Urgent help! Peppers looking brown.....

Plasticman

I planted some sweet pepper seeds in a heated propagator and - surprisingly - after a week or so they have all popped up!

I've opened the vent in the top of the propagator and kept them watered. Today I've noticed that a couple of them have brown looking leaves. Am I doing something wrong, and should I be panicking that my seedlings are dying off??

Any help appreciated.

misskool

are they still heated? do you still have the top on?

I normally take them out of the propagator into the air as soon as the seed leaves have appeared.

Plasticman

Thanks. Still got them heated - think that maybe I should have removed the top a bit sooner!

peter_the_piper

I think you should think about sowing a new batch of seeds, a brown cotyledon is usually a sign of a seedling in the last stages. There's still plenty of time to get them going. A word of warning, if sowing the real hot chillies please wash your hands after handling them as they could well cause your eyes to water if you rub your eyes or (how do I say this delicately) go to the loo(if you're a chap)

Zazen999

As soon as they germinate, get them out of the heated prop.

ALIBOBSY

I would plant some more just in case, but I would give the first lot a chance and grow them on outside the propagator. Extra plants can always be given away or ypu can keep them and up your harvest. Peppers freeze well chopped up ready to pop a handfull in sauces etc as you go.

Both heated and unheated propagators have the same rule, once the majority of the seeds are up get them growing on, the extra heat/humidity is purelt to encourage germination.

Btw my first year growing I ended up with lots of leggy seedlings as I left the lids on the propagators until the seedlings reached the top lol. My third year now and we all learn as we go. Good luck
ali x

Primrose

Heated propagators can't be a real disaster for seedlings. They really do need to be removed from the heat as soon as they start showing through otherwise they grow lean, fast and lanky and are totally useless. I eventually disposed of my heated propagator for this reason. I lost too many seedlings and decided I got a slightly slower but better result by normal sowing methods.

ALIBOBSY

I agree with primrose, I looked at heated propagators, but decided it was too much cost for the use I would have. We have a few south/west facing windows so use plastic propagtors (not much from pound shops/aldi/lidl), plus saved pots/trays/toilet rolls covered with cling film till seeds poke up. Works fine for us. Then I move to the greenhouse when warmer.

ali x

mrbadexample

Zazen999 wrote: »

As soon as they germinate, get them out of the heated prop.

Err...:think:...:idea: I've just got something to go and do. :whistle:

Plasticman

Thanks for the info everybody.