Seed Germination and Growing Tips

GERMINATION

2. Place your seed tray in a sunny and warm windowsill or under grow lights or full spectrum utility lights. Your seedlings will need AT LEAST 6 hours of sunlight or leave artificial light on them for up to 18 hours a day. Remember that pepper plants originated in tropical, warm climates.

3. Soak your seeds for an hour in room temperature black tea to soften the coat.

4. Plant your seeds no more than 1/4 of an inch deep. Most Super Hots will take 6 to 30 days to germinate. Some longer. I personally give up after 40 days.

5. Turn up the heat. Your house may not be hot enough for the seeds to germinate. Ideal temperature is 75-85 degrees. If this is the case, try using heat mats or start them on top of the refrigerator, or in the warmest spot in your home. Once they sprout you can move them to the sunny location or under lights to finish growing.

GROWING

1. Less is generally more with peppers.

2. Peppers are fairly heavy feeders. I use bone meal mixed in the ground in the hole I'm going to plant in with caution not to let the roots directly touch the bone meal to prevent burning the roots.

3. I check the soil near the base of the plant for moisture. To much water is as bad as not enough. The plants will wilt with soggy roots resembling a plant that needs water.

4. I personally use a water soluble 10-10-10 fertilizer very sparingly. I do use a product called calmag more often. They love calcium and magnesium.

5. Hardening off is a must to prevent the plants from shock.