Starting Peppers and Chillis

[Ricardo]

After last year's disasterous season, I thought I'd leave little to chance this year so I bought some seeds from the Real Seed Company, in the hope that I would at least have reliable seeds.
I'm just about to start off the peppers and chillies seeds in an electric propagator and I'd appreciate some advice on growing medium for seeds that are being started off in this way.
You can buy seed compost of course, but I read somewhere that such a medium is very low on nutrients, the theory being (presumably) that the plants will throw out roots in search of the goodness.
So, if that is the case, do I still need "proper" seed compost or could I use free local council stuff (aka "Soil Enhancer") or even basic, no frills cheap multipurpose compost for "assisted" (ie electric) propgation?
Any advice, as always, would be greatly appreciated.

[Aberdeenplotter]

start in seed compost, pot on into multi purpose. Some folks sow in multi purpose and that is fine too

[snakeshack]

I use multipurpose with no problems although I do microwave first at the moment to kill the sciara flys that seem to have infested my latest bag.

[darcyvuqua]

I use multipurpose with no problems although I do microwave first at the moment to kill the sciara flys that seem to have infested my latest bag.

haha I know what Im doing from now on!

[kernowyon]

From the chiliman website growing chili peppers thechileman.org

The Tea Bag Method:
It is the tannins in tea (which softens the seed casing) that is believed to be behind the success of this method. Any tea will do, but several growers have reported that Chamomile tea is particularly good as the teas anti fungal properties are said to reduce the problem of 'damping off'.

1. Remove the tea bag and drink the tea.
2. Make another cup of tea with the same tea bag and let it steep for a few more minutes. You now have your weak tea solution.
3. Place the seeds between two pieces of paper kitchen towel on a saucer and pour enough tea on the paper to soak up the water (drink the remaining tea).
4. Carefully fold the towel and place it in a warm place overnight.
5. After all that hard work, make yourself another well deserved cup of tea.

[rabbit]

I used john innes seed compost for chillies that was pretty reasonable in wilkos. I just bought some very cheap seedling compost from lidls. Actually despite a lot of mistreatment from me, the chillies are looking grand, I started them in the electric propagator and now they are in the cold lean to. I also bought from real seed company. Which varieties did you get?