#195584 - 03/24/08 08:51 PM
pepper seeds slow to germinate
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DaisyM
Gardener
Registered: 02/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: Canada
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Can I soak the seeds a day or so before I put them in the soil? I know they are normally slow to germinate but mine go over and beyond that tine.
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#195759 - 03/25/08 06:33 PM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: DaisyM]
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peppereater
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/23/05
Posts: 2453
Loc: norman, ok
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It's okay to soak them. Also, some people fold them into a wet paper towel and fold that and put it in a baggie, in 5 to 10 days they will germinate.
I have trouble with pepper seed too, some types come up in a week or less, some take longer, and some just don't germinate. The paper towel method can be one way to get good results, especially if it's old seed or something you don't have many seeds of.
Peppers normally need temps of 80 to 85 degrees to germinate quickly, but lacking a heat mat, they can germinate at 70 to 80, given time.
_________________________
 Dave
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#195776 - 03/25/08 07:53 PM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: peppereater]
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DaisyM
Gardener
Registered: 02/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: Canada
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Thank you, I soaked them overnight and all day. I just planted them in pots now. Thanks for the temp..I never knew they needed such a high temp to germinate. That could be why they've been taking so long in the past to come up. I wonder what I can do to raise the temperature in the house for them? I don't want to put my furnace up as that would be too costly. I wonder if I put some tinfoil over the little pots if that would help? in the day that may increase the temp if left on the window?
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#195778 - 03/25/08 07:55 PM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: DaisyM]
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DaisyM
Gardener
Registered: 02/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: Canada
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Sorry, Dave what is a heat mat?
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#195797 - 03/26/08 04:20 AM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: DaisyM]
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elkhwc
Member
Registered: 01/27/08
Posts: 67
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I will give my experience while you wait for Dave. I started 72 in one flat this year without a heat mat and I usually don't soak. I do place mine in the bathroom which I keep warmer. They started coming up in nine days and I have got good germination. The Bell peppers are usually behind my hot and chili peppers. Think it was 11 days when they started. I will see them come up depending on variety up to 24 days. A heat mat is a mat that you place underneath the tray to give it extra heat. I have a big one and a smaller one. I have found I prefer the large heating pads. You have more control and a few dollars cheaper. I usually use the low setting. Just make sure to not buy one with the 2 hour auto/off. Because every two hours it will shut off. Patience is great with peppers. Another reason I prefer the heating pads is they are bigger than the trays and you can get good heat all over the trays. The pads are cut so close to size the outside stays cooler and the seeds in the center tend to germinate faster and the edges can be several days behind. This is just my experience. I have my last round of peppers sowed now. They should start Thursday I'm guessing. Good luck. Jay
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#195837 - 03/26/08 09:40 AM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: elkhwc]
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peppereater
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/23/05
Posts: 2453
Loc: norman, ok
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Elk always gives excellent advice.
I bought my first heat mat this year, and I'm not sure I like it. I'm not getting any better results, but then, my seed trays are in a cooler spot this year, so it may be better than without.
I wouldn't put foil over the top, that would block the heat from the sunny window, but saran wrap might help. You could put foil under them, it's possible that could reflect a little heat back up.
One thing I've thought about...we don't have central heat, so I can't try this, but in houses with floor vents for heat, you could put any kind of shelf or whatever above the vent, and the heat coming out would be warmer than the room temperature.
I germinate some of my seed by just putting them outdoors in the flats or containers during the day so that the sun can heat them, on warm spring days, then bring them in at night. It's not a perfect solution, but this time of year, it works for me. Germination is about as good as any other way.
Like Jay (elk) said, patience is key with peppers...still, I hate it when I really want one certain variety of pepper, and it's the one that just won't sprout.
_________________________
Dave
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#199459 - 04/06/08 08:16 PM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: Tamara from Minnesota]
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DaisyM
Gardener
Registered: 02/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: Canada
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Nothing yet, I'm already thinking maybe I will just have to pick up a couple pepper plants but there is nothing like growing my own, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride.
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#201059 - 04/12/08 09:49 PM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: tkhooper]
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DaisyM
Gardener
Registered: 02/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: Canada
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Thank you and good luck with yours too. Do your winters get cold? Our winters are in the minus 30's to minus 40's. Still nothing with the peppers, I don't know why I didn't start the peppers in January considering the length of time they take to germinate, that is if they do germinate at all?
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#201119 - 04/13/08 05:48 AM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: DaisyM]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Gardening Pro
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 9390
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#202022 - 04/16/08 09:49 PM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: emdeGardener2]
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DaisyM
Gardener
Registered: 02/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: Canada
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Well I'll be, two little pepper sprouts are poking through the soil. I'm so excited.
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#202087 - 04/17/08 05:36 AM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: emdeGardener2]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Gardening Pro
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 9390
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#202951 - 04/20/08 08:37 AM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: tkhooper]
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DeepCreekLake
Gardener
Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 212
Loc: McHenry, MD
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Invest in a heating mat, and get flats with the bio done lid thingy on top, Ideally set it in room temperature.The clear lids will help hold in the heat, and keep the soil from drying out. If you skip the dome, the flats will dry out pretty fast and the seeds prob will not germinate. I soak my soil pretty good before I sow the seed.
Ive had the best of luck using heat mats for starting everything- especially tomatoes which sprout in 2-3 days using one. Peppers (actually most nightshades) need warm soil to germinate- ideally 70 degrees. Some varietes of hot peppers do take a long time, especially bird type peppers (chiletpins, tepins etc). They are called that because in the wild, where they grow (usally tropical climates) Birds, (especially parrots!) eat the wild pepper, and poop out the seeds. The seeds get spread that way, and really need to run through the digestive track to sprout- its natures way and evolution of those types. Most bird peppers are small, size of small berries etc.
Some people make a paste out of chicken poop or other birds poop, and coat the seeds with it to get them to sprout. Ive had the hardest time with Chileptins, out of a pack of 30 seeds, usally only a few will sprout, but weeks later, even with a heat pad.
You dont need to do the poop route with most peppers or any of the sweets/bells.
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#202965 - 04/20/08 09:07 AM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: DeepCreekLake]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Gardening Pro
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 9390
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#203173 - 04/20/08 09:38 PM
Re: pepper seeds slow to germinate
[Re: dodge]
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DaisyM
Gardener
Registered: 02/01/05
Posts: 198
Loc: Canada
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Now it's five little pepper plants poking their little heads through the soil, yeh!
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