![]() ![]() It is better no to place the stem too deep, even if the seedlings are leggy, because they could rot.įresh bell pepper seeds from a fully ripened fruit (that has turned from green to totally colored) can be planted into the soil right away, or used to start new plants. To plant bell pepper seedlings in a container or in the garden, make a hole big enough to place the root crown (where roots and stem meet) ½” below the soil level. If the cold weather persists and you can’t transplant your seedlings outside, you can change them to a bigger pot and wait a few more weeks. Hardening will help the newly formed leaves to thicken and adapt to the dry air and direct sunlight. Seedlings should have 3-4 true leaves and be 4-6” (10-15cm) tall before transplanting them outside.Īlthough you could transplant bell pepper seedlings outside as soon as 2-3 weeks after the last frost date, it is better to wait until the temperatures are warmer, and you have hardened your plants for at least 10 days before transplanting them. If you are germinating them in trays or pots indoors, place the seeds in a warm and dark place, keeping the substrate consistently moist but not wet until they germinate. The second common reason is that they have too much water, which will limit the amount of available oxygen and promote rotting. Try to keep them as warm as possible for best results.Īs a general rule, the most common reason for bell pepper seeds not germinating is that temperatures are too cold or closer to 60☏ (15.5☌). Pepper seeds do not need a lot of water, so avoid over watering the seeds because the lack of oxygen could cause them to rot. You should water your seeds frequently enough to keep the soil or substrate consistently moist. Soak them in warm water for three hours or in water at room temperature for 6-8 hours at most for best results. Pepper seeds will germinate normally if they are not too old, but you can also soak them briefly to prepare them for planting, and speed up germination. Place the seeds ¼-½” (0.6-1.25cm) deep into the soil and thin them out to a single plant when they have 2-3 true leaves. Add more seeds if you don’t know how old they are. If you are using fresh seeds, plant 1-2 per hole in trays or 2-3 if you are sowing directly into the bed or pots. Heat will be your greatest ally to develop vigorous and healthy plants. The best time to plant bell pepper seeds or transplants is when daytime temperatures are above 75☏ (23.8 ☌), and night temperatures do not drop below 55☏ (12.7 ☌). Bell pepper seeds need on average 10-21 days to germinate, depending on the temperature. In fact, the minimum soil temperature for germination is 60☏ (15.5☌), but most seeds will germinate normally in temperatures between 75-85☏ (23.8-29.4☌). Seeds will not germinate if the soil temperatures are below 55☏ (12.7 ☌). Start your bell pepper seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last spring frost date, or plant them directly into the garden bed when the danger of frost has passed, and soil temperatures are warm enough. It might not be too late to plant bell peppers if you start with transplants, and you have at least 10 weeks before the first frost. This, however, varies with the climate and variety you are using. The problem with using this kind of seeds is that they will probably not breed true, this means that the next generation of plants could be totally different.īell pepper plants will take 8-12 weeks on average from sowing the seed to the first harvest. Planting fresh seeds straight from a store bought bell pepper is possible, but the fruit must be totally mature for the seeds to be viable. If you are growing your bell pepper plants in containers, you can move them indoors in winter, or carefully dig out a plant in the garden and transplant it into a pot to overwinter it indoors. On the other hand, pepper plants will grow as perennials (living more than two years) In warmer areas without frost in winter. They have no tolerance to frost, and will die in winter. ![]() Since pepper plants will not grow back every year in areas with cold climates, they are grown as annuals in these areas. Place them in a spot with well composted soil, full sun exposure (at least 6 hours), and provide constant moisture for best results. It is not hard to grow bell peppers if you plant them in the warmest part of the season, because they need hot temperatures to develop properly. How to Plant Bell Pepper Seeds And Seedlings ![]()
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