Peppers

[RSJK]

When is the best time to sow pepper seed to grow on in a cool greenhouse or outside ?  ;)

[RSJK]

[Two Choices]

I start my chillies off in early February but in a heated propogator before moving them to a heated frame. Going to give the big red peppers a go this year for the first time.  :D

[Barnowl]

Provided you can protect them until April (below 5degC tends to turn them mushy) I agree with early February. By a cool greenhouse do you mean unheated or with a heater that cuts in at around 5degC to prevent frost (which is what I have from late Feb onwards - too expensive in mid winter  :) )?   If it's the latter you can start sowing pretty early.

If you're not heating the greenhouse and can't fit potted on seedlings indoors, I'd guess you should sow about about 6 weeks  before your last frost date (2 weeks for germination + 4 weeks for the seedlings to get to the point where they should be potted on.) If you grow in root trainers you can delay potting on for at least a couple of weeks

You'll need a minimum of 18deg C to get germination and I find higher temperatures 22-28 deg C work better. Some varieties need the top end of this range but they usually state this on the packet.

[saddad]

We sow Mid-March here for cold greenhouse...  :)

[tonybloke]

Ditto Saddad, Mid-march here on the east coast ;)

[Barnowl]

Before I put the frost free heater in the GH I sowed at the beginning of March, London being frost free from mid-April  (in theory  :) )

Am I right in thinking that mid-March fits in with 'my 6 weeks before last frost date' for the Midlands which is the end of April - about 2 weeks after London?

[Tee Gee]

Am I right in thinking that mid-March fits in with 'my 6 weeks before last frost date' for the Midlands which is the end of April - about 2 weeks after London?

Mid March is Week 11 there fore +6 weeks =Week 17 = End April.

So yes you are correct!



http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Frost%20Zones/Frost%20Zones.htm

[shaun01]

i agree with tee gee April is a good time no need to rush , and if you keep your plants frost free they will last a few years  ;D