Yup, same mix. The only thing that has changed is the light. I keep the room fairly warm too. They are also kept closest to the radiator.

The only thing I can think of is that it's TOO warm somehow. It's really weird. At this point I know I'll still have enough time for the tomato seedlings, but I'm concerned about the peppers. Should I try sowing new seeds?

Unless the soil is over 90 degrees IMHO I don't think it is an issue. Take a soil temperature? How deep were the seeds planted?

I put my peppers on my radiator and they get very toasty and it really helps them germinate.

If the light is the only variable you've changed (i.e. same seed packets, same potting medium, same method of planting, same planting depth) then it seems reasonable to assume the change of lights made a difference. After all, you've increased the amount of light fourfold.

Can you poke around gingerly and see if any of the new set have even started germinating? That might tell you if you could just wait them out...

I use a dome when germinating seeds, but only when using a heat pad, never under lights. It may be that the greenhouse effect you get with dome and lights is cooking the seeds.

Ah yes that is a good point, the dome combined with the light may be cooking them.

Peter, about 1/4" - 1/2" deep.

When I get home from work each day, the potting soil is pretty dry on top. I don't recall having to add water everyday, so maybe it's just getting too warm. My concern with adding water everyday is that it would potentially cause the seeds to rot. I can gently poke around to see if anything germinated.

I know the light needs to be close to the seedlings, but how close should the light be before germinating? Same distance? Or is moisture and temperature the only factors for germination?

Peppers and tomatoes do not need light for germination. I am not aware of any vegetable seed that does.

So maybe I should lower the pots. They are elevated close to the light now.

If I poke through the mix and don't see any signs of germination, should I reseed? I'm concerned I may have killed the seeds, if I cooked them.

I would personally sow some backups, but that's just me. It probably takes a lot to kill the seeds. Maybe someone else knows exactly what.

Can't hurt, right? That's what I'll do. Frustrating, because everything was doing well for my first go at growing from seed...until now.

Thanks for the advice, Peter and aniajs. Fingers crossed!

Sounds like the heat from the bulbs dried out the mix too much if it looks dry on top every day. I too would start backups now. And yeah, keep the pots farther away from the lights.

"Peppers and tomatoes do not need light for germination. I am not aware of any vegetable seed that does."

Lettuce germinates better when the seeds are exposed to light.

Rodney

Thanks! At this point, I'm hoping that's all it was. I'm running outta time.

Lettuce germinates better when the seeds are exposed to light

I have heard that Rodney and some say that they NEED light to germinate but IME it doesn't seem to matter much. Since lettuce usually starts sprouting in about 2 days anyway I just go ahead and put them under the lights from the get-go anymore. Lettuce can go leggy very fast without light...like in just a couple hours.

Chris, I think we might have seen our last frost, though the next 2 days are a little iffy.

I have never tried growing lettuce indoors.... I did have good luck starting it early in a hoop house this year. I should have harvestable lettuce in a month, normally I won't get good sized lettuce until June.

I'm expecting a little frost tonight. Temps drop down to 33. You're probably in the clear. This unpredictable weather gets me nervous. If I remember correctly, a few years back we ended up getting a frost on memorial day weekend and it actually snowed in Vermont.

My forecast was 38 and we had frost. I am in a valley, maybe I should start looking at yours. :)

Oh bummer :-/ We ended up getting a freeze. Temps dropped down to 30.

Indirectly it's probably the new lights. I think your problem is how you water them and how you apply heat. I too germinate all my seeds in one pot, 4", not 3" though. I also use Saran wrap on them after I sow. Here is where we differ though. I water only ONCE, and DO NOT poke holes in the Saran warp. This keeps warmth and moisture in. Keeping holes in the Saran wrap leads to lower humidity and drier conditions, esp. with increased lights/heat. I too have multiple lights over my germination bed, they are a good thing because the minute seedlings emerge, they have proper light. Those seeds that need dark, get a covering. It all works out good. I HIGHLY doubt you are roasting your pepper and tomato seeds. You just need to better manage your moisture content, and use a few less lights that close for germinating purposes.

That's a good point. I'm not really sure why I think it's necessary to poke holes in the saran wrap.

I reseeded the pots and have them further away from the light, and I already noticed that it hasn't dried out like it used to. I reused the saran wrap, so it has holes in it, but I'll monitor the moisture level twice a day. If it dries out, I will change the saran wrap and won't poke holes in it.

Thanks for the advice!

FWIW, I never use domes or plastic wrap and always end up with more seedlings than I know what to do with. If my mix starts to look a little dry I give it a quick spray of water.

Rodney

Thanks, Rodney. I think the issue was I put the pots way too close to the light and it dried the soil out really quick each day. Stinks, but I'm gonna test out putting the lights further away. Once they germinate, I'll put them closer and remove the plastic.

Happy to report that 4 of the 11 pots have started to germinate! Hoping that the other 7 join the party soon.