Is it too late to sow Chili Seeds now ?

[hawocol]

The chilis I sowed in my greenhouse a few weeks back have done nothing. I bought a shiny new electric propagator this week and was wondering if it was worthwhile having another go with fresh seeds.

Once germinated I was planning on growing them on in the greenhouse

Or should I just go and buy some plug plants from the garden centre this weekend

[vixylix]

I think it mostly depends what varieties they are - some of the hotter ones are slow to germinate and slow to grow. However, it doesnt do any harm to sow some and see what happens - you could always have a try at overwintering them if they don't produce anything this year.

Hedge your bets and but a couple from the garden centre as well

[Kirk]

If you have the seeds then try them in the propogator. Not a lot to lose in reality and you get some idea of how well it will work.

My chilli seeds are sort of about 1 to 1.5 inches, well 2 of the 3 are. The 3rd is still making up it's mind, I have what I think is a root shoot and a seed casing. We have not got as far as a stem yet. But it is working on it (I hope). They have been in for a good few weeks. The tomato's at the same time have been repotted and are some 4 inches high.

[Scarlet]

What chillies are they? As Vix says, if they are quick growing, cayennes etc it's worth a shot. If they are the hotter varieties they aren't likely to fruit this year.
The GH is much too cold to germinate chillies so I'm not surprised they didn't germinate though if you bring them indoors and place them on a sunny windowsill they still may come but as a back up use your shiney new prop and some fresh seed

[TattyJJ]

I'm curious about this too
Have some cheyenne chilli i planted on the windowsill 2 weeks ago and are just starting to show themselves.
Would really like to get a crop this year, but if it's too late someone is gonna have to explain this whole overwinting thing to me

[Scarlet]

You should be ok with your cheyenne chillies Tattie. Chillies often need a long growing season, germination can take several weeks for some super hot chilli varieties and are known to be difficult to sprout without the right growing conditions. Lots of peeps start early January, especially if they are lucky enough to have some grow lights. Most of mind are started in early February though I have also started some of in March.

Lots of chilli tips and gossip here
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_88223.html

[Chris11]

Hawocol, I'm sure getting that heated propagator will make a massive difference. If you soak the seeds overnight and they're decent viable seeds, you could have some popping up within a week.

I made some late sowings last year in mid-April. I don't think peppers 'catch up' as fast as tomatoes, but they nearly did. I even planted some Big Sun Habanero on 1st June after I first heard about the variety, and still got fruit from them in Sept/Oct/Nov. And that later planting looks like it has brought my best overwintering results.

What varieties are you looking at growing?

[TattyJJ]

You should be ok with your cheyenne chillies Tattie. Chillies often need a long growing season, germination can take several weeks for some super hot chilli varieties and are known to be difficult to sprout without the right growing conditions. Lots of peeps start early January, especially if they are lucky enough to have some grow lights. Most of mind are started in early February though I have also started some of in March.

Lots of chilli tips and gossip here
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_88223.html

I do hope they can catch up!
I'm about to run out of windowsill space this weekend when i re-pot all the tomatoes. Might rig up an old fluorescent light out the garage to make sure everything is getting enough light and give a little boost.

[Scarlet]

That's quite good going Chris. Habs are generally at least 120days to harvest and that is if we get a good summer. Cayennes on the other hand have a much shorter seed to harvest time.

[Scarlet]

Have you got a green house Tatty? Mine go in the green house during the day and are moved back indoors at night.

[TattyJJ]

Have you got a green house Tatty? Mine go in the green house during the day and are moved back indoors at night.

Alas i don't, not till i move house at the end of the month. For now just gotta do the best i can. Which means taking over the dining room

[Bigmallly]

If you have room in the prop, put the ones that you sowed in the GH into the prop, it may be that they have started germination but are a tad slow due to the temp.

[spamvindaloo]

It's always worth a try. Years ago when the story first broke about the Naga and the world's new hottest chilli, I bought some Naga seeds in June and for the hell of it, sowed them thinking I would get a headstart on the next year. We had a long summer and I got fruit so anything is possible. And if you don't get fruit, it will still be well established to overwinter.

[hawocol]

Thanks Guys.

I had previously sown Tabasco, Hungarian Hot Wax and Razzamatazz

I have a few packets of Cayenne so I will give them a go

I will also bring the non electric propagator in from the greenhouse and try it on a windowsill