Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Is it to late to sow Sweet Pepper seeds?

sea17sea17 Posts: 10
in Fruit & veg

Hi all, I am new to this forum. This is my first post. Hope yall can help me out.

I just bought a packet of Sweet Pepper 'Corno di Toro Rosso'. I intend to grow them in Greenhouse. I live on the west coast of Ireland.

All guides online and from reading through books I own all state say mid march to April is the time to sow for planting out in mid/late may. 

My question is it to late now to sow and expect a harvest from any plants that I may propagate?

Thanks

Sean

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    I'd go for it Sean.  If you can start them off somewhere warm like an indoor windowsill and keep them there for a few weeks, they will soon catch up.  If we have another mild winter, they can keep going for much longer than you expect - my sweet peppers were still ripening on the plants in January.  If you are lucky with the weather it's also possible to overwinter by stopping watering and cutting them back leaving just the main stem.  Here are mine which I cut down in Feb and are just sprouting new shoots:

    image

    image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • sea17sea17 Posts: 10

    Thank you Bob, I will proceed with confidence then :) 

    That winter was so mild, my calendulas from last year are flowering outside since mid march, its a really nice sight.

    I hope they produce a a nice harvest for you this year. You may be able to take cuttings some cutting also.

    What size of a pot did you grow them in and what variety are they ?

    Last edited: 17 April 2017 13:21:27

  • OnopordumOnopordum Posts: 390

    You'll want to put the seeds somewhere warm to germinate after sowing, like an airing cupboard / hot press. Optimum germination temperature is about 25 C.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    The final size pots are 20x20cm square, 30cm deep but I pot them on several times as this seems to really help with bringing them on.  I grow lots of types including 'Marconi' (which is similar to your 'Corno di Toro Rosso' I believe), plus 'rainbow mixed' (good croppers in the UK) 'Lipstick' and 'Kaibi'.

    I have a heated bench for germinating, but those little electric propagators are perfect for peppers and chillies. 

    Last edited: 17 April 2017 14:08:08

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • sea17sea17 Posts: 10
    BobTheGardener says:

    The final size pots are 20x20cm square, 30cm deep but I pot them on several times as this seems to really help with bringing them on.  I grow lots of types including 'Marconi' (which is similar to your 'Corno di Toro Rosso' I believe), plus 'rainbow mixed' (good croppers in the UK) 'Lipstick' and 'Kaibi'.

    I have a heated bench for germinating, but those little electric propagators are perfect for peppers and chillies. 

    Last edited: 17 April 2017 14:08:08

    See original post
    Thank you bob. I intended order Marconi seed but they were not in stock on the website I was buying my seeds off so chose what was available. 
    I have access to a heated bench at the college I'm attending. I had success propagating Chilli seed south facing window sill at my house so may try that also.

     

  • sea17sea17 Posts: 10

    My Chilli and Sweet Pepper seedlings are coming along great. Thank you again for the advice lads.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    You're welcome sea17.  Let's hope for a good summer and some tasty crops!

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Sign In or Register to comment.