This guide is to help you with germination, growing and nurturing one of your favorite food plants, Hot Pepeprs! I have enjoyed eating hot peppers for most of my life and have been growing many varieties for about three years. I hope this guide will help many of you that are new to growing these wonderful plants, most are really great looking plants, even without the fruit. Peppers are easily started from seed. Most pepper plants will flower and then start to form fruit in about 60 days after transplanting. About 90 days after transplanting you will be able to pick the fruits of your labor and enjoy the slow flavorful burn of the delightful peppers, fresh from your garden.

Sow seeds 1/8" to 1/4" deep in moist soil (70 to 85 degrees). Keep soil moist, but not wet and don't let it dry out. You can water with warm water, use grow lights or heating pads to aid in keeping soil warm. You can also cover pots with plastic, once seeds germinate, remove the plastic. Seeds will germinate in about 10 to 30 days. Don't give up! Some seeds will take longer to germinate. The Pequin and Tepin can take 6 to 8 weeks or longer to germinate. Keep the soil temperature betwenn 80 to 85 degrees.

The seedlings will be ready to transplant into pots (2 gallon or larger) or the garden, usually when they are 4 to 6 weeks old or about 4" or more tall. Move outside after all danger of frost has past. They will need to be weathered to adjust to the sun and wind outdoors. Move plants into a semi-shaded spot, such as a patio, for about 4 or 5 days before moving into full sun. Once plants are adjusted they may be planted into large containers, 2 gallon or larger, or directly into the garden in full sun to light shade. The more sun and the hotter the weather, the better! Transplant after all danger of frost has past and nights are consistently above 48 degrees.

After the seedlings are about 30 days or so old, pinch the growing tip to encourage bushiness. The growing tip is the new growth between the leaves, where the next set of leaves will form. Fertilize monthly with a water soluble fertilizer at half-strength until fruits start to show. Fruits will form from the flowers.

Most peppers are perennial plants and will provide years of great tasting peppers when not exposed to harsh weather and temperatures. I lost several of my pepper plants to Hurricane Wilma and others escaped without a scratch and are still producing great peppers. I picked a couple of 'FLoral Gems' today (12/6) to have with supper tonight! I also have a buyer in NC that is still having good luck with his pepper plants (tomatoes also) with temperatures in the 40's and below. However, he is protecting them with cover and lights for added heat. Good luck, and I am waiting to hear how they fair the whole winter outdoors in NC.

Depending on variety of pepper, flowers will start to appear within about 60 to 75 days after transplanting and expect to start harvesting about 2 or 3 weeks later. Sit back and enjoy the burn of fresh picked hot peppers!!!

When to pick your peppers depends on variety. Most peppers can be picked green, but will not have the full flavor or heat level. If allowed to ripen to yellow, orange or red, again depending on variety, they will have to best flavor and a fuller heat level. If peppers are picked at their ripest stage and allowed to dry, that is where you will find the top of their heat level. Most peppers are at their hottest level when picked ripe and dried.

Collecting Pepper Seeds

If you haven't eaten all your peppers, save a couple for seeds to grow next year. It's best to wear gloves when collecting the seeds. All parts of the pepper are hot and will burn your eyes & skin.

Slice open ripe peppers and cut out the seeds and eat the pepper! Place the seeds on a paper towel or paper plate and let the seeds dry for about a week or so. Shake or stir the seeds occasionally to keep them from sticking.

Once seeds are dry, place them in an envelope and mark with variety and harvest date.

Storing Pepper Seeds

Heat and moisture are seeds worst enemies. Always store seeds in a cool, dry area away from heat and sunlight. Store any seeds in opened foil or paper seed packets inside a plastic zipper bag, remove as much air as possible and seal. You can then store your seeds in the refrigerator. You can also place them inside a "Tupperware"-type container and place in the refrigerator or any cool, dry place.