I start my seeds in zip-lock bags on top of my hot water heater. Check out my blog and you can see the process I use to start them.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Garden Blog

top of the refrigerator works well too.

After they have sprouted, how do you plant them?

How deep?

Sprout going up or down?

thanks,
Dean

Has anyone tried MycoGrow Micronized Seed Mix on there seeds?

I start my peppers about like kingpepper except for a few variations. First off I don't plant so many seeds of one variety so I use one paper towel to start 3 or 4 varieties. Here is how I do it. I use white paper towels. Fold it in half. Then I write the name of the 3-4 pepper types on the towel, spacing them about 3 inches a part beginning at the top. Then I wet the towel, as described by kingpepper, and then place the seeds you wish to start in the labeled section for each variety. Once completed, start folding down the paper towel, making sure you separate each variety with a fold or two. Once it's folded completely up, place it in a ziplock bag and seal it up. Place the bag in a warm location. I usually start checking my seeds after two days and every day there after for germination. When I see the little root begin to appear from the seed I plant the seed in a pre-labeled container (using styrofoam cups this year) with a good pre-moisted seed starter mix. The container is then placed in a covered seed tray with a thin layer of water for humidity and given bottom heat. The seeds start emerging from the starter mix in a few days. This works better for me than allowing the seed's roots to grow 2-3 inches in the paper towel as kingpepper described. They can sometimes be difficult to seperate once the roots grow into the paper towel.

I should add that I plant all the seeds of each variety in their pre-labeled container together when the roots begin to appear. Once the first true leaves appear they are transplanted to individual containers.

I've been starting pepper, tomato and eggplant using this method for a round 20 years with good results. Good luck.

Excellent followup jwm1960! Everyone has their variations of doing things. I like the ziplock method because in starting mix, peppers that take 10-15 days to germinate, take less than a week in the ziplock. The reason I don't start more than one type per ziplock is that I usually atart around 1500 pepper plants for sale in the local area.

As for which way to plant the germinated seeds (up or down), I have seen post where everyone is arguing their point on which is better. I do not think it matters. I plant my down. Some people will say plant them sideways. I don't want to start a argument about this. This is just my 2 cents.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Garden Blog

kingpepper, I plant my germinated seeds down too. I figured when I saw your pictures that you were growing them to sell. I doubt an individual would need so many.

This is the fastest way I have found to start peppers. As you say, it can take 10-15 days in a starter mix for them to germinate.

Like I said, I start about 1500 seeds and this is BY FAR the best way to germinate seeds. If someone can show my a better way, I am definitely open to suggestions.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Garden Blog