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Post by paulf on Feb 15, 2015 10:22:28 GMT -5
After many years of starting peppers and tomatoes at the same time I have finally figured out peppers need three or four weeks more time at extra heat to be big enough to put into the garden the same time as tomatoes. I like to do most of the planting chores at the same or nearly the same time. This year all my pepper seeds hit the dirt on Valentine's Day. Under the tray holding the peppers is the new waterbed heater I am using to get some extra heat. That heater puts out the heat; good thing it has a thermostat or it may cook everything. I am using a soil thermometer just to be sure.
Peppers are in and I am itching to work on the tomatoes.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Feb 15, 2015 14:45:13 GMT -5
Paul,
I never put my peppers in the garden at the same time as my tomatoes, as they much prefer warmer soil. Planting in cool soil can stunt them - I found this out one year when, even though it was 90º on 5-20, about the time I usually plant them, the soil was so cold that my friend and I had a bucket of warm water to keep putting our hands in to warm them up, they were getting so cold after just a few plantings! The plants definitely lagged behind compared to their usual growth, though it didn't bother the tomatoes. I also tried planting peppers in Wall O' Waters, and got so little growth with the early ones, it wasn't worth planting them early that way, while tomatoes were out the tops of the things! Eggplants are in between, so I plant them around 5-10, tomatoes around 5-1, and planting them all on 4-1 makes them ready about the same time!
I planted some pepper seeds on 2-7, but those are for very early plants, and will be in 6" pots by the time they go out, and may be about 8-10" tall. Is this what you're shooting for?
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Post by paulf on Feb 15, 2015 15:30:19 GMT -5
I also wait a week or so after planting tomatoes to put the peppers in. In the past they were all in the 6" range so last year I started early to get an 8-10" plant. I do use a soil thermometer to gauge when to put the tomatoes and peppers in the garden. With last average frost here in late April I wait until May 10 to plant tomatoes depending on soil and weather. Peppers go in later unless soil temps are warm enough. I prefer 68-75 degrees soil temperature for tomatoes and at least 75 degrees F for peppers. Slow growth will occur until about 80 but I get too anxious to wait.
The reason I start seeds so early is that there are several nurseries in my area sell my OP/heirloom tomatoes and peppers and they want them for those who have a need to begin way too early. They all want the 10" plants because many people equate big plants with better plants. The customers want 10 inchers by mid-April and I want them by the first week of May.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Feb 15, 2015 17:48:26 GMT -5
That makes sense now! Others always want things too early, and, like you say, most have that idea that bigger is always better. I also use a thermometer for my peppers (ever since that incident I mentioned above!), but don't bother with tomatoes - they don't even mind when I stick those few out in the WOWs, in fairly cold soil!
Good luck with all of them this year!
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Post by paquebot on Feb 15, 2015 21:30:04 GMT -5
I've had my pepper seeds in their trays for a week. They've been waiting for Washington's birthday before I add water and place them on heating mats. They are the only things which I start inside. Everything else starts in cold frames. As soon as the plants are big enough, and weather is warm enough, the peppers also go to a cold frame. Natural light and temperatures then result in sturdy plants to set out.
Martin
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swamper
Pro Member
Posts: 208
Joined: March 2011
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Post by swamper on Feb 16, 2015 9:58:02 GMT -5
SWEET Yummy f# Chablis f# Bulls Heart Red Belgian* Etuida* Eros* Cupid* f1 Lunchbox Red* f1 chocobelle f1 Sunset Red f2 North Star f1 Redstart f1
HOT Arledge (several lines) CvetaX (2 lines) Mariachi f# Havasu f1 Capperino* f1 Tam Jalapeno Dancing spiritsX f# Bonda annuumX f# Hot Purple Strawberry* Demon f# peppinoX
CHINENSE Bonda brazilX f# 7 pot white 7 pot primo Hot paper lanternX f# Maya* Pi 281429
BACCATUM Aji Omnicolor
FRUTESCENS Diente de Perro
CHACOENS or EXILE Cobindo*
*new for me X is a growout of an insect cross
I used low tunnels with agrofabric in 2014 to give the plants an excellent start (removed around July 1). Yield was poor overall. I assume that was due to cool nights. I had some cutworm damage on some seedlings especially in the superhot area. Despite a long list there are fewer varieties with more plants of a few listed first in each category. I have several dehybridization goals and a few sweet pepper trials this year, focused on early bells, orange fruit, and wax/santa fe flesh.
