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I found that sowing directly in nursery trays was best for me. I soaked the soil in warm water before planting the seed. Then plant the seeds and slide the trays into a back yard bag till I see them sprout then I change the bags to a clear bag for light to get to them.I open the bag up one to twice a day to let air circulate. To prevent mold I sprinkle a thin layer of cinnamon on top of the soil. So far it has done well for me. Just have to pay close attention
@@GutenGardening had a problem with coir molding last year and used cinnamon and it didn’t work for us, just had a nauseating odor in the house. Coir needs a lot of perlite added to get it to drain.
Wow!!! id begun exactly this… forgot about them & found that maybe 8-10 days later, those tiny pepper seeds were sprouting out of their hard shells in the water!! It works !!! Thank you so much!!! ❤❤
You're absolutely correct, pepper seeds gereminate more readily when pre-soaked. Don't forget the temperature because it's just as important. Thanks for sharing!
I’m happy that someone else had this problem because my hot pepper seeds were a nightmare to get started last year. So I went to a local nursery and bought some transplants. This year I will focus on what many of you have been saying let them soak before planting them 👍🏾.
We didn't thin our peppers last year, we ended up with pretty much every cell with 2 seedlings and we kept them all the way from March to October and they did very well for us. Our seedlings started to languish in the coco coir starting mix we used (Burpee) but once we up potted them they were off and running. If we end up with even half the production of peppers we had in 2021 I'll be happy. I didn't bother to top any of them since they all grew in sets of two, but I think I will top a few just to see if they do even better.
Yes, the up-potting made a big difference for us as well. After a while they can definitely start to languish in the starting mix. We are going to experiment around a bit with what we do with ours this year, but like you, we are hoping for some of the same production as we had last year. :)
Hey this is not very scientific, but I wanted to share my experience on topping with you. Last year I grew 7 varieties of peppers, 6 Plants each. Of every variety three were topped. My lighting was good, so I think that is a big factor. For most varieties there was little to no difference, but with the really tall ones it can help with stability, the plants will stay a bit shorter for the most part. But for smaller varieties which are branching well (like Jindungo) I saw a slight decrease in yield on those which were topped.
@@autisticguitar666 Don't prune peppers (aka don't top them), the fruits get smaller, even if more numerous, the walls are thinner and they stagnate for an extra 2 weeks, so harvest is later than from non-pruned ones.
Fantastic informaiton, and very timely. I'm just about to start my pepper seedlings. I was going to either use the papertowel method or the humidity dome method, but now i think i'll just soak and put them in seed trays. Thanks for the great video!
We heat with woodstove, so it's a little cooler esp. overnight. I have pepper & eggplant seeds on coffee filters in both carryout containers w/covers, and recycled plastic bags. They are all on Vivosun heating mats...PLUS I put another mat above them. The mats are around 80-85 degrees as per the fancy digital winemaker's thermometer. The eggplants were up in 11 days. Some of the peppers are up too. Others (from 2/11 & 12) are well swollen but only a nub of a root so far....I check every day. It seems the plastic bags are easiest to check for roots (you can see thru them) but the carryout containers being black are also easy but dry out faster even with the free humidity dome. I think for space reasons, for me it will be recycled plastic zip bags (just make sure to wash out any food particularly cheeses). And always, always, presprout many more seeds than you alone think you'll need. Extras can go to your neighbors or sell them on CL.
I did a combination of using a food tray, but I used a small layer of potting soil with small squares of paper towel. Placed a seed or two on each square. I had great success with germinating and transplanting was also very successful.
Nice video! This is the first year I am going to plant food (peppers, onions, potatoes, tomatoes). I have been growing plants for years (all organic). I will try the water soaking method since I have been doing that with the plants I have been growing to get nearly 100% germination. I do also use a splash of Hydrogen peroxide 3% and that definitely made a big difference in my germination success rate. I am just getting ready to plant my pepper seeds (harvested from an organic yellow pepper), so my timing in finding your video is perfect! Thanks again! Keep growing!
You're certainly right about the heat. I didn't have a heat mat this time, and the sprouting was very slow, if at all. I ended up re-seeding tray because the germination was so poor from the first planting. The second seeding is doing "okay", but it's still pretty slow. Next year, I'll have another heat mat for sure.
thank you for sharing. I always have problem with pepper germination especially with ghost pepper and carolina reaper. I did not know that we can soak them for 24-48 hours. I only did for 8 hours, placed them on a paper towels then in a ziploc bag. I did not wait for them to fully germinate. As soon as I see some white roots (?) I put them in soil. I will definitely follow your method next year
Nothing makes me happier than a tray full of pepper seedlings; well, maybe two trays! Are you guys trying the Beaver Dam pepper again this year? Amazing heirloom pepper developed in Beaver Dam WI! They put on a festival for the pepper every year, I would highly recommend going in 2022
I'm no expert by a long shot but I suspect you're leaving those germinated seeds in the zip lock baggy way to long. That's why your transplant survival rate is so poor. You should be checking those seeds every day and the second that root pops out they should be going into soil. Why are you waiting till there 2 cm of growth and it's all tangled up in the paper towel? It's going to be near on impossible to transplant them without damaging them and/or causing transplant shock. Just saying. Enjoyed the video. Thanks
I have a (very) small space with a heat exchanger for shower water and house warming. I had trouble germinating habanero seeds. I put a tray with seeds in a ziplock bag on top of the heat exchanger which kept the temperature at a consistent 80 F. After two days 75% germinated. Just take care to transplant them immediately because the space is completely dark.
