I don't grow chillies every year and when I do, I also make chilli jam/jelly. This year's a chilli year, sowed two weeks ago and they started to pop through yesterday. I've sown I think 8 each of de Cayenne and jalapeño. I'll give away any plants that I don't have space for.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
For over 20 years I've had a 'hotbox' propagator that I built using a soil warming cable and thermostat from a company call Jemp at the time. I believe they areno longer trading. Anyway the propagator will hold 4 standard size trays along with plastic lids. I then double decker them to get 8 trays in and cover the whole thing g with fleece. It works a treat. I've just finished building another slightly bigger with a 6 metre soil warming cable and digital thermostat from Elixir purchased via Amazon. Hopefully this one will give as much service as my other one. Brilliant for bringing on all those seeds. A word of caution regarding electric propagators. 23 years ago the couple I bought my house from were leaving an old greenhouse and propagator and many other items, Anyway I used this propagator for a number of years before storing it u der shelving in the greenhouse. 5 years ago I decided to put it back into use. Well, due to the sunshine and UV light, the plastic had been affected and 5 years ago this weekend I was awoken with the noise of breaking glass, looking out of the window my greenhouse was a blaze (no problems heating it that night). The glass was broken, the aluminium twisted with the heat. Very little was salvaged from that so I would advise either removing propagators etc into a shed our garage when not in use.
Well they have all germinated, all but one, but there is still time I guess. I have lowered the temp to 22 degs, though I have to take the lid off the Vitopod most days as the temp soon shoots up in the greenhouse.
There is a discrepancy between the Vitopods thermometer and the one I have put inside..
What stage are your chilies at now? When they start to develop a 2nd pair of leaves you can transplant them into little pots using a free draining compost. They need as much light as possible and temps ideally no lower than 18/20 C. I'll be potting mine up in a few days.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
JI no. 2 is good but it's quite a heavy mix and it would make your little seedlings struggle a bit at this stage. It's also very easy to overwater which would not be good for little chilies.
I'd suggest a bag of multipurpose compost and mix it about 50/50 with your JI no.2. You can use the same mix when you pot them on too. Don't feed them until the flowers begin to open.
Depending on the variety some can get quite big. Mine end up in anything from 1L pot to 5L pot
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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I have lowered the temp to 22 degs, though I have to take the lid off the Vitopod most days as the temp soon shoots up in the greenhouse.
There is a discrepancy between the Vitopods thermometer and the one I have put inside..
I put 25Kg sand in my Vitapod and bury the probe about 1/2" under the surface.
This help keep the temperature very stable and provides some humidity.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
When they start to develop a 2nd pair of leaves you can transplant them into little pots using a free draining compost.
They need as much light as possible and temps ideally no lower than 18/20 C.
I'll be potting mine up in a few days.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I'd suggest a bag of multipurpose compost and mix it about 50/50 with your JI no.2.
You can use the same mix when you pot them on too.
Don't feed them until the flowers begin to open.
Depending on the variety some can get quite big.
Mine end up in anything from 1L pot to 5L pot
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.