Chilli Seed's Not Germinating

[maillme]

Hi there,

I've had lots of chilli seeds on my window sill - along with sweet corn (seperate containers - same soil).

The sweetcorn grew fine, the chilli's did not - they didn't even germinate

Sooo.....Thinking I maybe had dud seed's - I Bought some more (jalapeno's) - and once again, same story - no germination - but I planted some tomato seeds at same time, and they have germinated no problem.

Any idea's where I'm going wrong??? - Im fairly new to growing etc......Last year they all germinated on my window sill no problem!

Many thanks,
Neil

[teakdesk]

In my experience chilli seeds need a higher temperature to germinate than tomatoes.

The also take twice as long.

I have had chilli seeds sown in modules 5 weeks ago next to a coolish radiator that showed no sign of life. The tomato seeds in the same place came up in a week.
When I moved them to a sunny, south-facing window directly over a radiator the chillis came up within 3 days!!

[Two_Sheds]

Have you got a poly bag or a propagator over them? to keep moisture in until they germinate

[blito]

my chilli seeds are in modules, covered with a clear perspex lid, in an unheated greenhouse, which i leave open by day but close at night. Seeds took about 3 weeks to germinate but are doing fine now.
Perhaps in another week it will be warm enough for me to be able to take the clear lid off.

[Pieman]

Chilli seeds ideally need 20 degrees plus....

I had some JalepenoX3's in a heated propergator - they took around 7-14 days.....I thing to say is that different varieties do take different lengths of time to germinate, I have some Fatalii's and Naga Morich and they took near on 3 weeks.....

[maillme]

hmmm - maybe its just the nature of them.

They are in clear tubs with lids - and are always kept moist

What are the best breed of jalapeno to get? I bought some from my local garden centre which were £2 for about 20 seeds!!! Then i got given some from someone that they baugh as part of a kit in ASDA, and it had about 100 seeds!!!

I want to have big fruits that i can slice and pickle - just like the jars you buy

thanks again for the advice.......

Neil

[Two_Sheds]

They are in clear tubs with lids - and are always kept moist

They are too cold, in an unheated Scottish greenhouse. They need at least 18C day and night to germinate.

If they are wet & cold, the seeds will just rot.

[Galileo]

I planted eight Chilli seeds in a pot along with several pots of tomato seeds two months ago. They were in a propagator at 18C the tomato seeds came up no problem but no chilli seeds germinated.

The tomatos were the main crop so the propagator temperature was set to suit them. The chilli seeds probably would have liked it at 20C - 25C.

However the last few days have been sunny and the greenhouse has been quite hot and yes one chilli seed has germinated after sixty days. I was sure they had all rotted in the wet compost. In fact I was just about to remove them.

Ohhhh also the chilli seeds were about six years old from an old packet stored at the wrong temperature indoors. Thats why I planted eight seeds as I only wanted one plant

So don't give up!!!

[Joanne]

Hi,

I am also having trouble with my Chilli Seeds, they are in an unheated propagator in an unheated greenhouse, although at the moment I still have bubblewrap up, and it does get quite warm in there, they have been in nearly 3 weeks now, should I give up on them and have another go, when the weather is warmer!!

[blito]

Joanne, i`d say to leave them a while longer before trying again

[Two_Sheds]

they are in an unheated propagator in an unheated greenhouse,.... it does get quite warm in there, they have been in nearly 3 weeks now

yes, it will get warm on sunny days, but at nights the temp can drop down to zero.
Your chillies need a constant warm temp, not ups and downs.

You'd be better to start them indoors on a sunny windowsill.

[kentvegplot]

I had some success with the propagator at 21 degrees, but some of them didn't show any sign of life until I upped it to 25 for a few days. Also, some varieties can take up to 6 weeks to germinate!

[Fat Bob]

My chillies and peppers have just germinated.

They took ages, well past three weeks in a seed tray with a clear propagation lid and the warmest part of the greenhouse.

[rana]

Chillis are from tropical and sub tropical parts of the world. To get good germination you need fresh seed and reasonable warmth 24 hours a day with no great fluctuation. Even with such conditions my chillis took nearly 3 weeks to get started with a success rate of around 65%.

[GreatBlah]

I planted some chilli and peppers seeds at the end of February and then some 2 weeks ago. They all germinated within 2 days of each other and both sets were kept in heating propagators. And what's annoying is that 85% of them have germinated....... Luckily I have people to give them away to.