Sounds really good. I have the same problem and will try it now. I know it helps with sweet peas, so why not? Certainly makes sense to me. Thank you for a valuable tip.
Thanks. I've had trouble this year with germination of peppers too. Last year, had no problem. This year. I just don't know. But, I'l try the soaking method.
If you don't have a heat mat try placing a folded towel on top of your refridgerator and putting the seeds, whether you're using the paper towel/ziplock method or covered starting cells and soil. It runs 24 hours anyway and most refridgerators are slightly warm on top. But feel it first or take a temperature reading you don't want it hot, just warm about 80 to 90 degrees maximum. If it's too warm raise it up with another towel underneath.
Thank you!! Awesome video and straight to the point. Before finding your channel I watch the so called “pepper expert” showing how he plants his peppers and he didn’t mention anything about soaking. Just planted the seeds out of the packet. I did that last year and had ZERO germination. Even though my seeds were on a heating pad with humidity.🤨 He also asks people to BUY his book to learn the secrets. So annoying. I think soaking them is the trick! Thank you!!! ❤
Thank you. I'm actually losing hope on my planting journey and this bell pepper is one of my priority to plant but unfortunately only okra germinates well among my other seeds. This video gives me hope. I'll try soaking my other seeds prior planting them
I just found this video. I’ve germinated seeds before but never bell peppers. I had no idea they were so particular. I’ve got some in bags in between paper towels, they are starting to mildew so I think maybe I’ll keep them on the paper towel but move it to a container. I’d hate to lose them. Thank you for the video!!!
Soaking seeds shortern the period before seeds germinate using towels or soil mix mediums that are friendly to mold. Seeds tend to develop microscopic mold or fungus in a given moist environment that makes the seeds less healthy and struggle to germinate. A quick mild hydrogen peroxide rinsing makes a difference to assure a more sterilized seeds. I had the best microgreen germination when coating the seeds with diatomaceous earth. Here in Florida, high humidity and pests are quite a challenge. Diatomaceous earth is antifungal, regulates moist and keeps the cutworms at bay.
Hi! Great info and very well researched and clearly presented. I'd like to add two options; one is toilet paper is quicker to break down than paper towel and doesn't do as much damage to baby roots if you're going that route. Second has black tea for soaking the seeds. I've read about this several times and will try it myself this year. It was suggested that you soak the seeds in room temp black tea for 30-ish minutes, then move them to plain water for another 8-12. Anybody else ever heard of this method?
I don't have a heating mat and I already have serranos germinating (hopefully) in the fridge. For heat and humidity I'm going to treat them like I do my sourdough starter over winter, in the microwave with a big cup of hot water. The temperature in the microwave does cool down so you want to check it about every 6-8 hours, upon which you reheat the glass of water and put the seeds back in. Don't nuke the seeds lol. I am going to try the black tea method as well if needs be. In the next few days I'm going to try poblanos. Wish me luck!
Hi Same I did in november slightly cold in India,for sponge guard seeds, soaked in lukewarm water for 24hours,they startrd germinating then sow them in cocopeat tray after 10days they were ready to plant in land,
Paper towel method, don't do what he did with the pepper seeds. Check them daily. As soon as the first few root, then plant them all into a seed tray. You shouldn't get transplant shock doing that. If they've started to put out the sprout you've waited too long. I'm currently doing this and impatiently waiting for the first seeds to stick their roots out. I'm at day 2 and I didn't presoak seeds. I watched one person get the seed to root in about one day but every other video I watched seems to suggest I have 4 - 7 days before I should see anything. He DID go through a presoak process, but it was maybe 2 - 3 hours and he moved the seeds between hot and cold water a few times at the end of the soaking to simulate day and night. And the other point the person made, the one who got roots in 1 day, is don't use paper towel but instead something more like a gauze pad, a thick one for the bottom and one that holds water well. Lay one on top, doesn't need to be as thick. The water should be enough to keep the seeds wet, but to see water pool up on the top of the stack, you need to push down. This will mean the seed isn't in water but is being kept wet from the top and bottom and air should also get to the seed from the top since it's not soaking in water.
GREAT VIDEO , I LEARNED ALOT. DON'T TRY CUTTING CORNERS OR SAVING TIME. YOU WILL ONLY CHEAT YOURSELF & NOT DO AS WELL WITH PLANTS OR ANYTHING ELSE. BEST IDEA GROW A GARDEN YOU WOM'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON FOOD AT THE MARKET THAT MAY NOT BE THEIR. OR IS OUTRAGIOUSLY PRICED.
