getting started

17 years ago

I'm new to the forums here and pepper planting :D

I just ordered some seeds from pepperjoe.com, mostly scotch bonet/hab. I need a little help with starting them.

I am making 5 gallon global buckets http://www.globalbuckets.org/ to grow them in , my questions is what soil should i use to fill the buckets and what type of fert should i use? fert schedule?

I've heard lots of different methods and products

Epsom salt

Fish emulsion

Seaweed extract

low nitrogen slow release granular ferts

Here are some links i have gathered from reading posts here

https://www.altrumonline.com/altrumstore/nof.aspx

http://www.espoma.com/p_consumer/tones_tomato.html

That's basically it, I know you guys can help me out and I appreciate any responses

thanks

lance

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Comments (5)

megachili
17 years ago
Consider using ProMix BX as your potting soil. I have plants growing in ProMix BX, but also some in Home Depot and MiracleGro potting soil, and the difference is just unbelievable. I will never use anything except ProMix again for my container plants. I will not even mix them together as I did with a few pots this year when I started running low on ProMix - next year it'll be 100 % ProMix in every pot.

As far as fertilizer, I'm sure you will get various opinions. I've used all the things you mention. It gets confusing, though, all the different products and keeping them on the right schedule. I eventually defaulted to just putting one tablespoon of TomatoTone on each plant once every two weeks and watering it in. They seem to like it, and perk up and grow foliage and peppers aggressively after each application. I like the fact that it's one product, applied on a consistent schedule, and has all the various ingredients in it that you'd end up buying separately. But there are many, many other ways to play it. Sometimes I hit the foliage directly with some fish emulsion on the in between weeks, and it seems to help - moreso with foliage than with blossom growth, at least in my experience.

The other thing you may want to add to the mix is Blossom Set Spray. As the name implies, it gets the plants to blossom more quickly, and more copiously too.
runs_with_beer
17 years ago
This year was my first attempt at growing as well. I did a few plants (habs, cayenne, and jalapeÃ±o) in a raised bed I built and am getting less than desirable results. I know I need more sun and that I got a late start. I'm wondering if I could start some seed NOW and then get them outside next year after the frost. Is it too early? Should I remove any and all flowers that grow before the get pollinated until I get them outside next year? I want to get good strong plants so I can get a better yield next year.
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pepperr
Original Author
17 years ago
What websites do you guys use to purchase fert?
juicyj
17 years ago
runs with beer...sorry im not real familiar with the zones so i dont know where zone 7 is...but unless its a warmer climate with a shorter winter i wouldnt start any seeds till at least january or so
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
17 years ago
I think I'm closer to zone 8 than zone 7, and I started my seeds in February this year.
Next year, I'll wait two weeks - and start seeds mid-February.

Josh