How to Plant and Grow Pepper Seeds
Peppers have always been one of the most popular vegetables in the home garden
Peppers in the Garden
There is such a great number of unique and delicious pepper seeds available that more and more home gardeners are trying their hand at growing from seed. Peppers come in a great variety of colors, shapes, sizes and flavors and are second only to Tomatoes as the most popular food in the backyard garden.
Growing peppers from seed can be a challenge but, armed with knowledge and persistence, even the most beginner gardener can successfully grow a great variety of peppers.
5 Tips for growing Peppers from Seed
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When to Start Pepper Seeds:
Start seeds at least 10 and preferably 12-14 weeks (if you live in a northern climate with a shorter growing season) before the last frost date for your area.
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Germinating Pepper Seeds:
Pepper seeds need moisture, a fairly warm temperature, air, and light for best germination. When choosing a soil make sure it is light and well draining (not “potting soil”) to be sure the pepper roots get get both air and water. A good choice for starting pepper seeds is a commercial peat-lite type seed starting soil directly from a newly opened bag (to be sure that the soil is weed free). Peat-based soils contain a live bacteria that helps to prevent mold growth. Chile seeds germinate at soil temperatures of 75° – 90°F (20° – 35°C) with 85°F (30°C) being ideal. You can use a heating pad or an old electric blanket combined with an pocket thermometer, Electric Soil Warming Cables or “plant propagation mats” found in nurseries and hardware stores.
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Soak Seeds BEFORE Planting:
Soaking your seeds before planting will help soften the seed hull. An easy way to soak the seed is to place the seeds in a small sieve and dip it into a cup or bowl of warm water. If any seeds float, dab them with your finger to break the surface tension. Some believe that the “floaters” generally do not germinate as well and/or produce stunted plants. Allow the seeds to soak overnight. (NOTE: this is the “true” organic gardening technique. Some gardeners prefer to soak their seeds in a chemical mix. If you are looking for that technique you will have to search elsewhere as we only promote organic techniques.) After rinsing your seeds, place them on several layers of paper towels to absorb the extra moisture. You are now ready to plant your seeds!
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Plant Pepper Seeds:
There are a variety of different seed starting containers commercially available. Some that are recommended specifically for starting pepper seeds are the: Gro-Packs, Styrofoam 40-cell trays from A. P. Systems, Peat Pellets or Peat Pots. Regardless of what container you choose to use you will need to tightly cover them, either with saran wrap or a fitted clear plastic dome. Covering after watering will create a “hothouse” environment- ideal for pepper seed germination! The seeds are set on the surface of the soil (the soil should be MOIST not too wet), one per cell and sprinkled with another light coat of potting medium, then given a light mist of water from a hand pump sprayer. Cover tray with the saran wrap or clear plastic dome and set on heating mat/blanket or other warm place like on top of your refrigerator.
Do not set a domed flat in direct sun! It can cook the seeds.
Remove the dome once to every other day to let fresh air get to the seeds and mist spray the soil if needed. Some chile seeds take a long time to germinate (70-90 days or more) , but they should do so using these instructions. So don’t give up! Once the seedlings are up, remove the plastic dome cover, but do not let the soil dry out. If the seedlings are allowed to wilt, they may not die, but their growth will be set back. -
Transplant Pepper Seedlings:
Seedlings should be transplanted to a 3 or 4 inch pot as soon as the first true leaves are fully unfolded, and the second pair of true leaves is just beginning to develop. About two weeks before you plan to transplant your seedlings to the garden you should begin “hardening off” (exposing the seedling to more sunlight and wind). No matter what type of pepper you grow, they like the weather hot. Transplant pepper seedlings outdoors after the last chance of frost has past. If the weather is still cool, delay transplanting a few days, and keep them in a coldframe, indoors or next to the house.
Peppers should be spaced 18-24 inches apart, in rows 24 to 36 inches apart. This spacing may vary somewhat by variety.
Pepper plants prefer moist soil. Avoid wet soil. Water regularly in the hot, dry summer months.
Add mulch around the peppers to keep down weeds, and to retain moisture.
Watch them grow and enjoy!
When your Peppers are ripe and ready to be indulged, click here to check out our delicious recipes for cooking with even the hottest peppers!!
Peppers can be picked as soon as they reach a size which is edible.
Hi,
http://www.plantingseedsblog.com – da best. Keep it going!
Nicolas
I think that that was really interesting. Good post!
I am interested in buying some Bhut (Naga) Jolokia seeds.
Could you plesase tell me how to do so through you ?
I live in Colombia, South America. Do you think the seeds could be mailed to me or do I have to provide an address in the U.S.A where these seeds could be sent ?
Thankyou for your consideration to the above matter.
Respectfully yours,
MAURICIO PELÁEZ ROLDÁN
Recently I bought six varieties of peppers from NMSU. I plant them at april 04, in my Country, Venezuela. All they have germinated, except Buht Jolokia. Could you explain, please. Thank you. Eduardo..
