bell peppers not growing

[jay3534]

started bell pepper from seed many weeks ago / only 2 of 20 or so germinated

several weeks ago I attempted it again with another batch of seed and different starter mix STILL NOTHING

both attempts were with new seed and starter mix / have never had a problem before

what are the chances of getting two bad batches of seed?

 

[Oaktree]

Not familiar with growing conditions in N.C., but are you starting these in a greenhouse or planting the seeds directly in the ground? If the latter, is something (most likely a bird) eating the seeds? Crows are a problem here in that regard...I have to come up with some creative ways of keeping them away, especially with beans or corn until the plants are a couple inches high.

Growing season here is too short to plant peppers in the ground, got to start them inside.

 

[CMV]

Mine always take forever. Compared to even other slowish stuff like tomatoes the peppers always lag behind. Take longer to germinate, longer to get strong enough to go outside, and much longer to grow to mature size.

No idea how you're doing it, but I start them indoors (usually kitchen table) and covered. Sunlight from the patio door warms the soil up a bit too. If you're doing something similar.....there hasn't really been sunlight so might not be warm enough soil for them?

 

[jay3534]

sorry I didn't say the attempts were indoors the same way I always have / sunny window sill and covered until seeds sprout

 

[flyerdan]

I'm having trouble with my seed starts as well. I start from saved seeds in 5 dozen egg flats and transplant to 4" pots when they're a couple inches tall. Seems like last year things were further along by this time.
Got peas in the ground about a month ago and they are all up and doing well, we had a bit of early nice weather followed by an extended period of flood stage rains which has kinda put things off kilter, planting wise.

 

[oosik]

We always started in the house in small peat pots. When they got a couple leaves and it was warm - outside they went. We mounded the dirt for each plant. I think it kept the ground warmer. We grew green and jalapeño peppers. Both did well. The jalapeño's never got hot. Just became tubular green peppers - but tasty.

 

[Jstpssng]

Peppers like to be warm. I have a heat mat that goes in a wooden box, then glass on top to hold the heat and moisture in.

 

[jay3534]

I use large cups with plastic wrap on top to keep moisture in

 

[mapper]

A lot of my peppers were slow to germinate this year as were some of my tomatoes. I start them in a covered mini greenhouse inside my greenhouse on a heat mat. Some were so slow that I reseeded, then both the old and new seed came up and I had to thin!

 

[mapper]

We always started in the house in small peat pots. When they got a couple leaves and it was warm - outside they went. We mounded the dirt for each plant. I think it kept the ground warmer. We grew green and jalapeño peppers. Both did well. The jalapeño's never got hot. Just became tubular green peppers - but tasty.

Hot peppers will develop heat better if they are stressed some, try cutting back on watering as they start to get near harvestable size.