This Week’s Focus in the Greenhouse
As planting ramps up in the greenhouse, this week has been all about keeping pace with larger waves of seeds while maintaining the systems that support healthy early growth. Our team focused on staying ahead of live plant production by monitoring environmental conditions, managing nutrient systems, and ensuring newly planted flats are set up for success as they move through early development.
The flood tables are starting to fill with trays, marking a visible shift as planting volume continues to ramp up across the greenhouse.
Live Pepper Plants: Production Update
Current Growth Stage
Plants in the greenhouse are currently in stages ranging from newly germinated seedlings to about six weeks old. This wide range reflects the ongoing planting schedule and the steady flow of new flats entering production.
During this stage, seedlings are focused on establishing strong roots and early structure, which sets the foundation for healthy growth as they continue to mature.
A quick look at the Ghost pepper seedlings we’ve been following, now at six weeks old and continuing steady growth in the greenhouse.
Recent Changes in Care
With colder outdoor temperatures, the team increased heat inside the greenhouse to maintain stable conditions for young plants.
In addition, nutrient tanks are being changed every one to two weeks, depending on cleanliness. Tanks are never left longer than two weeks, as fertilizer solutions can break down over time and become less effective.
This regular maintenance helps ensure plants receive consistent nutrition throughout early growth.
About our nutrient tanks:
Nutrient tanks supply water and fertilizer to the flood tables used for seedling production. These tanks are changed every one to two weeks to prevent fertilizer breakdown and reduce the risk of mold or algae growth, helping ensure seedlings receive consistent and effective nutrition.
Pictured below: The blue nutrient tanks deliver water and fertilizer mixtures to the flood tables
Why the Change Matters
Maintaining proper temperatures supports steady germination and prevents stress during early development. Regularly refreshing nutrient tanks ensures fertilizer remains effective, which helps promote uniform growth and healthier seedlings overall.
These adjustments allow the team to respond proactively as planting volume increases.
Growing Plants for Seed Production
Varieties Grown for Seed
There are no updates to seed stock production this week.
How Seed Production Differs from Live Plant Growing
Plants grown for seed remain in the greenhouse longer and rely on dedicated systems to support mature growth and fruit development. Keeping those systems clean and functioning properly is essential to maintaining seed quality.
Quality Control This Week
This week, the team focused on flushing water and drain lines for the Dutch bucket systems used in seed stock production.
Why This Matters for Seed Quality
Flushing the lines of the Dutch buckets helps reduce algae buildup, which can interfere with water delivery and plant health over time. Clean irrigation systems support more consistent growth and help protect the quality and reliability of the seeds produced.
What are Dutch buckets?
Dutch buckets are individual growing containers used for seed stock plants. Each bucket is filled with perlite and supplied by its own drip line, allowing for precise watering and nutrient delivery while supporting healthy root development.
Observations & Challenges
What Didn’t Go as Planned
No major issues were observed this week.
Ongoing Challenges
As planting volume increases, maintaining consistent watering across all new flats remains an ongoing focus.
What's Coming
Next week, the team will closely monitor:
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Germination rates across newly planted flats
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Watering consistency, ensuring all new trays receive proper moisture
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These checks help catch small issues early as production continues to scale.
What This Means for Home Growers
The increased planting activity and system maintenance happening now help support greater live plant availability as the season progresses. By staying ahead of planting volume and maintaining clean, efficient systems, the team is setting plants up for healthy growth before they ever reach home gardens.
A Few Personal Notes from the Greenhouse
🌱 Variety Spotlight:
The first wave of live plants is looking strong, with good germination rates across multiple varieties, a great sign early in the season.
✅ Small Win:
The team successfully planted 5,880 seeds in a single day, keeping pace with the season’s growing demand.
📘 Learning Moment:
This week marked the team’s first time changing out a faulty sprinkler valve on the flood tables, an important reminder that maintaining greenhouse infrastructure is just as critical as caring for the plants themselves.
Keep Up with the Greenhouse
Missed a week?
👈 Week 3: Last Week’s Update
Want to see how the season started?
👉 Start at Week 1
Stay spicy, planting season is in full swing and we’ll see you next week,
🌶️ The Pepper Joe’s Growing Team