Thank you Rhody I'm glad I joined the forum there have been several times where I'd either wanted to post or reply and add comments but I finally signed up I'm looking forward to discussing one of my favorite topics with fellow chilli heads. This a great forum for help and to pass on your own knowlege and experience to help other newbies to learn the ways of the pepper.

My personal list of supplies for seed starting are:

- standard plastic trays filled w/ 72 count plastic cells

- seed starting medium (either store bought or custom made)

- heat mats w/ thermostat and thermo-coupling for use under the trays (optional)

- styrofoam cups w/ holes in bottom to transplant seedlings into

- standard fluorescent shop light fixtures w/ 40W bulbs (after seeds have sprouted)

- small electric oscillating fan for air circulation (optional)

- diluted liquid fertilizer when seedlings become well established

Paul B.

That looks like a good list to me. I've heard of using heat pads even the ones you buy at pharmacies. The styrofaom cup ides is interesting I"ve read of so many different things that can be used for seedlings. I have a full package of styrofoam cups that I rarely use that would be perfect. I'm assuming the whole in the bottom is for drainage and possibly bottom watering them. On the diluted fertilizer I've read and used the Epsom salt mixture as a fertilizer would that work?

I keep seeing 40watt bulbs but the 2 ft fixtures only max for 20 watts (which is what I have). Is 40 better for peppers? Mine seem to be growing pretty good under 20 watts.

P.S - Welcome aboard peppermike!

You're correct naturalstuff. My equipment is tucked away in the basement. My fixtures are 4' long and hold two 20-25W bulbs each fixture.

Previously without giving it much thought, I must have confused a single bulb wattage w/ the combined wattage of the two bulbs per fixture. Hope I haven't mis-directed anyone. Sorry for the confusion.

Paul B.

My thanks to both of you. Gives me something to look for when stop at the garden store. I can't wait to get started. I"m not 100% sure when I should start the seeds and when that is for zone 5. Last year I bought my seedlings on Mothers day and panted them on Memorial Day.

Thanks,
Mike

Anytime in March is perfect for you. I'm in Zone6 and can start them end of February since my last frost date is April 22. 8 weeks sooner is Feb. 25th. So 8 weeks before last frost for Z5 should be at least March.

Thanks naturalstuff that gives me some more time to plan which I need to get all the necessary items I started pricing things at the local stores like the cell trays, lighting, soils, fertilizers etc. I even have time to ad a few more varieties of peppers.

When I do eventually pot these peppers I'm thinking I should pot them one plant per pot instead of last yer putting as many as 4 plants per pot.

"I even have time to ad a few more varieties of peppers."
This time of year people who experience cabin fever or spring fever can become impatient. If you're not careful you can end up w/ more peppers than you planned for. Managing all thoses seedlings can become a chore.

My second year of growing peppers from seed I grew 43 varieties which ended up leaving me w/ over 320 seedlings to manage indoors.
Since then, I narrowed my list down to favorites with a little room to experiment with exotic types.

Paul B.

I can soooo relate to your post Lil Rhody!

> Epsom salt mixture as a fertilizer

Epsom supplies 2 elements needed out of 16

Magnesium and sulphur