I usually plant 2-3 seeds per pot (all in the middle, rather than one in each corner) and pinch off any extra seedlings ASAP. The only time I wait at all is if the first sprout has something wrong with it (eg, missing a leaf or otherwise deformed). I don't see any advantages to letting the extras grow longer, but perhaps I'm missing something.

As for container gardening, it may take some trial and error before you get the hang of it. Fertilize right away using a balanced fertilizer if your soil was not pre-fertilized. Keep the soil moist but not wet until the plants are well-established; then you can let them wilt very slightly to toughen up the plant (and usually create hotter peppers). Regarding container size, generally bigger is better. I usually avoid growing jalapenos in pots, as even my larger ones (around 7.5 gallon capacity) produce bonsai jalapenos (still good, but quite small). Maybe others have had more luck?

Thank you for the response!!! So much to learn and so few brain cells!!! :D

I grow almost all of mine in containers--most in 12" pots and have not had the problem rthomp had with small peppers. I start them and grow them in Pro Mix BX and feed with diluted Miracle Grow--they changed the formulation so now its the Bloom something or other version which is 15-30-15. Here are some pictures of my container plants

John

Here is a link that might be useful: My picture site

If they are growing in 4 inch pots i would not wait to long to thin them out if you are going to keep all of the seedlings I would put them in thier own pots as soon as possible but if you are just going to thin them out I would wait until they get about 3" tall and just keep the best looking one and pull out the rest. I too am growing about 60 plants in containers some in plain top soil and most in Pro-Mix the ones in the Pro-Mix are doing better than the ones in top soil. I have some plants in 10" 12" and 16" pots and some that are in the 10's and 12's already have roots coming out of the bottom so I would recommend at least 12" pots.

Dale

Thanks everyone!!! Do I really need to be concerned about thinning them ASAP? They just broke ground 2-3 days ago and are only about 1" tall...I don't want to rip them out to soon, I would think at this stage with out even real leaves transplant shock would kill them!! Thought maybe not.

Also I have a rubbermaid (sp?) tote that has a bunch of extra potting soil in it. Could I fit 3 (or more?) plants in it?

I think I was mistaken in my original understanding -- if you are planning on keeping all of the peppers rather than thinning them out (that is, killing all but one), then disregard my original advice.

I agree on using at least 12" pots, and 14" - 16" work great for a wide variety of peppers in my experience (16" may be overkill for some varieties). I'll have to try to figure out what fiedlermeister is doing that I'm not to get full-sized jalapenos out of those pots though. :-)

I am envious of everyone's plants! I have two 6 foot(ish) south windows and one 3 foot east window. That's it. A tomato plant (that I am starting to worry won't set fruit) a rose bush and a few herbs are already in the mix. I am not sure how much room I really have, sadly. I guess yield wise I would be better off having 1-2 plants in larger pots rather then trying to cram them in. Or would I?