Pepper/Chillies leggy

[keo]

Hi,

I'm new to the board :)   

I did mostly fruit gardening in the past and brought small plants (e.g. tomatoes) so I've never grown anything from seed.

This year I decided to grow some Dorset Naga and some other peppers.  I placed them in a propagator at 28 C about a week ago.  Yesterday, many of the other peppers have already emerged (in fact all of them in 6 days!, expect the naga) and have gone leggy.

I don't have a grow lamp as i thought it would take a long time for the seeds to emerge and was wondering what I should do?



Thanks




Keo

[keo]

[GodfreyRob]

I placed them in a propagator at 28 C about a week ago.  Yesterday, many of the other peppers have already emerged (in fact all of them in 6 days!, expect the naga) and have gone leggy.

Once the seedlings emerge they should be grown in much cooler conditions...
If they are in seed trays, prick them out into small pots, planting them quite low down and use the compost to earth up the stems - this will give suppport to the weak stems and they will put out new roots.
You could keep them in the propagator but turn it down to about 12C or move them to a sunny (but not draughty) windowsill. Don't let them get suddenly cold and move them away from the window at night (or cover with something to keep them warm).

I've done exactly the same thing myself.

[saddad]

and welcome to A4A Keo...  :)

[keo]

Hi,

Thanks Godfrey and thanks for the welcome.

I'll need to keep the Dorset Naga at 28 C I brought a Vitopod and whacked in lots of trays but I will buy another propagator and move the other chillies into that reducing the temp. 


keo.

[chriscross1966]

Hi,

Thanks Godfrey and thanks for the welcome.

I'll need to keep the Dorset Naga at 28 C I brought a Vitopod and whacked in lots of trays but I will buy another propagator and move the other chillies into that reducing the temp. 


keo.

Unless you're rooms are freezing the just a windowsill will be ok for them once they're up, no extra heat needed, or covering either.... and don't overwater them :D

[keo]

Thanks.

Should I prick them and bury them up to the coteyldons?

[goodlife]

Yes..bury them almost up the seed leaves..but you have to be really careful with watering to start with.
I find watering around the pot rim in this stage helpfull and once they start growing then wet their 'heads'.

[keo]

Hi guys,

I've buried them up to the cotyledons but they have gone leggy again... :(

[chriscross1966]

Hi guys,

I've buried them up to the cotyledons but they have gone leggy again... :(

Too warm and/or not enough light. Depending on the variety chillis at this time of year need either artificial lights or a heated (but not too much) greenhouse

chrisc