advice please- starting chillies using artificial light

[Catkins]

Hi,

i've had limited success growing chillies from seed in the past. i have tried starting them in February on a windowsill but i don't get enough light and they ended up lanky and sickly looking. i have also tried starting them off later on in the greenhouse but they never really got going.

This year i plan to try using an artificial light. i have borrowed a 22" twin fluorescent light (2X24W) i also have a large heated propagator.

once it's warm enough the chillies will go in the greenhouse, unfortunately my allotment is not near my house so i cant bring them in at night. once they're in they'll have to stay in!

so i have a few questions
how soon should i be sowing my seeds?
whats the best technique for sowing seeds and keeping plants under lights?
is my light adequate & how many plants can go under it?

Thanks

[redser]

Hi, you should start sowing now. Fl bulbs are 'usually' cool white and give off very little heat. Therefore you can keep your plants close to the bulbs, say no more than 2 inches away. This will stop them getting lanky. Your bulbs should work out just fine for you. Start using them as soon as the first seed germinates. Personally I would stop using the propagator when the last seed comes through and rely on average room temperature for heat. As the plants grow you want to move the light fixture higher. Put as many plants under them as you can fit in. But don't crowd them or have them touching as this can cause them to race each other for light and get lanky. Chillies like a decent amount of heat so don't even think of leaving them at the allotment until all possibility of frost is gone and nights are staying more or less at 10 C. As a general rule of thumb, aim for early June.

[chilli_grower]

Agreed with everything in above post.

Personally mine go in the greenhouse around mid April, but that is with a paraffin heater on at night time.

[Catkins]

ok, great. thanks for the advice. i'd better get sowing! :-)

[BUFFS]

Agreed with everything in above post.

Personally mine go in the greenhouse around mid April, but that is with a paraffin heater on at night time.

I have mine growing in one of those 7 tray propagators and we have had virtually no sun this year yet,(one half day a couple of weeks ago) so mine have ended up under the 20w t8 strip lights that illuminate the kitchen worksurface, so far it seems to be working, only using 2 , the other 3 will be used as needed, so roll on spring...