I love your instructions It was very helpful I have a quick question I have some ghost peppers and dried out the seeds, would I be able to germinate right away or should I wait some time
Thank you! I have not tried with ghost peppers, but in general, you can germinate them right away. You should dry them if you plant to store them longer term. I hope that helps!
Gibberellic acid soak will halve the germination time. There is also a good fungi that depresses bad fungi int Promix bx. Unless your planting hole tray, use six pack cell trays so you can remove from heat mat and dome.
You can add a fish pump's aeration to ensure the seeds don't drown. I'm surprised you're getting such good germination after 48 hours actually. I usually don't recommend basic soaking for than 12 hours. I also grow all kinds of micros so I've got experience with soaking. Many seed cannot soak that long, but aeration can keep oxygen to the seed.
I had 90% germination just with seeding coir pods, a heating mat and grow lights. My challenge was keeping them alive, as soon as I removed the cover I lost half...I am going to try in their own container next time, removing the need to transplant. Besides I don't need too many pepper plants. So what do you do after they've germinated, they seem to still be sensitive to the temperature.
I ran out of heat mat-Ugh! I was using mat for late petunias and geraniums and needed to start pre germinating hot peppers. I snuck them along side, but it wasn’t the same because I had petunias in a propagating tray and all wasn’t fully contained by dome and tucked a towel around them. The flowers are great, but I couldn’t get enough heat to my 19 varieties of peppers. I had no other warm place and we must have an efficient hot water heater as that wasn’t warm either. So, some germinated as I could see a root popping. I also wanted to plant by the moon and it was the day to plant. I ordered more heat mats and am now getting all flats on heat, but I’m not seeing all peppers. I’m still hopeful to see them as they were all kept moist, just not all sprouted when I showed them. I know it can take quite awhile for hot peppers so I will see. I also ran out of space and lights. That was the other difficulty was some that sprouted need to get light ASAP. This is one reason I don’t like connected propagation trays and why I did use separate 6 pks. So I can move the ones that sprouted off the heat and to more light. Because I was using a heating pad and hitting the button several times😅until new mats arrived it has stalled things a bit. Now days some packets only have 15 seeds and it’s important to get good germination. And yes, don’t rip the roots off the seeds or wait to long to plant. Once the root peaks out I plant.
( Although engaged in a rather long "runt") this guy is spot on !! no waste of breath .!! Thx for the in-depth lecture. Did not waste me time listening !!
Every year I plant my beets I would take a cup of seed and soak it for at least one day. It makes it hard to plant cause the seeds stick together but I find they germinate way quicker. I mainly do this so I can water after I plant the seeds for maybe a week and not have to worry about spending forever making sure the ground is moist. That and my sister has lots of cats. The cats love to dig in the garden except if the soil is wet. So if I keep the soil wet and the plants grow and pop up in rows then I don’t have to worry so much. That and I don’t have the time or money to put in a fence which they may jump anyways.
I found this with some of my hot peppers. I crossed my Scotch bonnet with Habanero and so far none of about 30 seeds have sprouted from this cross. I have overwintered so far my Scotch Bonnet plant to try again this year. I think I might cross that with one of my bell pepper plants to increase the chances of these bell pepper seeds germinating and this will cool it down a bit :) I have showcased my pepper seed varieties on my latest video saved from last years fruits. I have got some of the hybrid fruits on the plants from last year on the top right of my channel page :)
It's great to hear that you've had good results with yellow peppers! When it comes to different pepper varieties, sometimes it can be a matter of trial and error to figure out what works best in your particular growing conditions. Without knowing more details about your specific situation, here are a few thoughts: -Different pepper varieties may have different requirements. It's possible that the red and red/orange blend peppers you tried simply weren't as well-suited to your growing conditions as the yellow ones. -Another possibility is that there was a pest or disease issue that affected the red and red/orange blend peppers but not the yellow ones. Did you notice any signs of damage or disease on those plants? -Lastly, it's possible that it was just a matter of chance or coincidence that the yellow peppers did better. Sometimes plants can be a bit unpredictable, even with the best care. Regardless, don't be discouraged! Keep experimenting with different varieties and techniques, and you'll likely find the perfect combination that works best for you. Good luck and happy gardening!
If you used all of them the same way then the red were bad. The packages very often are not stored well and the seeds are going bad... Buy another package of red once and start over...
Hi. I did a series of videos looking at 3 or 4 ways of germinating and measuring the success here in zone 7b/8a. We've had a series of weather disasters here that impacted my level of success that year, but I have found one way of germinating that was pretty good. This year I am trying yet another method - yours! Along with the really good method I learned last year. I am new to peppers, and wish to become well versed in them. I specialize in hard to find, rare peppers and love to experiment with flavors (last year I fell in love with the Turkish kardoula, for example). This year I'm doing Middle Eastern peppers, my usual Caribbean and some sweets I usually ignore. Question: What is your favorite pepper and why?
