I have a stupid question.
What I have done in the past was to buy some... (let's say peppers), and then take the seeds out and dry them for a couple of days on a paper towel before planting.
Do they have to be dried before planting or can I just use them right out of the pepper?
I guess drying them allows me to save what I don't use for a later time.
But does it make a difference using the dried vs the fresh seeds?
Thank you in advance.
the Fishman

Drying pepper seeds before planting them is optional. They can be stored 2–5 years and should be kept dry when stored, but they don't need to be dry to sprout right away.

most plants are geared to scatter their seeds so they will sprout with the coming season...when conditions become optimal for that plant. So IF they don't sprout immediately, practice patience and watch awhile longer. Especially peppers surprise us because they sprout when they are good and ready - and we are impatient and end up with double seeds sprouting that we thought had died, chuckl.

Thanx for the replies.
Does NE1 use hydrogen peroxide (3%) to help with the speed of germination?
If so, does it work, and what ratio do you use?
Thanx again
The Fishman
'

I just want to add that using seeds from grocery store produce may not produce the vegetables that you are hoping for. Many grocery store vegetables are hybrid that do not breed true (they don't produce the same vegetable that you purchased). They may produce a vegetable that is the same or better, but more likely will produce one that is less desirable. To get exactly the vegetables that you want it is best to buy seeds from a reputable supplier or get them from an experienced gardener/farmer.

Peppers are also suspect as seeds because, say, you want to grow a green bell pepper. They aren't ripe. The fruit isn't ripe, and the seeds aren't matured enough to sprout. Fruits rot to provide a resource to feed their mature seeds.

My experience is actually quite a bit different.
To me? seems like the fresher the seed, the better.
For example... Have you ever opened a fruit and seen seeds already germinated? Sweet corn tossed out on the compost growing on the cobb?

Drying pepper seed seems to require heroic measures to get germination.

When I plant bell pepper seed from the grocery, maybe there is differences... But if so, they are so miniscule that I can't tell the difference.

There is some difference that I've noticed with some hot peppers... But, I'm not all that worried about it.

I've seen differences with musk melon, but all the fruit was perfectly fine to eat...

Personally, I'm of the camp of try it both ways and then do which ever is easiest.