Germinating Chilli Seeds

[Pieman]

I normally pick up a packet of seeds (normally an unusual one) from the Chilli Fiesta at West Dean - I normally get mine from Simpsons Seeds - Matt is a chilli head aswell.#

I then normally join the Pass the Parcel from Chillies Galore and a couple of seed of various varieties....these I normally sow at the end of January in Multipurpose in module seed trays (24's) in a heated propagator.

[Alison]

But they probably won't grow the same as the one you took the seeds from as it is likely that it's either an F1 or will have crossed with something else. A nice experiment but don't be disappointed if it isn't as you expect.

[oliveoyl]

Does anyone keep their chilli plants from one year to the next? They are perennials apparently, but I've never bothered before, this year I'm going to bring one smallish plant indoors... see if it will tolerate a draughty windowsill for a few months.

[HotStuff]

Does anyone keep their chilli plants from one year to the next? They are perennials apparently, but I've never bothered before, this year I'm going to bring one smallish plant indoors... see if it will tolerate a draughty windowsill for a few months.

Olive, several people on here do overwinter Chilli plants. There was a recent good thread about it:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post144330

Hope this helps

[oliveoyl]

It sure does thank you kindly.

[Portland Bill]

Thats the couple from HFW's show.....

Yes, he used to be on with HFW all the time in the early days of River Cottage.

Haven't seen him on the show for ages, don't know if they have fallen out.

[Llamas]

Just got some chillies from the Chilli Company. They came with a little sachet of germinating solution. Has anyone tried this before?

[Naga]

I used the airing cupboard last year and it worked fine although the seedlings become quite leggy but it wasn't a problem as I just covered them up to their necks when I potted up.

I'll be using the airing cupboard again this year me thinks but instead of using big black pots I'm gonna buy some nice but small ceramic ones to keep in doors. I'll be forcing them to grow small in smaller pots so hopefully they will still fruit ok.

[Pauley]

Hi I've been reading through this thread. I have found fresh seed straight from a pepper I've bought germinate well.
I followed the tip about fishing out non germinated seeds. i found some had germinated but were too deep so moved them to the surface. I'm trying to germinate the rest in tissue following the tea tip. This year is looking bad for peppers with the cold weather persisting so long. I am wondering if its possible to buy plugs of Hungarian hot wax for example, anywhere? regards Paul

[Pauley]

No luck

Hi I tried germinating with tissues but had no luck. So far from 12 seeds begun in Feb I have one healthy looking seedling Twilight with a couple more on the way. Hot Wax seedlings haven't done well. I'm using peat pots and taking care not to let them dry out. I will start the last of my seeds off in a few weeks as its getting warmer now
I plant them just at the surface with pointed aprt of seed facing down

[rustylady]

Hi I tried germinating with tissues but had no luck. So far from 12 seeds begun in Feb I have one healthy looking seedling Twilight with a couple more on the way. Hot Wax seedlings haven't done well. I'm using peat pots and taking care not to let them dry out. I will start the last of my seeds off in a few weeks as its getting warmer now
I plant them just at the surface with pointed aprt of seed facing down

Chillies need quite a lot of warmth to germinate. I sow five or six seeds in a 3 and a half inch half-pot and place in the heated propagator on the kitchen windowsill.

[Alison]

Chillies need quite a lot of warmth to germinate. I sow five or six seeds in a 3 and a half inch half-pot and place in the heated propagator on the kitchen windowsill.

I too use the heated propogator method but prefer one to a teeny 1.5" newspaper pot as I find that they often germinate at different rates and I like to get them out the propogator as soon as they show their little heads. I sow but filling the pot, making a small indentation in it with an old biro and then cover before watering until the newspaper is fully damp. Then don't usually need to water until they germinate but keep an eye on the newspaper and water a little if it dries out.

[Yorkshire.Dave]

For the Ghost Chilli or Trinidad Moruga Scorpion I soak them overnight in Chilli Focus liquid before sowing and they usually sprout in a week or so at 25 to 28 degrees in a Jiffy 7 pellet.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I've had very mixed experimental results. Whilst many have germinated in a heated prop, I have had increased germination rates in having chillies stood on a warm sunny window sill. So with that, I have chosen to sow a last batch purely as a window sill condition. I really couldn't get many germinating in the heated prop. They all do have different cracking points, I'm sure. I've just found the unheated prop on a window sill more successful

[Yorkshire.Dave]

Ive had some Ghost Chillies take 3 weeks to germinate so all you can do is wait and hope