Chillies - growing and overwintering 2019

[veggiechicken]

Thanks for your reassurance, Philthy . Its not that I think SP might be playing a trick on me.

[Small pumpkin]

Thanks for your reassurance, Philthy . Its not that I think SP might be playing a trick on me.

As if I would do that

[JustPotteringAbout]

I'm sowing chillies this week and using a heated sandbed for bottom heat.

Swithering what mix to start them off as, unusually last year they failed to germinate / survive in the media / conditions provided.

I've got:
Jiffy coirs
fine mature leaf mould
New horizon peat-free I don't use or like peat)
Coir blocks
Sharp sand
Perlite
Vermiculite
seaweed (liquid and granular)
cinnamon powder

[Scarlet]

Did they all fail? Maybe the seed was a bit too old? What temperature is your sand bed?

I use plastic pots and compost. Compost used will have generally been kept indoors so it's warm which really makes a difference.

[dave_100]

I have some germination questions if I could:

I've seen this video and it seems like a great idea, 2 seeds in one small pot, removing the weakest (assuming both germinate). Some people seem to favour doing a single seed per pot though. Any strong opinions on this?

Also I know once the seeds have germinated they need light most of all, but would a plastic cloche (perhaps the top of a plastic bottle?) help keep the seedlings warm and be beneficial? Especially if I start while it is still chilly outside, say early February- surely the extra warmth would be good?

[Small pumpkin]

Sow however many you're happy with. I do more than one to a cell, but I like pricking out and I'm very careful about it.
Thought you were growing indoors? So a cloche will just block out light.

[dave_100]

Cool, surely if you prick one out to throw away you don't need to be that careful? The one you plan to keep stays untouched unless I've misunderstood?

Yep I'm growing indoors, I'll scrap the cloche idea!

Thanks!

[Small pumpkin]

Cool, surely if you prick one out to throw away you don't need to be that careful? The one you plan to keep stays untouched unless I've misunderstood?

Yep I'm growing indoors, I'll scrap the cloche idea!

Thanks!

The reason I'm careful when pricking out is because unless it's the last seed to germinate in that pot you might damage the really good seedling that's about to brake the surface.
Other reason I don't throw any seedlings away

[Baldy]

This thread has legs...

[Scarlet]

..it seems like a great idea, 2 seeds in one small pot, removing the weakest (assuming both germinate). Some people seem to favour doing a single seed per pot though. Any strong opinions on this?

I do one seed per module, but if you are happy with 2 go for it. Either prick out without disturbing the other or snip the weaker seedling with a small scissors and sacrifice it.

Also I know once the seeds have germinated they need light most of all, but would a plastic cloche (perhaps the top of a plastic bottle?) help keep the seedlings warm and be beneficial? Especially if I start while it is still chilly outside, say early February- surely the extra warmth would be good?

Too much warmth and not enough light leads to leggy seedlings. Once germinated the seedling needs to be taken out of your propagator and put in the lightest place possible and grown on in cooler condition. Average room temp is fine.

[Mitzi]

Also I know once the seeds have germinated they need light most of all, but would a plastic cloche (perhaps the top of a plastic bottle?) help keep the seedlings warm and be beneficial? Especially if I start while it is still chilly outside, say early February- surely the extra warmth would be good?

The plastic cloche would increase the humidity which will increase the likelihood of damping off or rot setting in. I keep the lids on my Garland 7 pods just until the seedlings have all shed their seed coats (I think the humidity softens them to make it easier.) Once they've all got their seed leaves out I remove the lid (but keep the bottom heat going) just to improve the air circulation.

[rambleberry]

Trying to whittle-down the list this year to make sure everything can be put under cover if needs be.
I can't expect a summer like 2018 every year!

Cayenne
Biquinho Red, Yellow
Telica and/or Tam Jalapeno
Lemon Drop
Something purple/black

Probably going to order 4 from Sea Spring Plants as well: Submarine, Turtle Claw, Trinity and Hamik (sweet pepper)
Growing several other sweet pepper varieties but this isn't the thread for that.

Has anyone had any experience of growing 'Palivec'? It looks like it might be a good one to use in curries.

[benb89]

Hi,

I have just spent my morning at work reading this thread and have found it very interesting and informative so thank you.

This is my first year growing anything. I have purchased what I have been advised I need at first, including a heated propagator and am looking forward to get going. I am unsure of what I will do once the seeds have germinated. I was told to re-pot them and place them in a plastic grow house however I am unsure if these are any good.

I have had the following chilli and pepper seeds purchased for me as a gift:

Cayenne,
Jalepeno,
Serrano,
Habenero
Californian Wonder,
D'asti Giallo

I have also purchased Carolina Reaper seeds when visiting the House of Chilli whilst on holiday on the Isle of Wight recently. Saw them and impulse kicked in.

[IainM]

You may be better getting rid of the plants you have and leave it clear for a few weeks before using that room for new seedlings.

Nooooooooo. Not my babies. No. The aphids are back though. I see there is no chance of frost in the next few days, so I'll give them a good dose of soapy neem and leave them outside for while, periodically spraying them out there too. Hopefully, in a week, they will be aphid free and ready to live alongside some seedlings.

On that note, I've been looking for Antep Aci Dolma seeds for a while, and found some on sale at Fatalii Seeds. Apparantly the peppers are delicious. I also nabbed some white fatali and charapita. I'm starting to get excited about this years grow!

[Scarlet]

Has anyone had any experience of growing 'Palivec'? It looks like it might be a good one to use in curries.

Palivec rings a bell, I think Trip Grows that?

Feel free to discuss peppers here too! They need to be treated much the same I think.

As for a black one - Royal black is lovely. Iverwinters well and only grows about 2ft so perfect if you think you may be running out of space.