There are conversations over pepper sowing starting already.
It might be useful for new people if we kept it under a separate forum?

I have come across a note that says we should not use peat based
mediums for pepper seed sowing. What kind of medium are you using? I am going to use a soil less seed starter mix now that I read that.

Good idea. If you are referring to peat pots, there are reams printed about how that is not ideal. I have used soilless mix for most of the time growing from seeds. An experiment a couple of years with the pots resulted in complete failure. Not good for starting and not good for growing and then transplanting into the garden.

For me, regular soilless mix does just fine...most years. I have used whatever was on sale at the end of the year and used it in the spring. This year it was Schultz and it is pretty coarse and doesn't hold moisture very long so special attention must be paid daily so it does not dry out. Starter mix is finer and should work OK.

For me, peppers need a little extra heat underneath and that will dry the soilless mix more often.

I am not using peat pots.
The warning was for peat in the mix----too acid perhaps.

I think most seed starter mix is close to neutral, maybe on the acid side of 7, but not much. Peat is quite acidy. I think next year my peppers get started in starter mix rather than play soilless mix.

I wound up using vermiculite and Pro Mix High Porosity.
There is peat, but they add lime to neutralize the peat.
Most of the seeds were older so it will be a wait and see project.

Ta Dah!
Peppers are starting to peep through the seeding mix after only 6 days!. Almost a record for fast germination! First ones to get leaves were Yummy Orange and Early Jalepeno. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the rest.

I've never had any problems with starting my peppers in the same Miracle Gro potting mix that I use for nearly everything else...

DonShirer said:Ta Dah!
Peppers are starting to peep through the seeding mix after only 6 days!. Almost a record for fast germination! First ones to get leaves were Yummy Orange and Early Jalepeno. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the rest.

6 days is wonderful. I had to wait much longer for mine to come up. But yes, I just use the regular stuff same as I started my tomato seedlings. Seems to have worked just fine as baby peppers are up and growing.

So excited to have all these pepper plants for this coming season. They don't have these Japanese type peppers in 6 packs at local nurseries. At Home Depot they did have Shishito but they come in one plant pots so too pricey to buy many that way. And I will have many now that I have started my own.

A few sprouts at one week here.

CarolineScott said:A few sprouts at one week here.

Excellent!!

I had to wait two weeks for my first peppers seeds to sprout. But now they are growing well.

I soaked the seeds for about 4 hours before sowing them.

It must have worked!!

I sowed a flat of 36 pepper plants so too many to try and soak seeds.

I soaked enough for a 72 cell flat.....actually 11 kinds of peppers.
Mostly sweet peppers. Looks like it will be Sweet Italian peppers this season as they are sprouting the best so far.
I sow more than I need, and then take the strongest plants for growing on. The hot ones tend to take longer to germinate.

CarolineScott said:I soaked enough for a 72 cell flat.....actually 11 kinds of peppers.
Mostly sweet peppers. Looks like it will be Sweet Italian peppers this season as they are sprouting the best so far.
I sow more than I need, and then take the strongest plants for growing on. The hot ones tend to take longer to germinate.

We are growing peppers much the same except...for me hots grow faster than sweets.

I don't have the patience to soak and then sow lots of seeds.

A 72 flat is going to make a heck of a lot of peppers. You should have enough peppers to supply the entire neighborhood!!

If you'll permit a question from a newbie to growing peppers. Do you top them at some point to get them to be more busy? If so, when do you do that?

Trimming anything off peppers is not a good idea. That will only reduce productivity. The top of the plant is where the buds form and so the peppers. They may get bushy but without fruit. If your peppers are getting tall, I would suggest a small tomato cage. Mine begin life with a cage (one of those 2 foot cages you can find at most garden centers). Helps keep the plants from falling over when they get top heavy and makes for easy harvesting.

No need to cut the tops off, and I always give my peppers some support, either the small ring-type cages, or a stake that the plant is tied to; some types can get quite tall, we had an unusually good growing season last year and I had some that were close to 4' high (that doesn't normally happen in my garden).

I was going to ask about cutting tops off.
There is one U tube that advocates for cutting them off?
Sounds like it is NOT a good idea---especially for short season growers. I am going to try taking one or two indoors in the fall.
I will be protecting the fruit from critters with tomato rings and clear plastic bags. Last year, the squirrels damaged the fruit.

I agree with Paul and Sandy. Not a good idea to cut those pepper plants. And they usually do need some support.