billh
Pro Member
Posts: 231
Zone:: 6a
Joined: December 2011
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Post by billh on Dec 30, 2013 13:42:02 GMT -5
I'm wanting to grow some big jim peppers this year. Does anyone know where I can buy some plants in the Springfield mo. area? I can find seeds but have never had luck starting them.
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Post by timothyt on Dec 31, 2013 8:08:00 GMT -5
Sorry, can't help you on locating plants in your area, but I've got a question for you. Is it all peppers you have problems with or just Big Jim? I've got fresh 2013 Big Jim seeds with good germination if that would help.
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billh
Pro Member
Posts: 231
Zone:: 6a
Joined: December 2011
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Post by billh on Dec 31, 2013 9:14:42 GMT -5
I have never been able to start anything from seed. I've tried peppers, tomatoes, melons,just everything and they germinate and then just become long spindly and leafless. When I put them in the garden it takes forever before they start growing or producing, it's like they're stunted. Last year I bought one of those portable greenhouses and set it in the sunroom and kept the temp right around the mid 70's same thing. I think my thumb is a lighter shade of green
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Post by paulf on Dec 31, 2013 12:10:49 GMT -5
Are you using a light system or relying on sunlight only? All of the plants you mentioned need to have light for 14-16 hour per day. Sunlight only will cause the plants to "reach" for the sun. That is the legginess problem. Do you transplant when you get to the two true leaf stage? That will help with the leafless problem. Do a little research on how to grow plants from seeds. There are many really good sites you can get pointers on the process. I could give you my method, but it would be many pages long. Not being snotty, Bill, but others say it better than I do.
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Post by stratcat on Dec 31, 2013 12:49:24 GMT -5
Hi, Billh. What Paulf said. Also, as to temperature, I like to keep my starts on the cool side (mid-60s) so they don't have the urge to grow taller. Here is a link pertaining to tomato growing that is very helpful- Starting Tomatoes from Seed
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Jan 1, 2014 20:19:33 GMT -5
Ditto on the lights. In the past I tried growing seedlings just using light from a south-facing window, and they were leggy as all get out. But since I got a T5 plant light and run it ~14 hours a day, they are fine. Mine are not quite as stocky as a professionally grown plant, but good enough, and they grow gangbusters when it is time to set them out. I grow my tomatoes/peppers/etc. at temps in the 70s, just because that's how it works out...room temp + heat from plant lights + heat from the window they are near. They might be stockier if I had a place in the 60s to grow them, but the only place that stays that cool is the garage; my DH says the garage is HIS. So they get grown in the house. Do you transplant your seedlings as they grow? If the roots get too crowded, the plants will get stunted. Peppers in particular have a hard time recovering from that sort of stunting.
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