Sow your peppers & chillis now

Zazen999

PeteW wrote: »

Anyone got any recommendations of good ones to buy? Last few years I've ended up with plants that do lots of really little, really hot chillis. This year I'd like some that do bigger, not so hot chillis. Any suggestions?

And where do you guys buy your seeds from?

You need to have a look on here

http://www.chilliworld.com/FactFile/Scoville_Scale.asp

RHYSDAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO3rXVZWg60

I could never forget this.....

System

Its so tempting but after several years of keeping records I'm in the holding off category for tomatoes - found there was no difference to the date of the first fruit when I have sown 1st of March rather than the middle or beginning of February.
I have plenty of warmth to start them in, the problem is the light levels, if you grow them inside in warmth the growth is too leggy and the end plant too tall.

I garden in York - for those who are making comparisons.

Chillies I have found to be slower growers they can deal with indoor temperatures provided you give them the best light.

foreign_correspondent

Does anyone soak their chilli seeds in anything before planting? I have seen a chilli germination powder online, and also noticed that a lot of sites recommend soaking in a 1% saltpetre/saltpeter solution (potassium nitrate) - which I suspect may be what the germination powder is.... I have also seen someone suggesting soaking seeds in a weak bleach solution - wondered if anyone had tried these, and if they felt it made any noticable difference to germination rates?

This site reckons soaking in water or tea is as effective though:
http://www.thechileman.org/guide_starting.php

foreign_correspondent

PeteW wrote: »

Anyone got any recommendations of good ones to buy? Last few years I've ended up with plants that do lots of really little, really hot chillis. This year I'd like some that do bigger, not so hot chillis. Any suggestions?

And where do you guys buy your seeds from?

Jalapeno or Fresno would be good - I bought both varieties from Wilko last year I think, and they did well. Fresno is a bit hotter than Jalapeno.

Furny

Thanks DOWN THE GARDEN, I'm a gardening neewbie & just live down the road from you in Snowy Yorkshire (this morning) so it's interesting to hear you hold off utill March, gives me a bit more time to get sorted.

foreign_correspondent

Hi Down the garden and Furny - I never sow tomatoes too early - my dad has been a market gardener all his life, and grown toms commercially for over 40 years, and he says it does them no good, so I take his word on it - he is in north derbyshire quite close to yorkshire - hope that helps!

A._Badger

I'm 'dahn Sarf' and I don't sow tomatoes until March, either - even though I have a frost-free greenhouse. Given that the seeds tend to germinate in around seven days they then need a warmer environment than I am willing to provide, given the exorbitant cost of electricity these days. I, too, find early March works just fine.

Primrose

PeteW - I grow Hungarian (Hot) Wax Chillis. Don't know why they call them Hot because they're quite mild and sometimes are called just Hungarian Wax. They're quite a chunky wide chilli, normally grow about 3" long and are really decorative as they turn from green to yellow to orange and finally to red when they ripen. Can't remember where I got mine from but if you Google 'suppliers of Hungarian Wax chillis" I'm sure you'll find lots of suppliers.

mrbadexample

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/hotpeppers.html

I should add that there's an £8 minimum spend, but they do lots of other seed too.