Chilli grower

[Itschilliupnorth]

Hi everyone, 2019 was my first year at growing chillis, and started them off on a windowsill at the end of jan, this yeah I’ve got a vitopod heated propagator, so rather than using a windowsill I wanted to utilise the garage this time round, I’m wondering if anyone else has done this and could give me any tips.

Thanks in advance

[burnie]

Key thing is to give them good light or the seedlings will get thin and leggy.

[bramble]

If you are starting them off in a heated propagator they will probably germinate ok. Once they germinate however they will need as much light as you can give them.
If not, like Burnie said, they will become leggy, stressed and just keel over.
I am sure our very own Small Pumpkin who is a genius at growing chillis will give you all the advice you need when she is back online.

[veggiechicken]

Hi and welcome.
I don't grow chillies but the advice about seedlings needing good light as soon as they germinate is true for everything. If you can't give them light, it may be best to wait until there's room on your windowsill!!
You may like to read this thread about Growing chillies - its where most of the hotheads hang out
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...9-a_98308.html

[Babru]

I got an led light from amazon this spring and my seedlings did very well under it, stopped them getting leggy. Not enough daylight up here in January/February to grow seedlings on the windowsill. I'm planning on sowing some filius blue seeds at the end of January myself.

[Itschilliupnorth]

light

I got an led light from amazon this spring and my seedlings did very well under it, stopped them getting leggy. Not enough daylight up here in January/February to grow seedlings on the windowsill. I'm planning on sowing some filius blue seeds at the end of January myself.

heres the light ive got not sure if its going to be big enough for a 100w vitopod propagator.


30cm All-Seasons Street Light

Light Source: LED
Lamp Power: 12w
Colour Temperature (CCT): 6500k/2700k
Working Lifetime: 50,000hrs
Lumen Output: 1320lm
Length: 30cm
Beam angle: 120 degree
Height of 35cm will give a spread of 110cm

[toomanytommytoes]

The higher you hang the light the more you reduce the light intensity reaching the plants. Since that light isn't particularly high intensity anyway, you'd want to hang it 3 to 4 inches above the plant canopy. It will be fine for the seedling stage but the plants will eventually outgrow the area the light can cover with sufficient light intensity. I can squeeze about 18 yoghurt pots under one 2ft light, so I'd say that 30cm light would maybe be enough for nine 9cm pots.

[Mitzi]

The Vitopod is a better propagator than mine but, assuming your garage is unheated, I’d want to be sure it can maintain a high enough temperature before trusting my precious chillies to it. Will it maintain an absolute temperature or is it like mine which raises the temperature a number of degrees above ambient?

[Itschilliupnorth]

light

The Vitopod is a better propagator than mine but, assuming your garage is unheated, I’d want to be sure it can maintain a high enough temperature before trusting my precious chillies to it. Will it maintain an absolute temperature or is it like mine which raises the temperature a number of degrees above ambient?

the propagator is heated and has a thermostat so i can set it to the desired temperature, once it reaches temp it will shut off then come back on if falls below

[Scarlet]

I think you may still struggle with getting the correct temps in an unheated room.
Test it now and put a thermostat in it?

Also what height is your propagator? As these plants will need a warm home for the next 5 months or so they will need room to grow.

[Itschilliupnorth]

Lifht

I think you may still struggle with getting the correct temps in an unheated room.
Test it now and put a thermostat in it?

Also what height is your propagator? As these plants will need a warm home for the next 5 months or so they will need room to grow.

Here’s the link for it
https://www.greenhousesensation.co.u...th-lights.html

[veggiechicken]

I'm confused (as usual). The link you've posted has inbuilt lights.

[Itschilliupnorth]

Lights

Yes as the one I got is the same apart from the lights sorry is should have said that... as

This is the light I currently have the 30cm

https://www.greenhousesensation.co.u...l-seasons.html

[Scarlet]

Here’s the link for it
https://www.greenhousesensation.co.u...th-lights.html

Single height is only 24cms? That isn't much space later on in Spring when they are potted up.

What varieties are you planning to grow?

[Itschilliupnorth]

Size

Single height is only 24cms? That isn't much space later on in Spring when they are potted up.

What varieties are you planning to grow?

I’ve got the double height at the min but the tray is a little deep aswell, only looking to start them off untill I can move to greenhouse.

Demon red, bhut jolokia, scotch bonnet, Hungarian hot wax