Starting from seed

[Scott Hogg]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking to start growing Pepper plants from seed.

Just a quick couple of questions.

Is it important to use Seed compost? My nearest garden centre just has normal compost.

Do I keep the seeds in a dark/warm place until I start to see the start of the plant?

Thanks

[Scarlet]

Normal compost is fine, they need a warm place to start off. Airing cupboard, top of fridge, sunny windowsill etc. although it is getting late for peppers. They have a long growing season and as youre way up North they would probably benefit from a green house during the Summer. Personally a cayenne chillie /quick maturing chilli would (IMO) give you more return for your time now and can continue to ripen indoors on a sunny windowsill during the Autumn.

[Zelenina]

Hi Scott. I agree with Scarlet that it's rather late to be sowing pepper seeds, especially where you're living. It would be better to buy some plants if you can, so you get some experience growing them and hopefully some to eat too. if you've already bought your seeds, I'd suggest keeping them unopened in a cool place, and then sowing them early next year.

Although saying that, I am sowing some now, but I'm in a different climate from you. And they are from small and probably old batches of seeds of uncommon varieties that didn't germinate well the first time, and if I keep them until next season they'll probably germinate even worse. If I only get one fruit per plant with seeds in it to continue the variety I'll be happy enough. I already have other plants to provide me with peppers and chillies to eat.