Peppers from seed?

[iamaxxer]

I always seem to buy my peppers as a started plant. This year I had some nice peppers that I saved seeds from, just wondering if it is worth the effort to start my own plants? and when should I start them here in northern Iowa...

 

[beer-b-q]

I would start them in January if it were me...

 

[alx]

I start my hot peppers in mid-february here in maryland.Longer to germinate/grow slow.
Start my bells and japs march 1st-they grow quick in pots...I plant may1-10

I ran out of cayene seeds and used some from dehydrated peppers.

4 of 6 plants came out true-other 2 are a cross of some sort....

 

[rivet]

Starting peppers and tomatoes from seed is tough, even down here in SW Missouri. We have plans to tackle a variety of peppers for next summer, and figured we'd need a soil-warming-blanket, overhead lights, seed-starting soil and have to begin- at the latest- mid february for transplanting the second week in May.

We're excited to do it, but you gotta have a good, solid plan. In Northern Iowa, you may want to start them at the end of february, for a later transplanting. Not sure you all transplant peppers and tomatoes into the ground in the first week of May...but I may be wrong.

Growing pepper seeds in jiffy pots is iffy, but if you load them with seed eventually one or two come through. Problem is they get too leggy early on to firmly establish themselves on transplant unless you have a way to nurture them well for the 30 days prior to movement.

Two professionals I'd recommend you PM and ask are ALX and FIRE IT UP. Both are avid gardeners who can square you away.

 

[txbbqman]

Sometimes these are the best ones

But No help for iamaxxer, I am sure it is way different here in Texas so I will let others in your area help out.

Good Luck

 

[tasunkawitko]

the farther north you live, the earlier you should start.

if yous tart them in little peat pots, you should later transplant to bigger pots - no big deal.

is it worth it - yes!

 

[meat hunter]

Hey there Iowa, Im in Southern Minnesota. I started several pepper plants along with my tomatoes last year the first week in March. Germinated indoors, then transplanted into half gallon pots and into a heated green house outside. One thing I would throw caution to, is that if you had any other variety of peppers in the garden at the same time. You may have gotten cross pollination and the peppers from the seeds you have now may not turn out the same as the one from where the seeds were harvested. Just a thought. Get ahold of ALX if you need some pro advice on peppers.

 

[richoso1]

If you start them indoors, you'll have a good jump start. I have found it to be a rewarding experience to have homegrown... peppers/chiles.

 

[got14u]

I always start from backwards to forwards when figureing out when to plant seeds. in other words if your growing season ends in the middle of september and your pepper say habenero's take 110 days then count backwards that 110 days. that is the latest you want to plant your peppers. most are around 75 or so days. I think. habs are by far the longest. if you would like full ripe peppers earlier in the summer then plant them earlier according to their needed days to maturity. Just my 2 cents.

 

[iamaxxer]

Thanks for all the input.... I will be giving it a try this spring

 

[alx]

I grow all my veggies from seed.So,as others mentioned,you can p.m. and at least can give you my opinion on different varities.

Please grow some of your own..............Smoke and seeds.....