Chilli seedlings - what do I do now!!!

[nobbyspatch]

Hi all,

I could really do with some advice. I've managed to successfully germinate some chilli seeds (Cayenne, Kakatoa) with some Habanero and Jalpenjo on the way. Perhaps I was a bit too previous due to the time of year (late Jan/early Feb) and I'm keeping them in a north facing, unheated conservatory. They seem to be holding up well (no true leaves yet) and have not become leggy but would like to know what to do next as I'd rather not lose them. At present they are not heated or kept with the glass lids - should I be using artificial light? Prick them out? Advice much appreciated.

Kind regards to all

[Incy]

If you have a south facing windowsill I would move them there so they get maximum light.
Once they have their first true leaves you can pot them on to individual small pots.

[BarleySugar]

I can explain how I keep mine going, it depends a lot on the facilities you have though. Once the seedlings start coming through in my heated propagator I take them out and put them under daylight energy saving bulb to keep the light levels up as I don't have many windowsills that I can use for light. Chillies do not like getting too cold as they aren't hardy, but too much heat, and not enough light will encourage them to get leggy. I keep my overwintering ones on a south facing windowsill in my bedroom, and they have continued to flower and fruit under those conditions. North facing and unheated might be a bit too severe for your seedlings, they may well survive if they are frost free, but growth will probably be slow. Any advantage you have gained by sowing early could be lost. My first seedlings, sowed on 26/12/11, have their first set of true leaves, and are well on the way to their second.
I would be very cautious about this cold snap too, is your conservatory likely to go below freezing? If so, move them. I have bought my chitting potatoes in from my greenhouse (unheated), and just put them on my dining table to prevent them freezing.

[hollychap]

i am waiting for mine to surface should be any day now i wouldnt bother with artificial light they should be ok , pot on as recommended by incy

[nobbyspatch]

thanks - will hold back until true leaves appear. Sadly no south facing windowsill so will put them in thebrightest one I've got especially during the cold snap - as recommended.

thx to all for the advice.

[Nicos]

I don't know much about chillies- but I would guess when it comes time to pot on, that you bring the compost indoors for it to heat up to room temperature?
That way the seedlings wouldn't be 'shocked' and set back a bit in their growth????

(I've got my seeds sitting on wet paper on the radiator- once they show signs of germinating I'll need to put them in little pots.)

[nobbyspatch]

Hi

Further to your advice the seedlings are now snuggled up indoors and I'll wait 'til the cold snap is over before they go back in the conservatory.

Does anyone have any opnions on a a foil light box?