As I am still a complete rookie at growing peppers, I was wondering when you guys start your seeds. I'm in Michigan, zone 6a and we usually can't move plants outdoors until Memorial Day. I was just curious how early is it safe to start seed germination. I'm already sick of winter and want spring to get here asap. I was thinking shortly after New Years or is that to soon? Thanks!
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When to start plants
- Thread starter m1hagen
- Start date
`m1hagen said:
Being from 6a in Taxachusetts and having started a few plants in my day my thoughts are as a newbie have you planned on what to do about lighting? I'd hate to have you start seeds just after new years then post a thread like Very leggy plants, what should I do? or Leggy seedlings keep getting longer in Feb. or Mar...
PS... I usually start around Mid-March and have fought leggy seedlings using deep transplanting.
Depends on how warm your grow space is. My garage gets cold so it takes longer for mine to take off so i like to start seedlings by no later then the end of february. What kind of setup do you have, and what are you wanting to grow?juanitos said:memorial day
- 14 days for germination
- 60 days for growth
x how ever many times you will make rookie mistakes
really it is safe whenever. you will just be taking care of them longer. you might have to top them if you start running out of space.
i am already so scared about 2019's start.... the stress begins as soon as i try to germinate, and doesn't stop until i'm getting ripe pods. i'm not sure that this hobby is as relaxing as it is cracked up to be.
I'm in 7b; my plan is to start Supers in January, regular chinense in February. and annuums whenever i get around to them. Not sure when i'll start the baccatums.
I'll let you know how it turns out, lol
I'm in 7b; my plan is to start Supers in January, regular chinense in February. and annuums whenever i get around to them. Not sure when i'll start the baccatums.
I'll let you know how it turns out, lol
CaneDog
eXtreme
Great to be looking forward to the next season already, but definitely many variables to consider as to when to start. I think the easiest way to approach this is to share how many plants (and perhaps what varieties) you plant to start indoors, how much footprint space you have to grow in, and what your lighting type and size is, e.g., one 48" 4 bulb t5 setup and one 24" 4 bulb t5.
With this info someone can pretty easily give you meaningful feedback on how many weeks before your plant-out date you can get started and also what to expect about things like soil needs and pot sizes. As already noted, the lighting is definitely a limiting factor as you need both footprint coverage and increasingly more penetrative/stronger lighting as the plants get older and taller.
And of course you'll want plans for hardening off your plants over a weeks +/- time when you're transitioning them from indoors to outdoors or they're liable to suffer some real shock from the transition. Sometimes it's tough to be available to take them out and in during the day if you're going to be gone at work, so it's worth preparing a strategy.
As very general feedback, even with good equipment a Jan 1 start day - 5 months indoors - would require some skills/experience to keep everything doing well and successfully transition to outdoors. I'd probably recommend not starting before March 1 and then only with the right setup. Peppers can make a lot of progress in a well-managed 3 months.
With this info someone can pretty easily give you meaningful feedback on how many weeks before your plant-out date you can get started and also what to expect about things like soil needs and pot sizes. As already noted, the lighting is definitely a limiting factor as you need both footprint coverage and increasingly more penetrative/stronger lighting as the plants get older and taller.
And of course you'll want plans for hardening off your plants over a weeks +/- time when you're transitioning them from indoors to outdoors or they're liable to suffer some real shock from the transition. Sometimes it's tough to be available to take them out and in during the day if you're going to be gone at work, so it's worth preparing a strategy.
As very general feedback, even with good equipment a Jan 1 start day - 5 months indoors - would require some skills/experience to keep everything doing well and successfully transition to outdoors. I'd probably recommend not starting before March 1 and then only with the right setup. Peppers can make a lot of progress in a well-managed 3 months.
Just my opinion but I feel like a lot of people start there plants way to early. I'm in zone 5b and start March 21- April 1. Had plants up to 9ft this year and way more peppers then I could ever use.
Thanks to everyone for all the help. I guess I should wait a little longer to start. I'll actually have the plants at my office so it's easy to babysit them. I have a 250 watt HPS light for them and a fan blowing on them. I started in February this year but had trouble with seeds not germinating and had to start over with new seeds. After that the plants did pretty well. I topped them and deep transplanted them (thanks to all the info in here!) and wound up with decent plants.
9 ft! What are you growing and where?!FreeportBum said:
I'm in zone negative-14b, I started my plants on Neverember 42nd, and they average 22feet tall by first frost! =P
November 42nd is a bit late don't you think. I usually start at October 69th
When do you plant your seeds in Oklahoma? Im in Kansas and I do mid Januaryjuanitos said:memorial day
- 14 days for germination
- 60 days for growth
x how ever many times you will make rookie mistakes
really it is safe whenever. you will just be taking care of them longer. you might have to top them if you start running out of space.
Thanks. Are you going to have any of those mos seeds available again? I think you had 3 varieties that you ordered or something.juanitos said:
November, what!!?? I germinate in NEVERember, buddy.... b/c i don't typically plant out until the second week of Eventuary.SpeakPolish said:
Thanks you guys!
One of my crosses, they were all in the 7ft-9ft range. I'm in Maine and have had frost in June before, and usually frost the first week of October. What works for me may not work for others but I have my grow and planting area dialed in. CheersIsaaccarlson said: