Growing Hot Peppers 101

Getting Started

Growing your own hot peppers from seed can be very rewarding. The selection of hot peppers available at the supermarket is very poor. The selection of plants from a nursery or store tends to be a little better because there is a ton of terrific variety available when starting from seeds. And as hot pepper popularity continues to grow, the varieties just keep expanding. So, for starters, pick out your selections.

When planning out my garden, I LOVE this part. It's a blast in the dead of winter to plan out your garden and order tried and true seeds. We're all addicted to trying out new and exciting variations, and it’s an enjoyable experience to grow different variations and learn more about them. I'll give you advice on choosing varieties that align with your different needs and preferences in a just a little bit.

What are the Germination Steps for the Soil and Tray Method?

Before you start the stages of germination, read this checklist to make sure you have everything you need to prep:

Gloves (this is optional if you are dealing with super-hot peppers because you don't want the oil to irritate your eyes or skin- ouch!)
Water
Seed Starting Mix of Choice
Heat Mat
Seed Germination Tray with Humidity Dome
Light Source

Once you have everything together, it’s time to start germinating your choice of seed mix. Read the steps below for the best approach to germinating your seeds whether you are growing hot peppers, sweet peppers, ornamental peppers, etc.

Place your germination tray on the surface and pour about six cups of water. After adding the water, place your seed starting tray on top of the germination tray. Check to see if you have ¼-inch of standing water in the tray.
Fill the seed starting tray with potting soil all the way to the top
Make a ¼-inch hole in the center of each seed starting cell. A #2 pencil eraser is a great tool for making these holes.
Place the seed into the ¼-inch hole and cover gently with soil. I plant 3 or 4 seeds per growing area.
Apply the seedling heat mat to the bottom of the tray and cover the top of the seed starting tray with a humidity trapping dome.

Keep the seeds moist, but not soaked, through the germination phase. They germinate best above 65 degrees (the ideal temperature is 75 to 85 degrees). Because most homes are not this warm, another tip is to place them on top of your refrigerator until seedlings emerge. It stays pretty warm there. When seedlings start emerging, this is when it is time to start transplanting!

Some seed varieties can be finicky and difficult to germinate. Be patient as some varieties can take 4 to 6 weeks to germinate. Others can show up in 7 to 10 days. It depends on temperature, sunlight, soil and its variety. After they emerge, I believe in the mother nature theory: "Survival of The Fittest.”

Soil:

Any choice of quality potting soil mix will do. We've used many different brands in the past and we've found that it's all personal preference.

If you prefer to make your own mixture, go with 1/3 good garden soil (don't go with clay soil as it compacts badly), 1/3 composted cow manure or similar growing medium, and 1/3 sand. Mix all 3 ingredients together very well.

Hot pepper plants LOVE sand as many varieties originate in areas with sandy soil. Also, it provides excellent drainage.

Trays:

You can use our germination kit and growing equipment, so look into our pepper growing supplies including temperature controllers, seed trays and heat mats, and grow lights. You can purchase them individually or save by getting our complete indoor grow kit.

Location, Location, Location

Find a good and warm sunny windowsill. Seedlings prefer at least 6 hours of sunlight, the more the better. Hot pepper seeds need to be coaxed through the germination and transplant stages. Remember they all originated from a tropical environment. But keep in mind you'll be rewarded with a healthy, robust, prolific plant for your patience.

As they develop their first set of leaves, I'll use scissors to snip off the weakest one. As they develop their second set of leaves, I'll snip off all but the healthiest one. If any variety starts to grow tall and too "leggy", open the window just a little bit to shock the plant with cooler air. This will slow down its growth and make its stem thicker and more conducive to transplant. Once you have healthy seedlings after the germination period, you're ready for the transplant and growing stage, then the harvesting stage, then my favorite - the cooking and eating stage.