I do not have issues with Early at all. In fact I was at 100%. I do have an issue with the purple Jal, less than a 10% success thus far. About to try another round and I am using seeds from 3 sources including my own.
Ive done good with mucho nacho last year and this year but I'm sprouting them to use up seed and they go to the food pantry plot at my public garden. I wasn't impressed with them so i wanted to try the above 2. Im good on plants so its no biggie but i can't get em to sprout. I am being a little lazy as I'm at the end of seed starting.
Its most likely me...
I had good success with all 4 jalapeno varieties this year (Numex Jalumondo, Giant, Purple and Tam), but I had a heck of a time with regular cayenne and absolutely no success with Bishops Crown (tried twice). It all depends on the seed quality I guess.
I de-seeded 2 Jalapeños, one mild and one hot, I bought at the supermarket and got 15 of the 16 sown seeds to sprout.
Weird, I ate the Jalapeños after de-seeding and they were quite tasty.