too early to start pepper seed for the midwest?

[ThePepperSeed]

I started my hot peppers in late January, jalapenos started about a week ago. I'm in northern IL.

[applestar]

Wow that took a while! Approx 3 weeks then? Is this with bottom heat? Any idea as to the temperature? Also did you use a humidity cover?

[ThePepperSeed]

Wow that took a while! Approx 3 weeks then? Is this with bottom heat? Any idea as to the temperature? Also did you use a humidity cover?

germination for my super hots took 15 - 25 days and still have a few I'm waiting on. I sprout them in my basement in solo cups of potting soil. No heat pads and air temp in the mid 60's. I'm never in a hurry for them to sprout, I always start them very early

[gixxerific]

I just started some today.

[The Mad Hatter]

I am going to arrange some shelves this weekensld and move some pots around to he em off my heat able. Then I am starting some red habaneros, Roma tomatoes, pink brandywine tomatoes, bell peppers, Hungarian hit wax peppers, and some red jalapenos.

T.M.H.

[Faayth]

Butting in here.

I planted bell peppers indoors on Feb 11. Everything else I planted at the same time has sprouted, but not the peppers. Should I expect to see sprouts soon, or should I start another pot?

Peppers normally take a little while to get going. Do you have heat under them that helps a lot. What are the "other" things you started?

They sprouted over the weekend. No heat, I don't have much of a set-up right now. Just some pots in the window.

I planted carrots, cucumbers and several herbs at the same time I did the peppers.

[Halfway]

Wow, 4-5 days for the tepins and caribbean reds. Still awaiting the hot portugals.

Tepins and Reds were planned for 3 weeks or more, so now I am scrambling a bit.

Gonna be some bushy peppers when hardening!!

[wisconsingal]

I'm a bit surprised to see so many early starts for peppers. Assuming a late May/early June move to the garden for peppers, I'll be starting them mid-late March here in SE Wisconsin.

I have started them earlier in the past. This year a colder than average spring is predicted for the area so I decided to just hold back a while on peppers and tomatoes. I have limited space in the house, so for me there is no reason to rush into things.

I hope I'm making a good decision here.

[F0od]

Planted my Jalapeños in Arizona 3 weeks ago with tomatoes. They came up a few days after tomatoes. I don't keep track but it probably took a week. Gets 55-60 in my kitchen at night. I keep them in a plywood box with clear roofing as a top during the day. Can get 120 in there if I don't prop the lid open. I try to keep it around 80

[vermontkingdom]

I started my onion, leek and shallot seeds in early January and various cole and lettuce head seeds in early Feb. They are all doing great. I started 32 varieties of hot peppers and two varieties of eggplants this past weekend and tomato and sweet pepper seeds will be started at the end of March.

[aliall1]

Mine (the bell peppers anyway) finally sprouted. Still nothing from the Jalapenos yet.

[arisachu]

Mad Hatter,
Those are some beautiful plants you've got there. I'm jealous.

Also,
I just planted some banana peppers. Should I also be expecting a long germination time? I believe they have also been under some heat, but I'd have to check which container they were planted in to be certain.

[The Mad Hatter]

Mad Hatter,
Those are some beautiful plants you've got there. I'm jealous.

Also,
I just planted some banana peppers. Should I also be expecting a long germination time? I believe they have also been under some heat, but I'd have to check which container they were planted in to be certain.

Thanks for the compliments I appreciate it. I have some Caribbean reds, yellow hot wax, green bells, big boys, roma, jalapenos, and pink brandywines that are all sprouting now. Tomorrow I will start some more I think.

T.M.H.

[arisachu]

I wish I had more room to plant more/bigger plants like that.
[off-topic] It's funny, because I don't even really like vegetables (my bf will eat them and I'll probably give some away as friendly gifts, though I did promise my grandmother I'd eat the first ripe tomato), but I didn't want to plant flowers because I want to grow things with utility, I.e., ability to eat them. I'll eat some because I begrudgingly know that vegetables are so good for you, but I just am enjoying the creating life aspect of it all. Is anyone else as baffled as I am about how such big, beautiful, edible things can grow from such teeny-tiny seeds?

[rainbowgardener]

Is anyone else as baffled as I am about how such big, beautiful, edible things can grow from such teeny-tiny seeds?


YES!! Isn't it amazing... I think that's a lot of the reason why I have 16 running feet of lights in my basement and start 500 or so plants from seed every winter, most of which get given away and/or sold as a fund raiser for my church. I just love being part of the process.

Even now looking at my teeny-tiny tomato plants with their first pair of true leaves, it's hard to imagine that in just a few months they are going to be huge, thick stemmed and 6' tall!

[alaskagold]

rainbow, I just wish I had a basement to do what you do!

I have a lot of seeds planted. You guys are horrible at the itchy cabin fevered person. Oh spring, please come soon!

Most of my peppers have sprouted. Next year, I will be seeding in Jan.

[rainbowgardener]

Love basements! Our house would be so much more crowded and less useful without it. Our basement houses my seed starting operation, a tool/ work bench, a computer/desk (for the third computer), all the camping equipment, a chest freezer for the extra veggies, the collection of paint and supplies, crafting supplies, games, extra canned/paper goods, laundry sink for dirty clean up, my honey's immense collection of music equipment and instruments, exercise gear, a TV/lounge area, apt size frig and microwave for snacks with the TV (thus defeating the purpose of the exercise equipment! ) and a half bath. If we put a shower in, you could live down there!