Hi Eduardo, The Bhut Jolokia can take much longer to germinate than other varieties (up to 60 days+). If your soil is warm and not soggy and your seeds are viable, they should germinate. Good luck!
I would be happy to help. You can email me at Jessica@eGardenSeed.com or you can order through our site (eGardenSeed.com). We ship internationally, so I can ship to you in South America.
Thank you!
Thanks for this nice tips
I am Seun Adeboye from Agrocap Farms in Nigeria.
We shall be very grateful if you can forward to us the full details on how to grow the following seeds.
1.Peppers,red hot and tomatoes which can be grown on our farm in Nigeria.
2.Yellow corn seeds also which can be grown on our farm and the ways or methods of preserving this threeitems from insects,pests or bacterias.
3.Can you also give us the best ferterlizers that can be used for planting each seeds.
4.Please we shall be gratefull if you can allow us to send our farm soil for verification to enable you know the best pepper,tomatoes and yellow corn seeds which we grow in Nigeria that can be grown on our farm.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
From
seun Adeboye.
Agrocap.Farms.
I’l try planting pepper. Thanks for having this article. It helps me to start my garden.
what is the best temprature to grow bhut jolokia pepers and can i grow them in idaho
I have been planting my own garden for several years my problem with planting peppers is, when I plant any variety that start green but turn red when ripe get bugs in them before they can turn red. Therefore I am always having to pick them before they are fully grown. What and I doing wrong? and what can I do to prevent this? This happens own my own seed plants as well as plants that I buy from a store. The bugs look like tiny worms. Please help, it’s depressing after all the work and you cannot enjoy the real fruit of your labour as they say.
I wait your reply. Can you suggest a type a pepper that has a large yeild by it fine in Ontario weather. Thank you in advance.
It’s hard to say exactly what your problem is from here but it sounds like you may have horn worms.
Here are a few suggestions for you”
1.Get down on your hands and knees and look underneath your plants for evidence of horn worms. Green droppings are usually the best indicator. If you see any horn worms or larvae on your plants, remove them by hand.
2. Make a hot pepper or soap and lime spray and spray it directly onto the worms. To make the spray, chop ½ cup of hot peppers, and mix them with 2 cups of hot water. Strain and spray. The capsaicin in the peppers should cause nerve damage to the insects and repel them from the plants.
3. Do things to invite birds to the garden. Build birdhouses, put out bird feeders and bird baths. They are natural predators to the tomato hornworms.
I hope this helps! Good luck…
I recommend germinating the seeds at about 80-85 degrees. In Idaho you will want to germinate them indoors and then bring them outdoors after the last chance of frost has past. You can plant them in large (10 gallon) containers so that you can bring them back inside in the fall.
Thanks for your ideas on how to grow pepper seeds. Planting peppers in containers can be fun!
I have just started planting hot peppers. My habanero, bird pepper have turned into seedlings they have 2 little tiny leaves. I live in las Vegas, can I keep them outside direct sunlight in the morning then bring them in the house? Since germinating seeds needs heat can I keep them outside till they start to sprout? Thank you so much for any help you may give me!
Hi Cindy and thank you for your question.
Your pepper seedlings should be fine to start hardening off to be outdoors now. To be extra cautious you should bring them in if a cold front – wind – hail- or any other inclement weather comes through.
As long as the temperature doesn’t drop below about 70F they should be fine.
Enjoy!
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I have some bell peppers that I have planted from seed in seeding trays. This is my first year doing this, so I need to know when to transplant into my garden.
They are about 2-2 1/2″ tall and have two sets of leaves. I am in zone 7 and they have been outdoors for the past two weeks all day.
Will it hurt for me to transplant these straight into my garden now? Since we really didnt’ have a winter here this year in Cental Arkansas and it looks like we probably won’t get any frosts, would this be ok?
From what you have described it sounds like a great time to transplant your peppers. You have already begun the process of hardening off the peppers and the ground is warm enough. If you do get an unexpected cold night you can carefully cover the seedlings with walls of water or something similar. I hope that helps!
I have to say that for the last couple of hours i have been hooked by the amazing posts on this website. Keep up the wonderful work.
Thank you for the support Raul!
Ghost peppers are fussy growing and germinating but do as follows good luck! I use vAfrican Violet soil sold by Mircle gro it has 60% composted and shredded foreres product you dont want hardly any Peat moss in it hot pepper seeds dont like it I also mix bottom layer in pot with additional 25 to 30% perlite very top layer just use african violet mix 1/2″ place seed cover about 1/4″ with the same make sure you dampen all soil as you are placeing in pot cover with plastic put on top of grow light it mantains 75 to 85 degree uncover 1 to 3 hours daily so no mold will grow get bloom booster from mircle grow mix with water every time you dampen soil it breaks dormacy and aides in germination stop use once germinated and switch to fish/kelp emultion be sure dont over water they hate it they will get sick weak and or die let dry out between waterings just before they wilt and they will do fantastic
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