I'm starting my peppers out early this year

[ohiorganic]

I start my peppers in early April for transplanting in early June (when the threat of frost is over and the soil is at least 75F). Eggplant gets planted the week before the peppers and tomatoes are started 10 days after the peppers (they will all be transplanted at the same time as they all go in the same area of the garden).

Like Roger we do this commercially, unlike Roger not on as big a scale (we do not sell seedlings and starts, though that may change if we erected the greenhouse loaned to us by a friend who has no need for it for the next 2 years). We will start around 2000 maters, peppers and eggplant and use around 1200 of those plants in the garden. We usually sell a few of the extras but most end up composted.

We will start a few tomatoes in Feb for the hoop house.

The reason we do not start peppers and eggplant early is because they cannot stand any cold and if planted too early into too cold a soil (under 70F) they will get shocky and pout for the remainder of the season and not give a good harvest. I have found planting a bit late gives me far better harvests than trying to plant to early. It also helps to plant them on black plastic and put up row cover on hoops for really happy peppers.

[sandbar]

I built shelving in my attached garage last year, put foam core insulation around it and put two 4' flourescent shop lights on each shelf.

While germinating, I kept the lights on 24x7. They created all the heat I needed ... actually TOO MUCH heat.

Top couple of shelves hovered around 85F, so I had to start venting the top. Third shelf down had temp of about 75F. "Shelf" on floor was much cooler and I had heat mats down there. Will put my onions down there to sprout this year and forget the mats.

Here's a couple of pics of the shelving. It's a rather unique design that can be broken down into individual, free-standing shelves for use at the Farmer's Market. Here, they are simply stacked and held in place with wooden pegs to keep them from sliding apart.

First pic shows unit closed up and lamps lit.

Second pic shows front "doors" removed for access to each shelf. Each shelf held four standard trays.

System worked wonderfully. Corners are open to provide some ventilation. Had no problems with damping off ... only problem was too much heat.

[sandbar]

Couple of other thoughts ...

• ClarkBar, when germinating seed, remember that soil temps are normally about 5F lower than ambient air temp. So, you will need ambient air temps in the neighborhood of 80F to sprout your pepper seeds.
  
• My idea of using the foam core insulation was two-fold:
  
  • Insulate against temperature fluctuations and hold in heat (Garage temp varies from 45-60 in winter)
    
  • Reflective surface (foil) would help keep light aimed towards plants
    
  
  

[cff]

Wow ............. Now that is a nice set up!

sandbar said:

I built shelving in my attached garage last year, put foam core insulation around it and put two 4' flourescent shop lights on each shelf.

While germinating, I kept the lights on 24x7. They created all the heat I needed ... actually TOO MUCH heat.

Top couple of shelves hovered around 85F, so I had to start venting the top. Third shelf down had temp of about 75F. "Shelf" on floor was much cooler and I had heat mats down there. Will put my onions down there to sprout this year and forget the mats.

Here's a couple of pics of the shelving. It's a rather unique design that can be broken down into individual, free-standing shelves for use at the Farmer's Market. Here, they are simply stacked and held in place with wooden pegs to keep them from sliding apart.

First pic shows unit closed up and lamps lit.

Second pic shows front "doors" removed for access to each shelf. Each shelf held four standard trays.

System worked wonderfully. Corners are open to provide some ventilation. Had no problems with damping off ... only problem was too much heat.

[downinmyback]

NICE SETUP i bet that would raise alot of seedling

[fourseasongrower]

downinmyback said:

Since peppers and eggplant both are heat loving plant what do you do to warm the soil after you plant them. Maybe some black plastic would help but how do you keep the plant warm if you don't have a hoophouse?

I use IRT. I spread it out, tack it down with rocks and soil, and burn holes with a small torch. Burning instead of cutting keeps you from having to deal with flaps. I use IRT for vining crops and tomatoes too.

[sandbar]

Does IRT stand for Infrared Transmissive plastic mulch?

What do you use to burn the holes?

[Jim]

propane torch probably

[sandbar]

I thought about that, but mine blows out too easily outdoors ... at least when I'm lighting fireworks in the drive way ... which, by the way, is not far away enough from the house ...

[Jim]

I'm starting red rocoto hot peppers today. A Peruvian variety at 130 days to fruit...It's my longest out pepper.

www.totallytomato.com/dp.asp?c=36&P={3BD969B8-C88D-4F7C-BE78-1BABD071A257}

[Jim]

THis week is it...time to start the peppers. Can't wait much longer. I started some red rocota peppers a week ago and have sprouts.

[Jim]

the dozen red rocota pepper seedlings have been reduced to about 5 plants. Poor germination and survival...this is by far the pickiest pepper I've started.

[Alan]

Definetly cherish those five, give 'em some TLC and they'll be just fine brother!

I've got my "Easter Everywhere" Bell pepper mix started. "Easter Everwhere" is basically a mix of 45 or so different bell peppers of all different colors.

Tomarrow I will be starting my Habenero mix, Jalapeno, and California wonder bells.

-Alan

[bluelacedredhead]

45 Colours of bell peppers?? Easter Everywhere?? Wooo Hoooo, they sound really cool looking. Got any pics of them Alan??

[Alan]

Not really 45 colors, just 45 varieties in several different colors, shades and sizes. Purples, oranges, bi-colors, tri-colors, blacks, browns, yellows, pink-is, red and on and on. It should be very diverse and very cool and if it works out the way I hope I'll offer seed for the mix here this fall!