Chilli / Pepper advice please?

[fiskies]

Hi all, my first post/thread, please be gentle, I'm quite new to gardening having done toms, lettuce and potatoes last couple of years and now this year decided to branch out to chilli's and peppers.

About three weeks ago I planted both my chilli and pepper seeds in various methods. A few in a cellular un-heated propagator in my south facing room on the windowsill, a few in small 9cm pots and last week I planted the rest in a heated propagator which is kept in a light room out of sunlight, I also bought some Jalapeno peppers in a pot with seeds kit etc from Focus. All have been kept moist in potting compost, the best I could afford anyway and as yet none of the seeds have started to show any growth or germination, Im quite anxious as I have really looked forward to experimenting with chilli and peppers for the first time, couple of questions...

1. Am I doing the right thing as far as germination and a good start in life is concerned and shall I just be a bit patient?
2. Should I change tactics and try and salvage a bad situation?
3. Should I just start again, buy some new seeds?

As a novice I've read a few things about them both but is there anything I need to know, I've read about assisting pollination but haven't got a clue what and when to do that if it's needed at all.
Do I need to prune pinch out etc the plant once it's growing like you do with tomato plants?

As far as location is concerned I have earmarked my plastic greenhouse for them all and was hoping to have several of each variety in a few pots. I know my greenhouse is warm enough as it is in a south facing location up against my walls on two of it's side's which should add extra heat.
The pepper varieties I have are Roberta F1, and Californian Wonder, the chilli's are Apache F1, no idea what the F1 bit means, and I've also got the grow pot kit Jalapenos.

Any help / advice for a novice who just wants to have some real hot salads this summer would be really appreciated.

[Newton]

Hi Fiskies

Welcome from a newbie too. Let's all learn together.

I am a few weeks ahead ofvyou with the chillies. I have had near 100 percent germination but in a heated propagator at 24 degrees.

I then reduced the temp to 19 for my tomatoes which are now on a sunny windowsill. I've left the peppers in the prop but they are starting to outgrow it!

I bought a greenhouse sensation prop and it is fantastic.......got some basil on the go in it too.

Bring on the longer days though...........

Happy growing

Roy

[Shadylane]

Welcome fiskies. Chillies/peppers need a constant warm temp to germinate so the ones in the heated prop would have the best chance. Windowills can get cold at night so this could slow them down. They can also take anything from a few days to several weeks to show their heads. I'd put as many as you can in the heated prop or -if you have one - an airing cupboard, until they poke through the soil.

As for pollination, if you leave the greenhouse doors open on sunny days, the insects can get in and do that for you, or else you just get a small paintbrush and touch it to each flower moving the pollen around. You don't prune chillies or peppers but they might need a bit of tomato feed once or twice a fortnight once they start to flower.

Don't over water them, if you stress them a bit(when they're fruiting) it's supposed to bring the heat I'm sure some others will be along to give you more advice

[fiskies]

Is it worth me retrieving some of the seeds from the pots and chucking em in the heated prop now

[Newton]

Yes. I would have thought so. They should germinate not terminate.

[Two_Sheds]

heated propagator at 24 degrees.

... I've left the peppers in the prop but they are starting to outgrow it!

Get them out Roy, they need the heat to germinate but should be kept cooler afterwards. 24c in Feb will make them tall and lanky and fragile. Grow them slowly until they can go outside in your greenhouse

All have been kept moist in potting compost

Quite often moist means too wet: the surface of the soil esp. should be fairly dry. Water your plants by standing them in a saucer/tray of water for a few mins, not by watering the soil surface

[Two_Sheds]

no idea what the F1 bit means

It means that the seed has been bred from two very good parents to have certain characteristics. It also means you can't grow the same plant again from any seed you may collect

[fiskies]

Thnaks guys, all helpfull stuff, I shall retrieve four seeds from pots now and add them to the heated prop, fingers crossed. I've also read to plant them very shallow and pointy end down, is this right.

[Shadylane]

I think this applies to seeds like squash and cucumber seeds - I believe it's to help prevent them from rotting though I doubt it makes that much difference. I just stick them in any which way, not too deep and like Two-Sheds said, try not to over water them.

[fiskies]

Just got four seeds from the pots, one of em had germinated so I re-planted them all in the heated prop, just one more question, the root that was coming out the pointy end, is that the root or the plant, I planted it facing down and took a chance, either way they're a lot more shallow than the other seeds.

[Shadylane]

The root comes out first which is white then the green shoot er I think. Either way it'll sort itself out I reckon.

[Newton]

Will do when I get home later.....swmbo wont be pleased....she seems to think that windowsills are for other things........photos and ornaments etc. Interesting how swmbos think sometimes......

[fiskies]

Just checked for the umpteenth time and both peppers and chillis are sprouting in the heated prop and peppers coming through on the no heated one, awesome, can't wait.