I hope to pick up some mariachi f1 plants locally as I never got around to acquiring seeds.
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materman
Pro Member
Posts: 216
Zone:: 6b
Joined: April 2013
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Post by materman on Feb 16, 2015 21:43:53 GMT -5
After many years of starting peppers and tomatoes at the same time I have finally figured out peppers need three or four weeks more time at extra heat to be big enough to put into the garden the same time as tomatoes. I like to do most of the planting chores at the same or nearly the same time. This year all my pepper seeds hit the dirt on Valentine's Day. Under the tray holding the peppers is the new waterbed heater I am using to get some extra heat. That heater puts out the heat; good thing it has a thermostat or it may cook everything. I am using a soil thermometer just to be sure. Peppers are in and I am itching to work on the tomatoes. Yes Paulf, I finally got all the peppers in, but it will be the middle of march before most tomatoes see dirt. Did plant a few maters for hanging baskets today. Good to see your refining your system, just means we old dogs can still learn new tricks!
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materman
Pro Member
Posts: 216
Zone:: 6b
Joined: April 2013
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Post by materman on Feb 16, 2015 21:49:01 GMT -5
I have no list as of yet of what has went in so far, but will say I bedded down well over 2000 pepper seeds and somewhere around 100 varieties. And yes I am nuts for I have never grew that many pepper varieties before combined in my life. But you know, planting is the easy part, finding a place for them and taking care of them is the hard part. Here they are snug in the germination chamber.
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materman
Pro Member
Posts: 216
Zone:: 6b
Joined: April 2013
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Post by materman on Feb 20, 2015 16:19:53 GMT -5
Here is a list of all I got planted this year. Like I said before, a bunch, way too many. Adjocoma Yellow Afrodite Aji Dulce Aji Omni Aji Panca Alma Edes Anaheim Aucaja Amarilla Bajai Feher Bhut Jolokia Black Pequine Boldog Brain Strain Capsicum Sangria Caramagnola Carliston Carolina Reaper smooth F2 Carolina Reaper wrinkled F2 Chinese Giant Corno Giallo Csardas Czechoslovakian Black Donkey Ears Doux Tres Red Savania Habanero Dunkelviolette Ecuadorian Purple Elf Zielonki Feher French red bell Früher Dickfleischiger Gambia Habanero Gelbe Kirschen Ghost Pepper Giallo D’asti Gold-Topos Paprika Gourmet Orange Grueso de Plaza Jalapeño M Jalapeno unknown Kalacsai Kapia King of the North Kondom Paprika Large Red Thick Cayenne Lemon Drop Leutschauer Paprika Little Devil Lombardo Malaysian Unknown Maor Pimento Mohak Napoleon Sweet Ne Mex Sunset Neusiedler Ideal Nosegay Oda-Ode 30 Orange Sun Pablano Pasilla Bajio Peperoni type Remiro Peter Pepper Red Peter Pepper Yellow Piminto da Neyde Piquilla Pimiento Pri Pri Purple Belle Purple Naga Quadrato D’asti Rosso Ramiro Orange Razzamatazz Red Habanero Red Marconi Riesenruzel Rocoto (not brown) Rocoto Canano Rocoto de Seda Rocoto Riezen Romeo Round of Hungary Saint Lucia Santa Lucia sibirischer haus paprika Sweet Banana Sweet Chocolate Sweet Jemison Szintetikus Cecei Tequila Sunrise Tomatenformiger Gruner Topepo Turkischer Peperoni Turkish Green Paprika Ungarischer Kirsch Paprika Vincent’s Habanero White Habanero Zholtyislon (Yellow Elephant) Zio Gepe
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