Hello everyone!
I decided to create this post because I've noticed that when I Google about
growing Chiltepins, often my older topics here pop up in the results. Since I
am aware that many other chiliheads have had difficulty in getting chiltepin
seeds to sprout, I will gladly do my best to offer any help possible based on my
own limited experience.
Back in December, I had about a 50% germination rate with various chiltepin seeds.
Most of the seeds I had collected last summer from different chiltepin plants in
Tucson, and some of the seeds had been purchased at Native Seed Search. I had NOT
pre-soaked the seeds, but did put one per Oasis Hydrocube and moistened the cubes.
y
In January, I was out of the Oasis Hydrocubes, so I planted about 50 chiltepins in
a 70% peat/30% perlite and vermiculite medium, which I kept moist. I had terrible
results, with only a few sprouts.
Early in February, I planted 61 chiltepin seeds into Oasis Hydrocubes, and I
currently have 31 sprouts. Oh, and I recently just had another one sprout from an
older Oasis Hydrocube that was planted back in early December!
I am currently doing an experiment (see my other post) with Oasis Hydrocubes, a peat mixture, and coco coir. So far, the germination rates have been much, much better with the cubes, while only a couple have sprouted in the peat or coco.
I learned that heat is the key to getting chiltepins to sprout. However, in addition to sprouting them at a warmer temperature, I have discovered that the Oasis Hydrocubes have a much better advantage over peat or coco coir.
I decided to create this post because I've noticed that when I Google about
growing Chiltepins, often my older topics here pop up in the results. Since I
am aware that many other chiliheads have had difficulty in getting chiltepin
seeds to sprout, I will gladly do my best to offer any help possible based on my
own limited experience.
Back in December, I had about a 50% germination rate with various chiltepin seeds.
Most of the seeds I had collected last summer from different chiltepin plants in
Tucson, and some of the seeds had been purchased at Native Seed Search. I had NOT
pre-soaked the seeds, but did put one per Oasis Hydrocube and moistened the cubes.
y
In January, I was out of the Oasis Hydrocubes, so I planted about 50 chiltepins in
a 70% peat/30% perlite and vermiculite medium, which I kept moist. I had terrible
results, with only a few sprouts.
Early in February, I planted 61 chiltepin seeds into Oasis Hydrocubes, and I
currently have 31 sprouts. Oh, and I recently just had another one sprout from an
older Oasis Hydrocube that was planted back in early December!
I am currently doing an experiment (see my other post) with Oasis Hydrocubes, a peat mixture, and coco coir. So far, the germination rates have been much, much better with the cubes, while only a couple have sprouted in the peat or coco.
I learned that heat is the key to getting chiltepins to sprout. However, in addition to sprouting them at a warmer temperature, I have discovered that the Oasis Hydrocubes have a much better advantage over peat or coco coir.