@@honeybeesinstatham1384 That's about 40 miles from me towards Athens. Thanks! I tend to try to give my seeds away during my live broadcasts 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 8 pm EST.. i have one tonight! Join me!
Warmth is only required to get the seed to germinate in a reasonable period of time. Once the seed has germinated and has the cotyledons exposed (the 2 baby leaves) the heat should be removed and now light is important. Leaving seedlings on a heat mat will cause them to stretch upwards (become leggy) and lead to weak plants. I germinate my peppers in a tray of 40 cells which I cut into sets of 6 trays. Each 6 cell tray is planted with the same type of seeds so that the faster germinating seeds (usually the milder peppers) can be removed from the heat mat and placed under grow lights. This means that the 'super hots' that can take upwards of 2 weeks to germiate - even in perfect conditions - can remain on the heat mat. Germinating multiple seed types in a 72 cell tray is asking for trouble!
Germination is easy.. Main thing is to keep soil moist and warm at all times, use a plastic bag or humidity dome and heat mat. Nature is pretty good at taking its course given the right conditions. Plant more seed then you need in case one gets damaged or doesn't germinate. No need to soak your seed, if your keeping your soil moist.
I have a question please help me. I am new to grown my own garden this year. First I did germinate seeds in pellet coco coin and cover with dorm. But not sure during seeds germinating tray on top of heating mat do I need to turn on LED light or not?
U said keep them moist, how? Water from below or sprits from above. Do u use a small fan for circulation to avoid stem rot. Video was ok but a few holes in the technique HELP, will be trying Jimmy Nardello and Orange Blaze, only have 10 seeds each. I’ll watch again. Will probably use a clamshell container from store to germinate then move to small flat, that what I need help with the watering. Thx
Great question Jon. Yes, we will typically transplant to a larger container, and if we are able, we will keep both plants alive and just split into two pots at the time of transplanting.
Drying pepper seeds before planting them is generally recommended for best results. It may not be 100% necessary, but it helps to prevent mold and fungal growth during germination. That would be my opinion.
Soaking the seeds prior, but at what temperature of water? Since it wasn't mentioned I assume only at room temperature. Natural, drinking water not tap water.
I plant my pepper in tray with cocopeat and put it inside a big plastic then close it with rubber. It's my first time planting pepper seeds its been 5days, hopefully it will work. I put my hand inside the plastic it's kinda warm.😂
I never generated seeds by using the wet towel in a sandwich bag before. How long does it typically take before the seeds start to sprout as you then would remove them from the bag?
Don't do that. See @user-nl5cs7jd4q commet. I left a reply under his comment. It's not hard but it's not really simple either but it gives a very controlled environment for getting the seeds to where they are rooting. You NEVER want to leave seeds in towels and a bag to where they sprout like his had. You don't want to have to use scissors to cut up anything like what he had to do. You only want to get the seeds to where they are rooting and then put them in potting soil.
I germinate seeds in folded paper towels in a ziplock but i plant them as soon as the roots start to come out. Waiting as long in the video doesn't make sense because it stresses them out.
Great tip, that was exactly what I thought too. In the vid, he’s waiting too long and leaves have started forming before he transplanted which could cause them to die. Just do it immediately roots form, so keep an eye and they will more likely survive better.
I have no problem with jalapeños. I ended up with way more than I needed and gave the plants away. My bell peppers were ok. My cayenne peppers give me great difficulty. I can’t seen to get more than about 5% to germinate.
I tried the soaking in water method this year mine ended up in water for 3 days then planted as instructed not 1 seed germinatedtrying again with the paper towel method
Yes, you can soak tomato seeds before planting them to help improve their germination rate. Soaking tomato seeds can help to soften the seed coat and make it easier for the seedling to emerge.
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I've seen another but similar method. Take 2 pieces of a toilet paper, cut a same size piece of plastic (from any plastic bag). Place a slightly wet toilet paper on the plastic, space the seeds on one edge and roll the whole thing as a cigarette. Put the "cigarette" in a plastic cup with a little bit of water (like 1cm or so) (seeds are in the upper part). Keep in a warm place. The paper will wick water to your seeds and you can observe your germination. Its a space saving way.
1. Soak seeds overnight in solution of water one cup and normal vinegar 2 TBS. Then drain and put them in a ziplock and add half Tsp water.Seal and put on top of geyser. Better wrap it in aluminum foil for uniform heating. The seeds will sprout in 4 to 7 days depending upon variety. Take them out and put in small individual pots filled with potting mix and put in light or out door if weather is good. Do not use tissue paper, tender roots entangle in paper and break while taking out
I think you left the seeds too long on the paper towel. Waiting g till the leaves show means that the root can be damaged in transplanting. Put the seed in the soil as soon as the little root shows
We agree with you. Unfortunately, for the sake of the video (and the amount of time it took to record it) things went a little too long. I think that is where the results show some issues. Thank you so much for the comment!
