**Link below to the newest edition of PEPPERMEISTER ROULETTE!!!
I’m sure a lot of you chile heads have started your pepper seeds weeks ago under hot grow lamps or tropical skies.
For the rest of us, here are some tips to help you get a successful start to the 2013 season.
Pepper seeds can take a few weeks to sprout!
Because chile seeds take their sweet time to germinate, a lot of factors and considerations arise that you don’t typically experience with plants like beans or even tomatoes. Pepper seeds will be sitting in those pots/cells for many weeks which is why proper seed starting know-how is essential.
- Keep it moving. A fan set on low in the room where you start your seeds is a great idea to avoid stale air and mold that can negatively affect seeds and seedlings.
- Avoid peat pots. They seem really easy, just start the seed in there and transplant it directly into the soil when ready. In my experience, these soggy pots promote mold growth. Go with recycled plastic and reuse them year after year. If you do prefer peat pots, buy the larger size and be sure to crush off the bottom of the pot before transplanting, not doing so will inhibit root development.
- Typical Seed Starting Mix is just peat or coir (coconut fiber) and contains no nutrients at all. Mix in some organic potting mix (with OG fertilizers) and some organic perlite to your seed starting mix. The potting mix will feed your seedlings for a few weeks and the perlite will hold water.
- Hot and moist. Yeah, you read that right. Pepper seeds love the heat. Try using a grow mat (not a heating pad) or some powerful lights to speed up the process and make those chile seeds nice and comfy. A plastic dome or cling wrap over the pots will keep the moisture in and create a nice humid environment. Don’t forget to ventilate!
- If you totally suck at seed starting, don’t worry. Cross Country Nurseries is now taking orders for their enormous selection of hot chile plants. They ship the plants ready to be transplanted in the garden. Read more about CCN here.
For more seed starting tips, check out these free Pepper Growing Guides:
Are you playing Peppermeister roulette? No? Well, someone is. Head on over to Rachel’s Table and find out which pepper caused her to go from this…
To this….
Don’t worry, she not only made it out alive, but she’s challenged me to a Peppermeister Roulette Duel this Summer. Challenge accepted, although her hot pepper perseverance worries me….. Details to follow.
PEPPERMEISTER! 
I love her peppermeister roulette videos! And I think you *should* be afraid! haha anxiously waiting for the duel video 🙂
Hey Tim, the duel will be a true test of my pride and fortitude. I will be growing the Carolina Reaper this year, but I sure hope it doesn’t come to that!
Can’t wait to see the challenge between you and Rache 🙂
Still haven’t decided on the format, but I can tell you it will be intense, sweaty, snotty and down right ridiculous. I believe the trash talking will get pretty out of hand too. Thanks for reading.
Nice screen shots. haha.
Defeat is imminent, my friend. My pepper prowess is known throughout the blogosphere.
Julie and I have been discussing the format for our challenge. Between the 3 of us, and the amount of time between now and then, this is going to get really out of hand. Peppermeister fun fact: I’ve taken part in a handful of informal pepper eating contests. I shall continue my unbeaten streak against you at summer’s end. Also, If there isn’t a sporadic man-thumb in the corner of the camera shot… I walk.
I never thought I’d be involved in something where my husband said he desires sporadic man-thumb.
I think I’ll start taking bets in early August…
Oh, and I can deliver on the man-thumb for sure.
That looks really hot!
Is it seed time again? We never really got a winter here in Boulder. I will have to pick up a few packets!
Susie,
email me Thepeppermeister@yahoo.com before you go picking up any packets. I’ve got a pepper seed surplus.
I will! Thanks!
Love the before and after screen shots! I’ll be direct-sowing my Peppermeister seeds. Ground is ready, heavily mulched and all the little ground microorganisms are doing the hard work for me. I will peel back the mulch and drop seeds in after spring break with the maters, cukes, and eggplant. I will keep you posted on their progress through my blog, but probably won’t post photos and process until after April 12, when the big carnival (which I’m currently planning) has come and gone.
Woo hoo! Feels like spring is already here. In the 70’s and windy, and peaches, broccoli, and red bud trees are in full bloom. Pink and yellow everywhere!
Looks like you’ve got it all planned out for your seeds. Our season is too short here to direct sow. Good luck with the carnival and be sure to send pics of those Peppermeister plants.
I can’t wait to see the challenge! And, I am still holding out to start seeds. It is faking spring here but I know better. I can’t transplant outside until late May at the earliest.
Hey Sharlea, you can wait a week or two longer and you should be OK, most of the seeds I sent you are early season varieties, so a late start wont affect production. Keep me posted
We are attempting to move soon as well … you know, just to mess up my pepper production, of course. I will definitely keep you posted.
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Brand new follower as of today, and I agree with you on the peat pots. For years I have used them and each year, mold has grown on the sides. I finally had enough and got some nice reusable plastic pots in varying sizes for our plants. Check out my blog over at http://www.nikitaland.wordpress.com and see our plants for yourself & our raised garden! Hope you can subscribe too! I also just posted yesterday a great tutorial on how to make your own cement letters. I can’t wait to catch up on everything on your blog! {Val}
Rachel cracks me up! You know, I love pepper so much that I really do need to start growing them.