Below is a link to a sowing thread that helped me with some difficulties I was having getting seeds to sprout. It proved very helpful as the plants are 70 days old and even producing pods now.

Broadcasting them outdoors and in-ground would be my last choice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sowing methods

Thanks for that link, it pretty much confirms my suspicions that I'd have a slim chance with such old seeds, but such as it is there's no harm done trying.

They're planted in a sunny location (I'm in south Florida) in a raised bed next to my house and fortunately the area is warm and well protected. If any do sprout I'll remove them and put them in pots to be tended.

Too late? Already planted all the seeds? I hope it works out, and it very well may. Seeds can last a long time when stored properly.

In the future, or if it's not too late, sow only a percentage of available seed by any one method. For instance, in the other thread, someone mentioned sowing a few with the paper towel method just to see if they are viable. Any that make it can then be transferred to a potting/seedling mix.

Good luck!

Direct sowing in Miami, FL might be ok but it is still risky. You have to have proper moisture control before and after germination, until they develop some root system.

So i wish you good luck.

Seysonn

Hey gnappi,
If you get any seeds, I'd love to trade with you, those sound really interesting and I'd never heard of them before.
Pam

I kept the pepper meat and there are still about 30 seeds left near the stems. I'll try germinating a few of them in paper in my house and see what happens.

Pam, I don't think these peppers ever got to the U.S. They were in a family plot for many generations and I'm hoping I can get them going.

Not the norm,but I just got seeds to sprout (80%) that were from 2000 or 2001.

I;m finding out that it might depend on variety as to how long they stay viable.
Wilds (not Annuum,Baccatum,Chinense or Frutescens)seem to have the shortest life span.
Some Annuums seem to have the longest along with some Baccatums.

Good luck.

Well, it's been about three weeks and the bed I planted them in has some foreign tiny plants sprouting (I say foreign because I know the local weeds very well) but you never know it could be something I brought in with the bagged soil.

Does anyone have pics of freshly sprouted pepper plants? Or do the leaf profiles vary too wildly to make such an early sprouting identifiable?

I'll take some pics of these as soon as I'm able and post them. Keeping fingers crossed.

Pam, if these did sprout, I'd be happy to send you some of what's left.

Sparrow18 posted this picture of some pepper sprouts over in another thread of mine on a different board:

{{gwi:2131659}}

Hopes dimming...

The sprouting has continued and maybe another 6 came up today but they are not bringing up seed casings like edymnion's did, and the leaves are more rounded than both pics.

However, the stalk is translucent unlike local weeds here, but they're only a day old or so, I'll wait. Also this growth spurt is localized only where I planted the seeds, I prepared another bed about 15' away that does not have these sprouts so it may not have come in with the soil! The suspense is getting to me!

If they do take I won't know till they give peppers whether they are the red Jalapeno shaped or red banana shaped varieties. Seeds for everyone if they give me peppers!

I'll name them vesuvio_abbot and vesuvio_costello for the long thin and short chubby types :-) Ha Ha...

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the babies you have coming up are the pepper seeds you planted. The seedlings don't always bring the seed case up with them. Good Luck!!! keep us updated.
Pam