Sir after you soak the seed in water and planted it,did you still water them? I want to know the process that you did after you soaked the seed,thank you in advance for the reply
His process was to soak the seed and THEN do these different methods. So, always soak. Then, try these different methods to see which works best for you. However I'll modify one of his techniques and give you some detail about how and why. This is a modification of using paper towels inside a plastic bag. The concept of doing that has multiple problems, one being disease setting in on the seed before you ever get the seeds into potting soil. Get yourself a 10 x 20 inch seed tray. Get yourself a rubbermaid container that is not as tall as the seed tray or about the same height. You want the length and width of the contaner to be about 6 inches. A 4 x 4 inch gauze pad will need to fit in it, laying flat. Get yourself plastic wrap. Get yourself Johnson & Johnson Band-Aid brand Large Gauze Pads. These pads are 4 x 4 inches. This needs to lie flat in that rubbernaid container. Get yourself a large insulated drinking mug. Get yourself a heating mat for the 10 x 20 inch seed trays, one that has temperature control. You'll need one of these anyway for controlling the temp inside a seed tray when you're growing the seedlings. Don't try to save money and get a mat that isn't temperature controlled. A good one, actually it's a 6 pack is the Luxbird 6 Pack 30W Seedling Heating Mats 10" x 20.75" with Thermostat Controller. This allows you to use 1 to 6 heating mats off of the same thermostat controller and electric cord. The heating pads will hook together to form a chain of heating pads. But if you feel you will never need more than one heating pad, save the money and buy 1 heating pad, that's temperature controlled. Another option for the seed tray, if you have problems finding a rubbermaid container that is no more than 2 inches tall is instead of using a 10x20 seed tray, get a box that you can cut down to 4 - 5 inches tall. A heating mat needs to be able to fit into this box. If you need to use a box instead of a seed tray you'll now need a towel that will cover the top of the box instead of plastic wrap. What you are doing is making a controlled environment for the seeds, and it's small enough to where you can put it in your house/apt., not outside. You will first soak the seed for 1 day in mild to luke warm water, as in it feels mild to your fingers, not cool or very warm. You don't want the water to become cool. If you have a large insulated drinking mug this will help keep the water from cooling off quickly. Check the water about every 6 hours and pour out/add a little water to bring the temp up if needed. If you understand water temps, water that feels neutral on your skin is 85 - 90 degrees F. That's what you want for the seeds. After the seeds soak, put a 4 x 4 inch gauze pad in the rubbermaid container. Add FRESH water that's mild to luke warm in the container, not enough to where the pad is under water. Place the seeds on top of that pad. Take about 1/2 the thickness off another 4 x 4 inch pad and lay that over the other pad with the seeds. The goal is that this top pad will wick water up into it, but it's not sitting in the water. This will allow air to get to the seeds but at the same time the seeds are wet, all around the seeds including the top. You then put the lid on the container. You then put the heating mat in the box or seed tray. You then put the heat sensor in the box/seed tray, closer to the top. You then set the container with the seeds on the heating mat. You turn on the heating mat and set the temp for 81 - 82 degrees. You're going to check later to see what this does to the water temp inside the container. If using the seed tray you can then cover it with plastic wrap. This helps to keep the heat in so the heat mat isn't continually running, which will overheat the seeds. Then put a towel over the top to keep it dark. If you had to use a box instead of a seed tray, you probably can't use plastic wrap to cover the top and will just put a towel over it. After about 6 hours remove the towel/plastic wrap, and open up the container and check the water temp. If it feels warm then adjust the themostat to be a couple degrees cooler. If it feels a little cool then adjust the thermostat up. Wait another 6 hours and check the water temp again. If the water feels like already discussed then you can maintain that temperature for the heating mat. Once a day check the seeds to see if any have started to root. As soon as you see a few of them rooting, plant the seeds. Otherwise you're going to make sure the water level is still OK and also empty out a little water and add in some more fresh, luke warm water. This will help to keep any diseases from setting in. Adjust the thermostat if any of the daily checks shows the water temp to be cool or too warm. That's it. As far as planting the seeds you can deal with that on your own of get info elsewhere. What he did with the wet towels was allow the seeds to not only root, but sprout. That's why he had a lot of failure with that method. Don't do that. You need to get the seeds into the dirt as soon as they start rooting. And also when you put the seeds into soil, you need to water with water that's about the same temp. as the water they were soaking in. After that, follow the guidelines for germinating seed in the seed tray, with potting soil.
You won't be-LEAF what's on SALE!
Use link (bit.ly/3XzSCvT) and coupon code GUTEN to save an additional $10 off on qualifying orders.
GreenStalk Vertical Planters are on SALE AGAIN!
I found out that soaking my seeds at least 24-36 hrs really does make a difference, they really do grow faster once soaked in water. Thank You.
I'll try that too.
