seeds Zone 6b grower, been growing plants from seeds since late January, no buds/flowers/fruit yet.

[ProjectileTeeth]

So I've been growing my plants from seed since late January, and they're still quite small, I'd say. I don't know if this is par for the course because maybe I got too late of a start and I ran into a fungus gnat problem (only saw a couple) from overwatering in probably around February. I backed off on watering a lot after that to the point that I probably went a couple weeks without watering, hoping that the gnats would die off before they became a bigger problem. I picked up two plants at Home Depot (a Thai and an Orange Habanero) and they have buds forming, and they're about the same size as my other plants. Should I be worried? Is there anything I should check on? I think maybe my soil might be too compact? IDK. It's been gloomy and rainy a lot here in NE Ohio, moreso than normal. Is there a certain type of nutrient to encourage bud growth? It's early June, and I'm getting antsy. I see other people posting photos of their pepper fruits ready to harvest, and I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to harvest until August or so, and by late October, the window starts closing!

Edit: sideways-ass mobile pics:

 

[juanitos]

Late July is normal. You are doing fine.

 

[Edmick]

Besides the ones you purchased, what type of plants are you growing? In my humble opinion, they look a little small for having been started in January but I guess that depends on the variety.

 

[Bicycle808]

Those plants are definitely small for their age. But, in the pictures, most of them appear to be fairly healthy so I doubt if they're permanently stunted. From the backstory you provided, I suspect that they were delayed significantly back during your fungus gnats scare, probably more from the overwatering than the pests... I bet they'll bounce back now that they're getting natural sunlight, an appropriate watering schedule and some nutes. Are you fertilizing at all?

If it were me, I'd just dump some fish stank on them next time you water then, and again in two weeks. See if they don't put on since bulk and (hopefully) some budz.

Fwiw, I'm in Zone 7 and I started my Supers in late January, my other Chinense and Baccatums in February, and my annuums in mid March. Most all of my plants except my TFM Bonnets and (surprisingly) my Serranos have at least tiny little pods forming. Those dang TFMs are lagging behind all my other Bonnet-types, but they're always late as F plus they got set back a lot bc they got burned up hard when I first planted out, despite having the same hardening-off schedule as my other plants. Those Trenton Bonnets are always laggards, though. They make up for it with heavy production and massive harvests in August and September.

Sorry to write such a long post; I'm bored at work and feeling long-winded....but the summary: stop worrying, water them judiciously, and give them some decent fertilizer. But like Juanito said, don't stress unless you're still without pods in July...

 

[ProjectileTeeth]

Besides the ones you purchased, what type of plants are you growing? In my humble opinion, they look a little small for having been started in January but I guess that depends on the variety.

I have:
2 Chiltepin
3 Giant Ghost
2 Sepia Serpents

And more Orange Scorpions and Carolina Reapers than I care to count.

edit: oh, and 3 Chocolate Habanero

 

[ProjectileTeeth]

Those plants are definitely small for their age. But, in the pictures, most of them appear to be fairly healthy so I doubt if they're permanently stunted. From the backstory you provided, I suspect that they were delayed significantly back during your fungus gnats scare, probably more from the overwatering than the pests... I bet they'll bounce back now that they're getting natural sunlight, an appropriate watering schedule and some nutes. Are you fertilizing at all?

If it were me, I'd just dump some fish stank on them next time you water then, and again in two weeks. See if they don't put on since bulk and (hopefully) some budz.

Fwiw, I'm in Zone 7 and I started my Supers in late January, my other Chinense and Baccatums in February, and my annuums in mid March. Most all of my plants except my TFM Bonnets and (surprisingly) my Serranos have at least tiny little pods forming. Those dang TFMs are lagging behind all my other Bonnet-types, but they're always late as F plus they got set back a lot bc they got burned up hard when I first planted out, despite having the same hardening-off schedule as my other plants. Those Trenton Bonnets are always laggards, though. They make up for it with heavy production and massive harvests in August and September.

Sorry to write such a long post; I'm bored at work and feeling long-winded....but the summary: stop worrying, water them judiciously, and give them some decent fertilizer. But like Juanito said, don't stress unless you're still without pods in July...

I use approximately 1 Tbsp of fish fertilizer in the watering can every time I water them, unless of course they've been rained on. 

What's a TFM?

 

[Bicycle808]

Trenton Farmers Market Scotch Bonnet, might be my favorite chile. Classic Yella Bonnet, I got 24 TFM plants going this year.

 

[ShowMeDaSauce]

Mine have been in a stall pattern until recently. I blame it on the weather. Most look fine but were not growing ^up^ or producing much new growth. Days are getting longer and nights are getting warmer....I bet they wake up soon unless you have another issue.
 
For rainy feeding look into the Alaska Fish and Kelp pellets (Veggie&Tomato).....Some critters kinda like them though, so watch for signs of digging.

 

[Tybo]

Mine have been in a stall pattern until recently. I blame it on the weather. Most look fine but were not growing ^up^ or producing much new growth. Days are getting longer and nights are getting warmer....I bet they wake up soon unless you have another issue.
 
For rainy feeding look into the Alaska Fish and Kelp pellets (Veggie&Tomato).....Some critters kinda like them though, so watch for signs of digging.

 
What is "rainy feeding"?

 

[luvmesump3pp3rz]

 
What is "rainy feeding"?

rainy feeding is adding dry fertilizer pellets as a top dressing and letting the rain dissolve and feed the fertilizer to your plants.
 
edit to add: you don`t want to water the plants when you are getting rain, the pellets let you get nutrients to the plant without additional water.