Germinating Chilli Seeds

[Splinter]

Hi all

Could you please pass on your advice for germinating chilli seeds. I have had mine in pots in an unheated (although hot during the day) greenhouse, but as yet had no luck. They have been in for a couple of weeks, so am I just being impatient?

My other option is to bring the seeds and put them either into a heater or unheated propogater in the house. I have also heard that germinating them on a piece of damp kitchen roll works.

Thanks in anticipation

Splinter

[blue-and-green]

one type of my chillies ive been told to wait 4 weeks and keep them moist and warm, they are on a sunny windowsill, still waiting too. other seeds of mine germinate when i forgot to water them.

[Nicos]

I'd bring them indoors- they like it warm to germinate.
Have a look at this thread for some ideas..
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ht=chilli+seed

[tiby]

I have germinated chillies this year by the wet paper towel method and had a very good result. I did put wet paper towel (with the seeds ) in a plastic bag and left it in my airing cupboard and most of the seeds had germinated within a week. Once in compost those germinated seeds formed seedlings on windowsill in couple of days.

[Cutecumber]

Yes, I agree with Nicos - most seeds need consistency of temperature for good germination. Erratic hot and cold spells aren't ideal - just like for humans, I guess!

I have had what I would call fair/good germination rates for tomatoes on a cool windowsill this year (most up in under ten days) as opposed to five days in a warm, dark airing cupboard. The former now look better plants, to be honest, so I don't recommend warm and dark. My chillis took over two weeks to get moving this year but are good young plants now.

A friend of mine, on the other hand, "is not allowed" (her words) to start any plants in the house, so she puts it all in a propagator, inside a mini-greenhouse, inside a small unheated glass greenhouse. After six weeks she has no chillis or tomatoes at all.

I am sure that there is too much variation temperature.

One of my chilli plants and several tomatoes will be going her way soon

[Dobby]

Hi Splinter!

Personally Id try put them into a heated propergator. I stood the seed up so the root was facing down and only just cover the seed. I found if you bury it too deep it can rot, and dont be tempted to pull the seed of the new shoot, as you will pull the leaves off and loose the seedling too! yep we did it!

We trialed various ways of germinating our chillies this year, some were put onto damp kitchen roll and sealed into plastic bags and put into a heated propogater, germination was slow and about 60%, but we also started some off straight into some 1 1/2" pots, some of which were put into the heated propogater, and some into an unheated propogater, the best germination rates we got were from those planted iinto soil and put into the heated propogater.

Hope this was of some help, and good luck!

[blue-and-green]

Hi Splinter!

Personally Id try put them into a heated propergator. I stood the seed up so the root was facing down and only just cover the seed. I found if you bury it too deep it can rot, and dont be tempted to pull the seed of the new shoot, as you will pull the leaves off and loose the seedling too! yep we did it!

!

i do that as well, its important not to plant them too deep. even if the packet says 5mm, or whatever, i do less. last summer i planted chillies direct outside, but it was mid-summer and i had a very good success rate.

[Splinter]

Thanks everyone for your advice, think I will bring them into the heated propogater.

Dobby I have not planted them before so could you please let me know whether to plant the seeds with the more pointed end upright, or the other way round. Not sure if this is a stupid question or not, but I am really excited about growing them for the first time.

Take care

Splinter

[Dobby]

Its my first time too! (Growing chillies that is!)

You want the pointed end down, with the little 'crease' or 'hole' underneath, and the round end upwards, w found that by growing them this way up we got far better germination and no dying off, as the roots go straight down and dont have to 'bend', which did cause us to loose a few when just popped in!

Also make sure that the soil is only just covering the seed, a couple I planted were visible from the top, and they came up great guns!

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Splinter]

Thanks Dobby now just need to prise the kids off the playstation and get down to the plot to replant the seeds back home.

Cheers

Splinter

[Splinter]

Hi all,

I now have loads of chilli seedlings doing really well. The seeds from the big name supplier (6 seeds for about £3!!!) only produced one weak looking plant.

I visited South Devon Chilli Farm and brought more seeds some fantastic looking varieties and the price was £2 -£2.50 for 20 seeds. If anyone is interesed they do mail order on seeds and give out alot of advice and are happy to be emailed if any further questions arise. Their address is www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk and well worth a look if chillis are your thing!

Thanks again for the advice it was a great help,

Splinter

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Splinter, glad to hear you're chillies are doing well! We planted our first 12 plants into the unheated greenhouse on Monday, and one of the Naga Jolokia has 3 chilli pods on it, one of which is about 1 1/4" long, and our Big Jim has a small pod on it too!!

[rustylady]

Hi all,

I now have loads of chilli seedlings doing really well. The seeds from the big name supplier (6 seeds for about £3!!!) only produced one weak looking plant.

I visited South Devon Chilli Farm and brought more seeds some fantastic looking varieties and the price was £2 -£2.50 for 20 seeds. If anyone is interesed they do mail order on seeds and give out alot of advice and are happy to be emailed if any further questions arise. Their address is www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk and well worth a look if chillis are your thing!

Thanks again for the advice it was a great help,

Splinter

Oh Splinter, you're so lucky living down in Devon - I used to live in a little village near Ivybridge and I know Buckfastleigh well. I'm stuck on the furthest bit East you can get. Main thing I've found with chilli seed is to make sure it's fresh, and I always germinate mine in a small heated propagator. Make sure the compost is moist, not wet, and as soon as the seedlings are through move them into somewhere light (they don't need to be as warm as for germinating, but don't let them get really cold). You shouldn't have too many problems down in the Southwest. Good luck.

[Splinter]

Hi Mrs D and Rustylady,

Thanks for your replies and glad your plants are doing well too. I am very lucky to live where I live and my allotment is surrounded by beautiful countryside. I will try and post a picture once I sussed out how to do it?????

Look after yourselves!

Splinter

[kernowyon]

i also use the wet towel method for soaking the seeds overnight, but use cold tea to soak the seeds (the blend dont matter), something bout the tanins in the tea helps the germination (according to my south african mate!!!) seems to work though, last batch of seeds had 95%+ success rate. cant wait for the lemon drop chillis to produce some lovely fruits.