Please is it in warm water or cold water you soak in your pepper before planting? God bless you
@@tegaboye-ogundiya1715 room temperature
Soked in lukewarm water gives best results
I found that sowing directly in nursery trays was best for me. I soaked the soil in warm water before planting the seed. Then plant the seeds and slide the trays into a back yard bag till I see them sprout then I change the bags to a clear bag for light to get to them.I open the bag up one to twice a day to let air circulate. To prevent mold I sprinkle a thin layer of cinnamon on top of the soil. So far it has done well for me. Just have to pay close attention
Thank you for the suggestion about the cinnamon! We will look into doing this as well. :)
A lot of attention is something I'm lacking in as I have too much other work to do.lol
@@GutenGardening had a problem with coir molding last year and used cinnamon and it didn’t work for us, just had a nauseating odor in the house. Coir needs a lot of perlite added to get it to drain.
Where do you put bag with seeds ? Do you have cold weather or hot ?
@@pyardular I live in mid temperatures at the highest 75 degrees
Wow!!! id begun exactly this… forgot about them & found that maybe 8-10 days later, those tiny pepper seeds were sprouting out of their hard shells in the water!! It works !!! Thank you so much!!! ❤❤
You're absolutely correct, pepper seeds gereminate more readily when pre-soaked. Don't forget the temperature because it's just as important. Thanks for sharing!
I’m happy that someone else had this problem because my hot pepper seeds were a nightmare to get started last year. So I went to a local nursery and bought some transplants. This year I will focus on what many of you have been saying let them soak before planting them 👍🏾.
I am having the same issue.
Amazing!
I must try soaking my pepper seeds…I’ve had so much trouble with germination!!!
Thanks for the tips!
They can be so picky for sure. But, I think our results bear out that this will help you a great deal. Best of luck!
We didn't thin our peppers last year, we ended up with pretty much every cell with 2 seedlings and we kept them all the way from March to October and they did very well for us. Our seedlings started to languish in the coco coir starting mix we used (Burpee) but once we up potted them they were off and running. If we end up with even half the production of peppers we had in 2021 I'll be happy. I didn't bother to top any of them since they all grew in sets of two, but I think I will top a few just to see if they do even better.
Yes, the up-potting made a big difference for us as well. After a while they can definitely start to languish in the starting mix. We are going to experiment around a bit with what we do with ours this year, but like you, we are hoping for some of the same production as we had last year. :)
Hey this is not very scientific, but I wanted to share my experience on topping with you.
Last year I grew 7 varieties of peppers, 6 Plants each. Of every variety three were topped. My lighting was good, so I think that is a big factor. For most varieties there was little to no difference, but with the really tall ones it can help with stability, the plants will stay a bit shorter for the most part. But for smaller varieties which are branching well (like Jindungo) I saw a slight decrease in yield on those which were topped.
@@autisticguitar666 Don't prune peppers (aka don't top them), the fruits get smaller, even if more numerous, the walls are thinner and they stagnate for an extra 2 weeks, so harvest is later than from non-pruned ones.
Fantastic informaiton, and very timely. I'm just about to start my pepper seedlings. I was going to either use the papertowel method or the humidity dome method, but now i think i'll just soak and put them in seed trays. Thanks for the great video!
We heat with woodstove, so it's a little cooler esp. overnight. I have pepper & eggplant seeds on coffee filters in both carryout containers w/covers, and recycled plastic bags. They are all on Vivosun heating mats...PLUS I put another mat above them. The mats are around 80-85 degrees as per the fancy digital winemaker's thermometer. The eggplants were up in 11 days. Some of the peppers are up too. Others (from 2/11 & 12) are well swollen but only a nub of a root so far....I check every day. It seems the plastic bags are easiest to check for roots (you can see thru them) but the carryout containers being black are also easy but dry out faster even with the free humidity dome. I think for space reasons, for me it will be recycled plastic zip bags (just make sure to wash out any food particularly cheeses). And always, always, presprout many more seeds than you alone think you'll need. Extras can go to your neighbors or sell them on CL.
I did a combination of using a food tray, but I used a small layer of potting soil with small squares of paper towel. Placed a seed or two on each square. I had great success with germinating and transplanting was also very successful.
Nice video! This is the first year I am going to plant food (peppers, onions, potatoes, tomatoes). I have been growing plants for years (all organic). I will try the water soaking method since I have been doing that with the plants I have been growing to get nearly 100% germination. I do also use a splash of Hydrogen peroxide 3% and that definitely made a big difference in my germination success rate. I am just getting ready to plant my pepper seeds (harvested from an organic yellow pepper), so my timing in finding your video is perfect! Thanks again! Keep growing!
Very timely! Thank you. I’ll try soaking.
Our pleasure. It made a big difference for us for sure! Best of luck!
I did soak them last year, and will again this year. And now that I’ve read about chamomile tea, I’ll try that too.
Sure needed this information. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you very helpful, now I can start my seeds sowing
Thank You for Educating me.
Our pleasure. Have a wonderful day!
