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Growing chilli's
blue rose
Posts: 34
My husband has bought some chilli plant seeds. He wants to start them off indoors in large pots (18cm diameter). I think they should be started off in smaller pots and then potted on. Which is the best way to grow them?
Thanks
0
Posts
Definitely start in small (eg 7cm) pots or modules (those windowsill propagators they sell in Wilko's are great for this.). Transplant in stages to slightly bigger pots when you see the roots reaching the sides, but not until they are at least 5cm tall. They will grow much better this way and watering is easier to control. Seeds planted in large pots often rot because the compost is too damp and there is no way to dry it out once seeds are planted.
Many thanks for the quick reply, I've got a decent propagator that can fit 3 seed trays. I've grown flowers from seed but I'm sticking to Cosmos, sweet peas and sweet rocket this year. The back room is west facing but doesn't get enough light.
I always start in seed trays (except for the sweet peas) and pot on. I've never understood the theory as to why I should do this! So when my husband insisted the chilli seeds are started in a large pot I couldn't say why I thought this was a bad idea. Aside from the fact that it's a waste of compost and a small plant in a big pot will look odd
Blue Rose, I tend to put chili seeds in the closed propagator over the radiator until they have germinated properly. They can be a tat bit slow with germinating.
My propagator sits next to a west facing window and I have no proplem with germination. I do, though, bring them on next to a south facing window. Use 3 inch pots at first and keep them moist, not wet. I use a spray. I then pot on into large yogurt pots which are fine untill planting time. I also use yogurt pots for toms, melon, cues, runner beans and sweet peas.
Maybe not for the purist, but if you only want two or three plants let the Garden centres do the work! I used to grow them from seed but it takes forever for them to germinate and get established. I just buy a couple of established plants from the nursery just after Easter, stick them in my cold greenhouse and job jobbed.
(might be worth growing from seed if you've a heated greenhouse?)
Just read that chilli's can take 5 weeks to germinate, I'm planning on putting my cosmos in the propagator in a few weeks. Might be easier to buy them...
Heated greenhouse, I wish
Fresh seeds from ripe pods should take about 7 days. This assumes 20-25C warmth and humidity. Bad seeds can take longer. Don't put them out until temperatures stay above 10C, they hate cold. If you buy plants, you can try several varieties.
It's not just germination, my experience has been that the seedlings are painfully slow to 'grow on' unless it's warm enough and there's enough light.
Without enough light they get leggy. I'm trying a single 18W CFL light to help growth and it appears to be working.
There is so many chilli fans out there growing their own now