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seeds Worried about germination temps

Chocolate Hab

Chocolate Hab

So last night I started seeds for Trinidad Douglah, Trinidad Scorpion, Bhut Jolokia and Fatalii in peat pucks. Once sown I put the pucks in sandwich baggies 80% closed. I put all of them on a heat mat on the kitchen counter. This morning I stuck a meat thermometer in one of them and it read between 85-88*F. I am worried that those temps are too high for germination.
 
Get them to around 80-85 and you'll do fine.

I dont ever wanna use peat pucks to germinate ever again.

I can't throw them out coz i feel like i would feel it'd be a waste coz they're so expensive here.
 
I always use a custom soil mix from a few brands of seed starting mixes that mix up and mess with in plastic cups or seed trays. And i almost always get 100% germination.
 
Chocolate Hab said:
So last night I started seeds for Trinidad Douglah, Trinidad Scorpion, Bhut Jolokia and Fatalii in peat pucks. Once sown I put the pucks in sandwich baggies 80% closed. I put all of them on a heat mat on the kitchen counter. This morning I stuck a meat thermometer in one of them and it read between 85-88*F. I am worried that those temps are too high for germination.
Click to expand...

85-88F isn't too hot but 88 is getting close to the upper end of the range. I try to get the temp around 82-86F.

The meat thermometer my be reading a little on the low side though, since it wasn't designed for that purpose.
 
At 85 they should germinate well. 88 is not going to kill them, just slow them down a little. I have a chart from a book showing pepper germination time x temperature, and I could probably find and post the data if it'd be of interest. The upshot of the chart was that optimal germination occurs at 80-85, and then like any other bell curve, it drops off as the temp goes lower or higher from there.

I have a simple thermostat and I keep seeds at 83 degrees until I see green.
 
After I posted the original question I opened th bags all the way and kept them opened. Before I went to work I put the meat thermometer back into one of the peat pods and it read 80*F. So obviously I am gonna have to leave it open if this set up is to remain inside of the house. I can't wait til they sprout. I know I am late but I like to think I am really really early. I know with my not so long growing season I will not get any pods this season. My plan is to over winter these then have an early start next season.
 
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