I would've started them as soon as I saw the seeds!!!!!!

If germanating at around 80C, plant about 1 month before you can get them outside.

I start mine 6 or 7 weeks before last frost and then harden them off for about two weeks and put them outside to stay 2 weeks after last frost.

john

Sorry, I did plant mine about 6 or 7 weeks before last frost.

It sounds like habs are planted around the same time as other peppers 8 week cycle or so. I thought they were a slower grower than other peppers based on the what I've seen at nurseries over the last couple of yrs. Last yr was a perfect example. The hab plants that they were selling were about 3 inch plants much smaller than other peppers. consequently I thought they would have to be started a few weeks earlier. Maybe I'm trying to push the season - 12 below here in western ma last night. Probably colder in bangor, right fieldmaster.

I usually start in October for plants to set out at the end of May. Unfortunately, while that makes for happy fun gardening time in the dead of winter, I end up with unmanageable plants that get ripped apart by the spring winds.

This year I'm starting the outdoor crop at the end of February. The only peppers I overwintered this year were two chiltepin [they count as exotic to a Chicago guy]. They are small plants with a bushy growth habit, and no hybrid vigor at all. Very easy to overwinter.

But yeah, time for sowing seed is drawing near...it isn't here yet, but its time to think about getting more starter mix...

I swear by bottom heat for germinating pepper seed. I use a dome too, but I poke lots of holes in it [you can always cover them back up with tape]. I keep the temps between 80 and 90 and seem to have good luck. But bottom heat, and watering with warm, not cold, water has worked very well for me over the years.