No show Toms and Peppers

[Bacchus]

I've had great results for Tom's and peppers germination but total disaster for chillies and gem squash. All with fresh seed too. Not sure what going on this year...

[bramble]

I am way behind this year but mine are germinating slowly.
No sign of any peppers or chillis yet.

[Nicos]

I’m thinking of sowing some more peppers- they’re not doing well for me either.

[Penellype]

I have sown a total of 15 pepper seeds, most of them from brand new packets. They have been on a heat mat set at 16 degrees in a propagator. I started sowing them on 13th February and the last 2 were put on damp kitchen paper as described by Nicos on 1st April. So far I have 2 seedlings, both at the seed leaf stage, and one of the ones on the kitchen paper looks as though it might be swelling slightly but there is no sign of a root yet. These are the snackbite peppers that I have been growing for the last 10 years and they have steadily got worse over that time (I used to get 100% germination). I still have 2 plants that have overwintered, and one of them still has a pepper on it. I am very tempted to try to grow some seeds from the pepper when I eat it, even though they are F1. They can't possibly be any worse than the (very expensive) bought seed!

Tomatoes on the other hand have been fine so far - I have 2 nice strong Shirley plants that have 2 trusses of flower buds and are in their final positions on the sitting room windowsill, I have 4 more Shirley that are under lights and need potting up into 3 litre pots probably today, and a Balconi red which has flowers open. The 2nd Balconi red plant is clearly not the same variety and is growing too tall - it will be consigned to the greenhouse soon and will have to take its chances as I do not have room for it indoors if it won't fit on the (fairly low) bedroom windowsill. Only 2 of the seeds I have sown so far have not germinated and I will be sowing the outdoor tomatoes soon.

[Marb67]

I am looking to order some decent tom seeds to sow this month as I would like a nice tumbling variety.

[Jungle Jane]

I still have 2 plants that have overwintered, and one of them still has a pepper on it. I am very tempted to try to grow some seeds from the pepper when I eat it, even though they are F1. They can't possibly be any worse than the (very expensive) bought seed!

I would grow them,even though F1….I saved seeds for a few years & the plants were always the same with small red peppers,it’s definitely worth growing them,if you grow about ten you can see they all look the same height,like they’re true to type,then save the seeds from the best pepper on the best plant for next year.

[roitelet]

I sowed Aubergines, Toms, Peppers and Chillies in February, the germination wasn’t too bad but they have stalled and just not growing. I’m giving up and going to buy some plants!

[ameno]

I sowed Aubergines, Toms, Peppers and Chillies in February, the germination wasn’t too bad but they have stalled and just not growing. I’m giving up and going to buy some plants!

Assuming you've kept them warm enough (including keeping night temperatures about 10c, or ideally above 13c), then that'll be the compost.
Have you had them in the same pots this entire time? If so, repot them in fresh compost. Compost only has enough food for 6 weeks.
If you've only relatively recently repotted them, then the compost itself is probably lacking in fertiliser. Try liquid feeding them. Just give them a general liquid feed once a week (full strength according to what it says on the bottle; no need to make it weaker), and they should perk up again.

Feeding from the very start actually really helps, especially if you have sub-par compost. For the first time, I've been putting controlled release fertiliser in my pots for my pepper and tomato seedling (5 balls in a 1 inch pot), and the vigour and speed of growth is noticeably better than previous years.

[Marb67]

Is there still time to sow new seeds?

[peanut]

Is there still time to sow new seeds?

Tomatoes yes, they will soon catch up, might be pushing it with peppers but I'd still give it a go

[ameno]

Peppers might well still be alright if you grow a fast-growing, early season variety, and are planning on growing them in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
Longer season varieties (which includes most chillis, especially the stronger ones) will probably not ripen from a sowing this late. Although you could still get a decent crop of green peppers.

[Marb67]

These are the Wilko guaranteed germination tomato seeds that came with the tub and compost they provide. Absolutely nothing germinated, but I may as well sow the rest in different compost to be sure but do they look dogy to you ? They look mouldy to me. Again, in date till 2025 and the pack was sealed.

[ameno]

They do look mouldy, yeah. I'd take them back, if I were you. Get a refund or replacement.
Tomato seeds are pretty resilient, mind you. They can easily survive going through the compost bin, and can even survive the human digestive system. And some of the tomato seeds I save myself last year went mouldy, but still germinated. Since taking them back is an option for you, though, I would still recommend doing so.

[Marb67]

They do look mouldy, yeah. I'd take them back, if I were you. Get a refund or replacement.
Tomato seeds are pretty resilient, mind you. They can easily survive going through the compost bin, and can even survive the human digestive system. And some of the tomato seeds I save myself last year went mouldy, but still germinated. Since taking them back is an option for you, though, I would still recommend doing so.

I bought one for my sister in law too and hers are mouldy.

[Jungle Jane]

That’s the seed coating thats decomposing which is strange if they’re in date & have been kept dry,could any water have got in the bag? You could try putting them in a small cup of water to wash the coating off to reveal the tomato seeds? Or take them back to the shop & get a refund?