Second attempt at seeds

Carol wrote: ...

peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures are consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells or frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if they drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's not a good thing for them.

it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot they will be ok to start and get established. after they are established they will probably not need to be worried about as much.

songbird

Hi, Carol~~~~~

I usually drag my plant lights out at the end of January/ beginning of February, but only start the cool weather seeds at that time. Lettuce, onions, etc.

I wait until around the end of February to start the warm weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. Six to eight weeks before time to transplant them outside.

Two reasons: 1) limited space even when I use two plant lights and 2) I don't want the plants getting too leggy when using the lights.

Figure that getting the plants up to ~four inches or so before setting them outside, although towards that time I will set the flat of plants out on the deck for a few hours of real sunshine when weather permits to help them get used to being in the real world. ;)

As Songbird noted, the temperature must be at least

Another thing to keep in mind, especially down at VB is the wind. Strong winds can wipe out plants just as well as a cold snap. When in doubt, protect the newbies on windy days with some sort of barrier such as a piece of cardboard or other blocker to keep the plants upright and happy.

More snow coming later today and tomorrow morning. Since we're only 90 miles apart, you'll be getting some of that too, I bet.

Nyssa, who still has some snow on the ground from last weekend's snow dump

Thanks Songbird! I must have put them out too soon last year. This time, 1 seed per container. I've got some bigger containers gathered now as last time, they were getting pot bound before could transplant.

Hey there!

The sunroom ceiling is all phlorescents (sp?). Not strong ones but they work. The room is only heated with a space heater (cooled with a portable A/C). Too expensive to heat in winter so gets closed off then. That's why the heater mats. It stays above freezing but plan to start the warm weater folks 1 March or so, or heat the room a bit to at least 50F (with heat mats as well).

I do have an interior room with a unique once 'entertainment' stand for the old big tube TVs that became a fishtank holder, now empty. I want to checkout the [lant light and if it works well, I'll get 4 more for it. One for the TV base and one for on top shelf. That room was a garage but we enclosed it with french doors to a family room. It's on the central A/C and heat.

Sounds good!

That's where it's awkward here. Late cold snap in May got me last time. Dropped to 34F at night with windchill below it. Poof, lost half of it.

I have them in fairly protected spots.

Yup. 2-4 inches. Some spots more but melt off will be fast, might be gone by Sunday?

Missed me with that one!

I plant 3-5 seeds per hole then thin to the 2 strongest . I read somewhere that peppers like to be planted close together . Seems to be working , I'm still using Serrano's from 2019 .

Get some 1/2 inch pvc pipe and make a frame (or more) that you can drape clear plastic over to help hold that heat from the mats . You'll need to ventilate them periodically to keep excessive humidity down .

Ok, I'll try 2. I got some better pots, silicone bottom so you can get them out better.

Thanks!

Have you tried using TP tubes ? Cut them in half , stand in a suitable container and fill with potting soil . Come time to transplant

- whether to a larger container or to soil - just bury the tube , it'll decompose .

Snag, well meant but this is not suitable for the indoor setting.

Put the TP tubes in the cells of your starter trays .

Don't fit.