I soak mine in warm water for 8 hrs, then plant. I keep the seed trans very warm, at around 85 degrees. But anywhere between 80-90 is good. I found mine germinate much more quickly after first soaking them. This year I plan to grow app. 8 hot varieties. Last year had habaneros, guajillos, jalapeños, and Thai chiles. Darn, forgot to order habaneros AND Thai. Thx for the reminder, Sorie6!! LOL

Thanks.. Do you have grow light? How do you keep them warm, or warming pads???

Mine have not sprouted well so I resorted to putting them in the nice warm car during the day. 5 popped today.

Interesting. Thanks!

Yes Sorie6, I have grow lights--and a heat pad. My grow cart is 20x48" and bought a heat pad that size. PS: My grow cart's in the dining room, so already in the house with 73 degrees, and then the heat mat set at 85.

I do like Nancy, but don't often soak. I have 2 small mats and 1 large one, but seldom use the large one. I dont have a lot of room so my set up is small scale. As a general rule of thumb I use 77* for most things, but peppers seem to do better 80*+.

Glad to see this topic. I ordered jalapeno seed yesterday. Almost added habanero but held off because peppers are new to me.

BixbyM, have you every soaked them first? I ordered a few more hot ones, but nothing on the scale of Reapers. Do you ferment the peppers?

If you have the room, you could also try putting them on top of the refrigerator for heat. I've seen some people put them in a wet paper towel then inside a baggie to sprout them then plant. You could put the baggie on top of the fridge till they sprout.

Nancy RW I have never soaked them but have gotten better results once I got the heat mat. I fermented one batch but was never brave enough to taste it. I do 2 things with the super hots. (1) I smoke and dry them then ground them into powder to use and (2) give them to anyone who brags that they can eat hot peppers like candy.

hahahahahaha! Good one, BixbyM!

Perfect reasons to grow them!I I saved seeds from last year's ornamental Midnight Fire, soaked, and planted them on Monday morning. I see one little almost sprout this evening. That will be amazingly fast germination. It's not hot compared to the reapers and scorpions, I'm sure, but will be able to compare myself when my new round of peppers get here (including Bhut Jolokia and Trinidad scorpion. It certainly was the hottest one in the garden last year--hotter than the Thai Chile or habaneros. And like you, I probably won't be brave enough to try them. But I'm growing some for friends. I asked them today what kind of peppers did they like, bells, other sweet, spicy with a little heat, or a lot of heat. She answered they liked a little heat and a lot of heat. Hence the Jolokia and scorpion! LOL. I'm gonna laugh so hard at them!

First 2 Midnight Fire peppers germinated at the end of 3 days/72 hrs. That was fast! These are seeds I harvested.