RocketMan's Glog - Starting Second Season

Finally getting around to germinating my seeds to start growing some peppers. I took 14 varities out of the 42 in my seed library (Special thanks to everyone that helped out with seeds) and some of the old pill bottles I had saved (usually that's where I keep the screws I collect when I strip out an old computer system) then added 8 seeds to the bottles and filled with water. Going to let the seeds soak for 24 hours, then place on coffee filters and back into the bottles till its time to plant them. Here's a shot on the bottles:

The 14 I picked are:

1. Peruvian White Hab......................Pic1
2. Jamaican Hot Chocolate...............Pic1
3. Douglah......................................Pic1
4. Fatalii.........................................Pic1
5. Trinidad Scorpion Butch T............Pic1
6. Datil...........................................Pic1
7. Red Savina Hab..........................Pic1
8. Jamaican Red Scotch Bonnet......Pic1
9. Chocolate Hab............................Pic1
10. Black Hab................................Pic1
11. Trinidad Scorpion Yellow...........Pic1
12. 7/Pot Red................................Pic1
13. Bhut Jolokia.............................Pic1
14. No heat Jalapeno.....................FyrDad4
*Thank you Gentlemen

I really wanted to get a nice cross section of heat levels and to grow some peppers that I hear alot of talk about but can't find locally. most of them will be going into sauces however if I happen to get a really good crop of peppers I might have to look into drying some and making some powders. This is the first year that I'm growing peppers from seeds. I've planted Jalapeno and Habs that I picked up from Lowes or Home Depot before but never really done the research and gotten the dirt under my fingers.
I thought about whether to use Peat Pellets or Rock Wool but right now i'm thinking about just going with some good soil or a seed starting mix and I already have a bunch of Red Solo Cups. I'm planning on 6 or 8 holes in the bottom of the cup so I can bottom water them and I might place some up and down the sides so that some air can get in.

I'm really looking forward to this and if it goes good I might even be able to convince the boss to let me take a section of the back yard and put in a garden. Might even put in a flower or 2, well so long as they're edible that is.

Thanks for stopping by and check back I'll be here.

Thanks for stopping by,
RM

 

[PaulG]

Great perseverance, RM! You have a lot of seedlings
left, so I guess that's the bright side!
Good luck with your new tray #2 starts!

 

[RocketMan]

On the brighter side now some of the survivors are starting to get their first true leaves. Here are some pics I snapped this morning.

Even some of the damaged ones are getting their true leaves

RM

Had a great find at Walmart yesterday. These were with the plastic cups and were only $2.97 per package of 50.

Don't know how that compairs to others but it was a lucky score for me as I wanted to get some to use as the pill bottles are narrow and while they work they don't allow for spacing out the seeds very much.

After 24 hour soak into the mini cups

I put the cups into a small baking pan

To make it easy to move them into and out of the microwave above the stove where it stays around 80 because the stove light stays on all the time.

 

[RocketMan]

Have replacement seeds in little
Cups now x2 days now. Hoping to see some sprouting soon. First look under the cover tomorrow.

 

[RocketMan]

Guess I'm overdue for a follow up. The survivors are doing great and growing like they mean it. Some had damaged leaves but the first true leaves have come forth and taken over.
The seeds I germinated to replace what I lost went into cells today. Replanted were:
Datil
Red Savina
Jamaican Red Scotch Bonnet
Chocolate Hab
Black Hab
Trinidad Scorpion Yellow
7/Pot Red


Here's some pics (thry're a little washed out because it's 92 today and a little bright out):

Left to Right
Peruvian White Habs
Jamaican Hot Chocolate
Douglah

Douglah, same row
Fatali
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
Datil, 5 cells replanted today

Bhut Jolokia
No Heat Jalapeno

Thai Long Hot Pepper, 2 rows but only 1 is growing
Thai Short Hot Pepper, 2 rows

Ok,ok, they're blury because I was so excited that they were doing well that I couldn't hold my IPhone still and , well it's an IPhone. Misc close Ups

I also have the Veggies for the kids garden in dirt now and this morning was surprised by a Lima Bean coming up

Wont be long now till I'm getting the peppers into solo cups

Thanks for taking a look,
RM

 

[RocketMan]

Clearer Pics:

 Ok, well, some of them were.

 

[PaulG]

Good luck transplanting your seedlings when the time comes.
You've got a load of 'em! Good work!

 

[RocketMan]

Thanks Paul must be first time luck. I'm hoping that once I get them into the ground I can keep a bunch of them till they just die of natural causes. True winter here in Florida is really only a few days of the year.
RM

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

If it's like last year, they will live forever.... It has been hot the last few days, be careful the trays don't dry out. I have just started to spread my seeds in a one gallon and separate them later... easier to keep hydrated. I have plenty of starts if ya need, re-potted 25 or so red bhuts and probably 30 yellow 7's . Probably do the choco's today.

 

[PaulG]

I'm hoping that once I get them into the ground I can keep a bunch of them till they just die of natural causes.
RM

That's the 'Holy Grail', isn't it!
Good luck!

 

[RocketMan]

Yep, you gentlemen are correct.

I really cant believe how fast these babies are growing! Seems like just yesterday that they were breaking the surface of the soil. Here's teh latest pics:

Tray 1 today

Tray 2 was just replanted 2 days ago and today I have 3 little ones breaking the surface

Tray 3

Kinda looks like I'll be transplanting to Solo Cups this weekend

Thanks fro stoping by for a look
RM

 

[SocalChilehead]

They look great what soil mix will you use for the transplants.

 

[RocketMan]

Im using a mix of

MG Garden Soil. 45%
MG Potting Soil. 45%
Used Coffee Grounds. 10%
Pulverized Egg Shell. 1/2 Cup

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

Lookin good, thaats about the time I transplant when there that size, or are you going to cull. I have a hard time doing that no matter how poor they look.

 

[RocketMan]

Took these last night before I went to bed. Tray 2 is really comming back strong. Hopefully I can get these guys up to where thay are only a week or 2 behind the others.
The pics are a little bright and yellowish from the flash

Tray 1

Tray 3

I'm planning on leaving them as they are right now, especially the ones that have only 2 and are really growing strong. I'll see how they're doing after they go into the solo cups. The Thai shorts in Tray 3 some are 3 to a cell and I might take them down to just 2 but again I'll make that decision after I see how they're doing in the cups. These are all destined to go into the ground. I'll most likely be keeping only 2 of each and the rest will go to my mom, brother and friends that have said they would like to have some.

Thanks
RM

 

[RocketMan]

Photo update:

Peruvian White Habanero

Jamaican Hot Chocolate on bottom Peruvian White Hab on top

Douglah

No Heat Jalapeño (we can't wait to see if it has no heat)

Bhut Jolokia

Thai Long Hot

Thai Short Hot

Bottom to top
Peruvian White Hab
Jamaican Hot Chocolate
Douglah

Thanks for stopping by for a look. Have a great day.
RM

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

I have been workin in Melbourne I could drop ya a couple of starts since I willl be passin by sat morn...

 

[RocketMan]

That would be really cool thanks. I'm not going to know whats up this weekend till Thursday. I'll PM you when I know more.

 

[PaulG]

You have a lot of great seedlings going! Have fun
getting them into pots!

 

[RocketMan]

Thanks Paul, It's always nice to hear that they're looking good from all of you who know more than I do. I'm starting to drill holes in my cups tonight. Planning to get, at leaset the bigger ones and the ones that have more than 1 set of real leaves transplanted this weekend. Also trying to figure out where to put them, but that's not really a bad problem to have is it?

 

[PaulG]

You're right. It could be a lot worse!