Carolina Reapers

7 years ago

A friend gave me 20 seeds of Carolina reaper. I am told that you need to sow them indoors between mid December and mid January. First, I will soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours; then fill my doubled solo-cup starter pots with potting soil I have put in the microwave for 2 minutes per pound to kill organisms. The cups are made with two cups, the inner one with holes in the bottom; set in side the outer one that has no holes. Place a small pebble in the bottom of the outer one to hold the inner cup off of the bottom creating a space for water that will wick up into the soil as the roots grow. I will lay the seeds on top of the soil (2 per cup) and cover with 1/4 inch of soil. For germination, I have a small greenhouse set up in my basement with a root-warmer and LED lights. Has anyone germinated and grown Carolina reapers? Suggestions? Also, I want to try other hot peppers. I am considering producing a new pepper type with some cross pollination.

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Comments (3)

Ken "Fruity Paws" (N-Va 7a)
7 years ago
I haven't grown reapers, but plenty of other hots (and sweets) habanero, jalapeno, cayenne, thai, scotch bonnet. I don't start peppers this early. I start two sets - one four weeks before the expected last frost, the other two weeks. Seeds soaked overnight then put in potting soil in trays (or starter cups). The four week is really for the option of an early spring to put them out early. The two weeks, I keep inside until I'm sure that a late freeze comes through. If you start them now for the spring, you will need a real grow light setup, because they will be full grown bushes by spring.
rdback
7 years ago
Hello Charlie. Sorry for being late to the party, but....(lol)

Anyway, I'm North of you a little bit in Zone 6B, which puts you two weeks ahead of me. I start my chinense peppers (like reapers) 12 weeks before last frost date, and annuums (bells, jalapenos, etc) 8 weeks before last frost date. So, I think your plan of mid Jan was a good one. What did you end up doing?
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Charlie
Original Author
7 years ago
7 of 20 seeds germinated and my reapers vary in height from 4 inches to 7 inches as of this morning. it is still 3 weeks until the last frost date so I am going to transplant them into larger pots for now. I also have some pineapple hot peppers that are growing well.