hopscotch chillies

[4390evans]

Ive sowed some hopscotch chillies today and they are just in the kitchen, but is there anything I should do with them? they are just on a normal seed tray but I thought they needed heat.

[Ceres]

Is your kitchen warm? Mine is all tile and glass so is cool.
Chillies in general need at least 18 degrees to germinate successfully. I use a heated propagator which you can pick up very reasonably priced. They may germinate but it could take weeks and your success rate may not be very high.

[4390evans]

No its hardlys ever warm even in summer the whole house is draughty the only time its warm is on a morning when i have the heating and the oven and hob on full belt. I might have to invest in a propagator i think.

[Tripmeup]

do u have an airing cupboard/hot press ?

[4390evans]

I have a cupboard but nothing in it that keeps it warm, although it is free of draughts?

[PyreneesPlot]

Mine are in an un-heated prop which I move around - into the sun (remember that big yellow thing?), in front of the log burner and then into our bedroom at night which stays warmer than the rest of the house.

Germination is slower - I have about 50% up so far after two weeks and not everything will germinate. I sow more than I need and am happier wasting seeds as there always seem to be be far more than I need, than using electricity, but that is a personal thing.

[Tripmeup]

I have a cupboard but nothing in it that keeps it warm, although it is free of draughts?

It greatly helps if you can put them somewhere with some heat around, will speed the process up....As PP says, even if you follow the sun around your windows or beside a fire/radiator etc..
Once germinated, they will need to be beside light then...

[jotley73]

I put mine on top of the fridge freezer in the kitchen the seeds germinated in 3-4 weeks bit leggy but roll on spring.