You're certainly right about the heat. I didn't have a heat mat this time, and the sprouting was very slow, if at all. I ended up re-seeding tray because the germination was so poor from the first planting. The second seeding is doing "okay", but it's still pretty slow. Next year, I'll have another heat mat for sure.
Interesting good to know. Will try soaking the seeds. Thanks!
It has worked wonders for us. :)
thank you for sharing. I always have problem with pepper germination especially with ghost pepper and carolina reaper. I did not know that we can soak them for 24-48 hours. I only did for 8 hours, placed them on a paper towels then in a ziploc bag. I did not wait for them to fully germinate. As soon as I see some white roots (?) I put them in soil. I will definitely follow your method next year
Very timely information as I am planning on starting the seeds I received from you today. Happy soaking!
Fantastic! Enjoy, and good luck with germination!
Do you have a video on transplanting them after they’ve grown some
Great video.. I love the seed soaking method and will be trying this method to help decrease losses. 👍
Great information!
Nothing makes me happier than a tray full of pepper seedlings; well, maybe two trays! Are you guys trying the Beaver Dam pepper again this year? Amazing heirloom pepper developed in Beaver Dam WI! They put on a festival for the pepper every year, I would highly recommend going in 2022
I love growing peppers also. I think I’m a bit infatuated! I had 29 varieties last year. I’m also in Wi. I must look up those beaver Dam peppers!! 😊🌶
We have to do those Beaver Dam peppers, especially after the year you had!
For my peppers, I always use heat mats, just like I do with all my other seeds. My tomatoes always do great.
I'm no expert by a long shot but I suspect you're leaving those germinated seeds in the zip lock baggy way to long. That's why your transplant survival rate is so poor. You should be checking those seeds every day and the second that root pops out they should be going into soil. Why are you waiting till there 2 cm of growth and it's all tangled up in the paper towel? It's going to be near on impossible to transplant them without damaging them and/or causing transplant shock. Just saying. Enjoyed the video. Thanks
I have a (very) small space with a heat exchanger for shower water and house warming. I had trouble germinating habanero seeds. I put a tray with seeds in a ziplock bag on top of the heat exchanger which kept the temperature at a consistent 80 F. After two days 75% germinated. Just take care to transplant them immediately because the space is completely dark.
Sounds really good. I have the same problem and will try it now. I know it helps with sweet peas, so why not? Certainly makes sense to me. Thank you for a valuable tip.
Thanks. I've had trouble this year with germination of peppers too. Last year, had no problem. This year. I just don't know. But, I'l try the soaking method.
Let us know how it works out for your!
I enjoyed the video and I soak most of my seeds before planting!
I’ve replanted bell pepper seeds 3 times already, with no luck at all. These were brand new seeds also.
Thank you, this was very helpful!! I'm struggling with germinating peppers too !! 😅
You are so welcome!
If you don't have a heat mat try placing a folded towel on top of your refridgerator and putting the seeds, whether you're using the paper towel/ziplock method or covered starting cells and soil. It runs 24 hours anyway and most refridgerators are slightly warm on top. But feel it first or take a temperature reading you don't want it hot, just warm about 80 to 90 degrees maximum. If it's too warm raise it up with another towel underneath.
I have malted my own barley in the past and i would recommend soaking for 8 to 12 hours at a time with a short break and back to soaking
Thank you!! Awesome video and straight to the point. Before finding your channel I watch the so called “pepper expert” showing how he plants his peppers and he didn’t mention anything about soaking. Just planted the seeds out of the packet. I did that last year and had ZERO germination. Even though my seeds were on a heating pad with humidity.🤨 He also asks people to BUY his book to learn the secrets. So annoying. I think soaking them is the trick! Thank you!!! ❤
When would it be a good time to transplant from the tray to a pot/ground?
Thank you. I'm actually losing hope on my planting journey and this bell pepper is one of my priority to plant but unfortunately only okra germinates well among my other seeds.
This video gives me hope. I'll try soaking my other seeds prior planting them
Loved this video! I subscribed!💕
Me 2 ❤❤❤
I just found this video. I’ve germinated seeds before but never bell peppers. I had no idea they were so particular. I’ve got some in bags in between paper towels, they are starting to mildew so I think maybe I’ll keep them on the paper towel but move it to a container. I’d hate to lose them. Thank you for the video!!!
The seeds need to breathe, never close them up in a thick wet towel without letting them breathe.
Soaking seeds shortern the period before seeds germinate using towels or soil mix mediums that are friendly to mold. Seeds tend to develop microscopic mold or fungus in a given moist environment that makes the seeds less healthy and struggle to germinate. A quick mild hydrogen peroxide rinsing makes a difference to assure a more sterilized seeds.
I had the best microgreen germination when coating the seeds with diatomaceous earth. Here in Florida, high humidity and pests are quite a challenge. Diatomaceous earth is antifungal, regulates moist and keeps the cutworms at bay.
Brilliant, thank you so much.
You're very welcome!
