper starts:

Sweet Banana 10 hydro
Jumbo Bell hybrid 8 hydro, 9 potting mix
Habs (from Ferry Morse) 5 if lucky hydro
Caribbean Red hybrid 2 if I am lucky hydro
Jalapeno Sonoma hybrid (Gurneys) 2 hydro

Have a baggy of 20 seeds placed for germination from a mixed batch from another site. Some of them are showing results. (I need to make more Hydro units)

I'm not growing as many peppers this year as last. Here's my list:

Aji Dulce
Anaheim
Ancho San Luis
Bhut Jolokia
Fat 'n Sassy
Fresno
Garden Salsa
Hawaiian Sweet Hot
Holy Mole Hybrid
Jalapeno
Cayenne
Numex-Suave Orange
Orange Bell
Sweet Banana
Sweet Chocolate
White Bell


Most I'll only grow one plant; but there are a few that I'll have 2 or 3.

I have 3 varieties
North Star Hybrid Sweet, matures green to red bell type
Gypsy Hybrid Sweet, matures yellow to red ramshorn type
and an ornamental Black Pearl
All germinated great

Have you all seen this artcile on Yahoo? Chilies are for more than just seasoning anymore.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201...

Yikes! I would hate to run into that pepper spray!

i'm taking a rest this year from seed starting as i am doing some traveling about the time when my pepper seeds would start coming up but i would have grown all ultra hot peppers such as
bhut jolokias
7 pot
7 pot johna
naga morrich
jala banero which is cross between a jalapena and a habanero
also something called a horouga blend
trinidad scorion yellow

most likely i would have only tried to start maybe 3 or 4 of the above

last year i got one plant of my 7 pot and it produced over 200 peppers and hey were by far the hottest peppers i have ever grown.

Herbie, what do you do with all of those hot peppers? You must enjoy spicy food!

linda - actually i make a hot pepper sauce using different kinds of peppers from mild to hot. since the ones i grow are ultra hot i just add maybe 4 or 5 to my mix. i also make a lot of the sauce for my friends, some of whom love really hot food.