Big Jim Competition

[pigletwillie]

Isnt it strange how some peoples seeds have done well and some not so well. It must be down to environmental conditions, especially heat and moisture.

I start all of my seeds in the kitchen on the end of a work-surface, not even on a windowsill. They are sown in 4" pots of compost, well drenched, with a smidgen of sieved compost to cover. They only then get a light watering every 4-5 days if that until they start to germinate. Once germination starts they go into the heated glasshouse until big enough to prick out. I scored 12 out of 12 big jim seeds germinating by using this method.

I think that many of the problems encountered are caused by over watering the pots thus rotting the seed before it germinates or heat from the propogator causing the pots to dry out between waterings. I never use a propogator and although chillies especially take some tiime to germinate this way, their environment is more constant from a moisture point of view and as I save seed, I want the hardy buggers to get up and go, leaving the softies still in their duvet.

[shirlthegirl43]

I am going to try my next Big Jim seeds just on the windowsill. The first two were 'sprouted' following the instructions sent with the seed - it took ages and was a real pain - keeping the paper moist and watching the heat in the propagator and all, no sign of them since they got put into pots either. Next ones get to chance it - that's the way I planted last year's chilli's and they grew to be great plants.

[Alison]

I've always just gone for the straight in the pot approach recommended by PW above. Sometimes use a propogator but not for the past couple of years. Only disadvantage is you can't see how they're getting on and that's never good for somebody as impatient as me. I have found that they tend to sprout earlier with the extra heat of a propogator but you need to pull them out asap or they just get over leggy - and believe me that can happen it what seems like mintues!

[unconcerned]

Chillies require a loooooong growing season Mrs D so get them there seeds in unless you want to just have some flowers come judgement day in September. They are also notoriously slow to germinate so stick with the ones you have already sown.

Not all chiles. NuMex Big Jim are Capsicum Annuum and should take about 80 to mature from transplanting - in ideal climate conditions. But you are right that some take a long time - Capsicum Chinense can be closer to double the time of the Big Jim. No, you could plant Big Jim in April and still have every chance of winning the competition. As for germination it depends on seed quality, and conditions. Get the heat, moisture and oxygen correct and they could sprout in about five days, maybe less.

[smallblueplanet]

Well mine are just newly tucked into their warm propagator, so I'll be counting to 5!

[Gryfon]

I've just signed up so now have to remember to get myself some seeds!

I'm hoping that in the warmth which we seem to have already it'll get them off to a good start

[Mrs Dobby]

Yaaaay! Finally have the first 2 of my Numex Big Jim propogated, they've started to sprout, so have been moved into 3" pots, which are being kept in an unheated propogator for the time being! Once they've got their first leaves we'll take them out of the propagator and put them in the windowsill until its time to plant out!

In fact Mr D just checked all of our 11 varieties of chilli, and we've had another 13 seeds sprouted, so now have 15 chilli's growing so far!

Have another batch of seeds planted in 3" pots in a heated propogator aswell, to see whether they will germinate in soil too, so hopefully we'll have lots of nice chillis to eat this year! Still have plenty of seeds left, so will probably be doing another batch or two yet, tho may leave it for a few weeks yet!

[NEWTO THE PLOT]

yaaaa have finally recieved my big jim's today so i'll be getting them in a pot tomorrow,so hopefully i'll be in the running at last. lol

[Protea]

Had a peek in the propagator today and nearly all the Big Jim's i planted have now germinated - very good and even germination rate i have to say!

They'll have to wait until this weekend for me to prick them out into pots, but they'll survive!

God knows how many chilli plants i have now - i'm too scared to count....last year my greenhouse was stuffed full with about 12 plants and i've got quite a few more this year - oh well!

[pigletwillie]

My Big jims are still currently "little Jims" but are now starting to romp away.

[NEWTO THE PLOT]

hmmmm you all saying how yours are germinating, and i've just sown my seed lol maybe we should have the smallest big jim comp might be in with a chance then lol

[shirlthegirl43]

hmmmm you all saying how yours are germinating, and i've just sown my seed lol maybe we should have the smallest big jim comp might be in with a chance then lol

Don't worry, I planted another lot of seed yesterday since my first ones disappeared without trace. We will be together on the last sprouted list!

[Alison]

Yippeeee, chillies started to grow, just checked in the propogator and found two big jims and poking their heads out as well as various other chillies / peppers and a solitary aubergine. Don't normally start them for another couple of weeks so fingers crossed for a head start this year! If they end up doing well will have to find out how to post pictures.

[Alice]

Hello Piglet, I've just tried to have a look at Pigletsplots, but apart from the pics of you and the lovely Piglette, I couldn't see anything. Is the blog just under construction (dying to see it) or am I being dense tonight.

[pigletwillie]

There is not a lot to see Alice as I still constructing it. It may be a while before its worth looking at.