Starting Hot Peppers from Seeds.

A few years ago I started to grow hot peppers from seeds. I had a lot of different varieties of seeds. They started well inside and grew to six to ten inches tall. I never counted, but I’m sure I had over fifty. I tried several times to move some outside, but none survived. Later I found an article saying that you should have a small fan blowing on the plants, so that they grow stronger stems.

I’m debating trying again this year. I’m at altitude so the outdoor growing season starts too late to plant the seeds outside. Has anyone had experience growing hot peppers from seeds? Are any varieties easier than others?

Thanks

I've grown a few varieties of peppers from seed over the years. As with any plant started inside it helps to slowly harden them off by putting them outside for lengthening periods each day. I start in a shady area and gradually move them to full sun over a period of about three weeks before planting them in the ground. Pepper plants will also benefit from having the top trimmed off so they can branch out and grow a bushier plant. High nitrogen fertilizer is also a no-no with peppers, your tomatoes may love it but you'll end up with giant, beautiful pepper plants with no fruit.

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Originally Posted by lavenatti

I've grown a few varieties of peppers from seed over the years. As with any plant started inside it helps to slowly harden them off by putting them outside for lengthening periods each day. I start in a shady area and gradually move them to full sun over a period of about three weeks before planting them in the ground. Pepper plants will also benefit from having the top trimmed off so they can branch out and grow a bushier plant. High nitrogen fertilizer is also a no-no with peppers, your tomatoes may love it but you'll end up with giant, beautiful pepper plants with no fruit.

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+1 on this.

We start tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in the paper mache egg cartons under a grow bulb in a West facing window.
These were started April 1, 2023
The paper mache egg cartons sit in cardboard trays that we put inside plastic recycling bags. Two to 3 cups of water in each plastic coated tray keeps the paper mache egg cartons and potting soil moist.
After May 5 or so they go into the Sun room and mature.
Yes we have a fan on them in the sunroom to keep the stems strong.
After last frost, usually May 25 they go into pots that get watered daily.
We get very nice crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, and peppers.
The pots are in full sunlight and there is a light coloured wall behind them reflecting sunlight and heat.

I seed started peppers for quite a few years. I would dig the plants and bring them inside for the winter. They would still bear slowly during the winter months, and live for around five to six years. With grow lights, I'm sure they would have produced faster over the winter. I think my favorite pepper to grow was Hungarian paprika, so much better home-ground, than the store bought version.

I find it best to start peppers, eggplant, herbs in peat pots or flats outside once it gets warm enough. this year couldn't find any peat pots so I started stuff in plastic pots and germination trays with pro mix. so far about 75% have come up. these are outside. unless you have a greenhouse sometimes starting inside can be a problem because the plants dont have the more harsh environment that is outside and the full days sun. it helps to use miracle grow or other soluble fertilizer mixed with water and it really does promote stronger faster growth So they will have just that much more vigor when getting put in the ground. it also helps if the roots are filling the pot plus some before putting in the ground.

I always start them indoors from seed. I have metal shelves in a spare bedroom that I put 2 fluorescent ligt fixtures on with a warm and a cool bulb in each one that I bought from Home Depot.Then I but a small fan on each side.
Once it was warm enough I hardened them off for a week and planted them. Just remember not to plant them deeper if you plant them too deep they will die.
I then plant 40 plants in a 5’x8’ bed.

I start all my seed inside. Peppers, eggplant and tomato All start in a 1/4 square container. transplanted to a 1 1/2 X2. All are hardened off before planting outside.
I am picking peppers and squash now, and will have tomatoes shortly. Onions (seed) planted last September will be ready in a few days.

I planted a 72 cell tray with two seeds per cell. So far I am well past the germination timeline with little luck. Out of all the seeds I have only got 22 to sprout. I will start hardening them this week with some shady days and then more light over time. I say good luck I do not have a good method.

What temperature do the seeds need to germinate?

We grow Jalapenos every year and for maybe 20 yrs now but not enough hot days to do seed starts so, I buy plants soon as we see the tiny starts. I pay strict attention to the plants and soil. do not over water letting the plants almost look like their wilting before applying water. Also keep the leaves trimmed when peppers appear. Lots of leaves on the plants will slow down pepper growth so I have learned to trim them a bunch! Our peppers are mostly used to make hot pickles that my Wife cans, about 50 jars per year but also to BBQ for dinners and an the occasional tasty treat, although they can be very hot!!! After some learning curves we have lots of peppers each year where we would get a few before..My Sons are always after the pickles when coming around as they grew up eating them. We also grown Habaneros but they are to hot for me; my Wife adds a few pieces to her pickles that makes them a little hotter but we separate both types by writing on the lids..Mostly I give them to a Buddy who loves them on his sandwich!

for germination temps optimal is 85f, so i do trays with clear dome and heat mat set to that. or try to improv something similar. i aim for something like 7-8 weeks before transplant date to start. otherewise just give em some fertilizer, and not too much water, sometimes they get bumps under the leaves if there not liking too much water. i pot up once from 72 cell to 3" pot. then gradually expose them to sun and night temps over a few weeks before planting so there not like what the heck is this once you put them outside.

depending how much you want to get into starting your own food having a temp controlled heat mat and led light makes things go smoother

I grow seed for the wife every year. I start in mid Jan or so for a Ky Derby plant date. Highest shelf with a grow light. She is never disappointed. And yes these are peppers, Thai peppers, very tasty.

For the past two years we have tried to start eggplants - got the little ones to come up, put them out, and something eats the leaves of the baby plants - bugs, because they are eaten with holes in the leaves. End up buying a couple of plants each year.

The leaf eaters on young tender plants are flies. If you dust the dry leaves with 7 Dust that business will stop, if it rains, dust again when the leaves get dry.

A few years back I started Ghost peppers in the house from seed they need 80 degrees to hold fruit so they were inside only plants to ones that went outside all died . I hade two in a five gallon planter for two years in the house they got large and only produced fruit in summer months , the cooler months the flowers would just fall off . The plants ended up getting 8 feet tall and filled a large south facing picture window and more .
I also started other peppers they all had weak stems that broke outside .

I would try growing some Chiltepín Chiles, they are tiny red peppers. A single plant can live for years, unlike most peppers.