The Chili and Pepper winter sowing thread.

[BarleySugar]

I don't have proper growlights, they are just the energy saving daylight bulbs in cheap argos lamps, but I've found they do make a difference. I've grown some plants from seed to fruiting under them, and as I don't spend much on other hobbies, I don't worry if the electic bill has gone up a bit (I don't think it has really anyway, but I can't be bothered to analyse the kW usage etc.)
I start the seeds in jiffy7s in the heated propagator, then move them under lights once they have germinated. I nestle them into clay pellets to keep the roots moist until I can pot them on, which with a broken wrist at the moment might be longer than usual.
Even the slow ones (habs and nagas) seem to germinate within a week, except for some seed of unknown provenance, which has failed each time i have tried it

[smallblueplanet]

I agree with barleysugar - I also use a desk lamp with an energy-saving daylight bulb in to provide a bit of extra light for early seedlings.

[pjh75]

Just finished sowing mine: 2 each of Apache, Cayenne and Shake. I don't know what the shake variety is, but I saved the seed last year from one of the big chillies in the photo.

They are all in the heated propagator in the kitchen.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Where did you get the energy saving daylight bulbs from?

[smallblueplanet]

Someone on ebay was selling them - was about £4, but that was a couple of years back...so maybe they're easy to find now?

[BarleySugar]

I bought mine from Energy Saving Light Bulbs | Cheap Offers and Deals on Low Energy Bulbs - last year. I went for the 25W (120W equivalents), and haven't had any problems with overheating in the desk lamp fittings.

[BarleySugar]

I got mine from http//www.cheapenergysavinglightbulbs.co.uk. I bought the 24W (120W equivalents) and haven't had any problems with overheating in the desk lamps I use.

[BarleySugar]

I got mine from cheapenergysavinglightbulbs.co.uk. I bought the 25W ones last year (120W equivalent) and they haven't overheated the fittings at all. However I bought the 2 part ones, which they have now discontinued, so no saving there after all. It looks as if the new stock are all one part bulbs.

[BarleySugar]

cheapenergysavinglightbulbs.co.uk

[BarleySugar]

Energy Saving Light Bulbs | Cheap Offers and Deals on Low Energy Bulbs -
I bought the 25W ones, (120W equivalent) and they've not over heated. I got mine last year, when they did 2 part ones, which you were supposed to be able to replace only the bulb bit of. Now it looks as if they have discontinued them, which I suppose means I would have to buy totally new ones I hadn't looked until checking out the website address for you.

Sorry about the multiple posts it looked as if the site kept crashing, but was obviously just VERY slow. Mods, please delete extras if you wish

[HotStuff]

So where did you get those bulbs BS?

[binley100]

Meanwhile.........I have sown
2. x Corno di Toro Rosso
2 x Joe's Long
2x cayenne
2 x PW sweet point peppers.........and they are in the airing cupboard

Not as exciting as most but I'm still pretty new to this

[Mr Potato Head]

Cayenne - very easy to grow and quite prolific. GYO offered free seeds for these last year, and I imagine the chilli seed parcel (if its still about??) has oodles of them. Hope that helps

Thank you

[danmon_81]

Mine will be being planted in peat disks tonight...i have 3 plants still growing/ overwintering - Fatalli, Naga Morich, Chocolate Habs......fingers crossed i can keep them going...so far so good.

for anyone interested in more advice on growing check out:

growing chilli peppers thechileman.org
or
Chillis Galore

Maybe if people have questions for the rest of the chilli heads they could put it in a different colour in their posts??? I can see this thread getting big and people not getting stuff answered....i.e.

When is the best time to start planting seeds?

I'll be planting up around 30-40 seeds tonight...although the missus isnt happy...especially with our 1st seedling due any day!!

[annacruachan]

Thanks for the heads up, Mods. I have managed (so far) to overwinter 2 Alberto's Locoto, 1 Apache, 1 Mazzetti, 1 Bolivian Rainbow and 2 Gindungo Cahombo.
I kept have them in the conservatory, covering them with fleece on cold nights (and some days!) and putting heat on during the day. They seem to be in fine fettle.
I went mad last year so am going to be a bit circumspect this time, just Cayenne and Wenk's Yellow Hots I think, assuming the above don't die on me!

I shall grow all the peppers I grew last year except Sweet Chocolate and the Californian one that came with GYO. SC had thin, rather leathery flesh and Calif. was pathetic - small and tasteless. Orange Bell, Kaibi Round, Yolo Wonder and Diablo Oxhorn were really good, sown early and gave two crops. I shall also try PW's Red Pointy pepper and Sweet Banana - er, and maybe one or two others. Can't resist!