This year I started my pepper seeds in newly purchased peet pots and heat mat. To no avail. Some of them sprouted but soon withered. So I took a very damp paper towel, layed my pepper seeds on the towel, folded the towel over the seeds and then stuck towel and all in labeled ( seed variety, date) ziplock bag. And placed the ziplocks on top of the refridgerator. I checked them every day. It took 15 days for them to germinate. As soon as they formed little roots, I took my milk jugs, cut in half, and put my own soil mix in the jug. I poked many holes in the bottom of the jug, and carefully planted those little peppers. I taped up the cut part of the jug. They are all doing quite well at this point. So, I have a heat mat for sale if any one is interested
I hope you keep trying because it is so wonderful to have fresh peppers at your fingertips