Ireland loads of horticulture course teachers get six hundred week wages landscaping vegetables farmers great video you are good teacher
Hi! Great info and very well researched and clearly presented. I'd like to add two options; one is toilet paper is quicker to break down than paper towel and doesn't do as much damage to baby roots if you're going that route. Second has black tea for soaking the seeds. I've read about this several times and will try it myself this year. It was suggested that you soak the seeds in room temp black tea for 30-ish minutes, then move them to plain water for another 8-12. Anybody else ever heard of this method?
I don't have a heating mat and I already have serranos germinating (hopefully) in the fridge. For heat and humidity I'm going to treat them like I do my sourdough starter over winter, in the microwave with a big cup of hot water. The temperature in the microwave does cool down so you want to check it about every 6-8 hours, upon which you reheat the glass of water and put the seeds back in. Don't nuke the seeds lol. I am going to try the black tea method as well if needs be. In the next few days I'm going to try poblanos. Wish me luck!
Amazing vídeo. Thanks!
Awesome video!!
Hi Same I did in november slightly cold in India,for sponge guard seeds, soaked in lukewarm water for 24hours,they startrd germinating then sow them in cocopeat tray after 10days they were ready to plant in land,
Do you have to keep the water warm for the time you’re soaking your seeds?
Good Work!
I’ve done the paper towel and soaking method on flower seeds,didn’t know it also works on peppers.Definitely had to try that.Thank you Sir.
Paper towel method, don't do what he did with the pepper seeds. Check them daily. As soon as the first few root, then plant them all into a seed tray. You shouldn't get transplant shock doing that. If they've started to put out the sprout you've waited too long.
I'm currently doing this and impatiently waiting for the first seeds to stick their roots out. I'm at day 2 and I didn't presoak seeds. I watched one person get the seed to root in about one day but every other video I watched seems to suggest I have 4 - 7 days before I should see anything. He DID go through a presoak process, but it was maybe 2 - 3 hours and he moved the seeds between hot and cold water a few times at the end of the soaking to simulate day and night.
And the other point the person made, the one who got roots in 1 day, is don't use paper towel but instead something more like a gauze pad, a thick one for the bottom and one that holds water well. Lay one on top, doesn't need to be as thick. The water should be enough to keep the seeds wet, but to see water pool up on the top of the stack, you need to push down. This will mean the seed isn't in water but is being kept wet from the top and bottom and air should also get to the seed from the top since it's not soaking in water.
GREAT VIDEO , I LEARNED ALOT. DON'T TRY CUTTING CORNERS OR SAVING TIME. YOU WILL ONLY CHEAT YOURSELF & NOT DO AS WELL WITH PLANTS OR ANYTHING ELSE. BEST IDEA GROW A GARDEN YOU WOM'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON FOOD AT THE MARKET THAT MAY NOT BE THEIR. OR IS OUTRAGIOUSLY PRICED.
I'll try soaking. Thanks!
I love your instructions
It was very helpful
I have a quick question I have some ghost peppers and dried out the seeds, would I be able to germinate right away or should I wait some time
Thank you! I have not tried with ghost peppers, but in general, you can germinate them right away. You should dry them if you plant to store them longer term. I hope that helps!
Gibberellic acid soak will halve the germination time. There is also a good fungi that depresses bad fungi int Promix bx. Unless your planting hole tray, use six pack cell trays so you can remove from heat mat and dome.
You can add a fish pump's aeration to ensure the seeds don't drown. I'm surprised you're getting such good germination after 48 hours actually. I usually don't recommend basic soaking for than 12 hours. I also grow all kinds of micros so I've got experience with soaking. Many seed cannot soak that long, but aeration can keep oxygen to the seed.
And, I've never grown pepper (or nightshade of any kind) micros of course.
I had 90% germination just with seeding coir pods, a heating mat and grow lights. My challenge was keeping them alive, as soon as I removed the cover I lost half...I am going to try in their own container next time, removing the need to transplant. Besides I don't need too many pepper plants. So what do you do after they've germinated, they seem to still be sensitive to the temperature.
Are you watering from the bottom only, if you water from top it can cause die-off of seedlings
I ran out of heat mat-Ugh! I was using mat for late petunias and geraniums and needed to start pre germinating hot peppers. I snuck them along side, but it wasn’t the same because I had petunias in a propagating tray and all wasn’t fully contained by dome and tucked a towel around them. The flowers are great, but I couldn’t get enough heat to my 19 varieties of peppers. I had no other warm place and we must have an efficient hot water heater as that wasn’t warm either. So, some germinated as I could see a root popping. I also wanted to plant by the moon and it was the day to plant. I ordered more heat mats and am now getting all flats on heat, but I’m not seeing all peppers. I’m still hopeful to see them as they were all kept moist, just not all sprouted when I showed them.
I know it can take quite awhile for hot peppers so I will see. I also ran out of space and lights. That was the other difficulty was some that sprouted need to get light ASAP. This is one reason I don’t like connected propagation trays and why I did use separate 6 pks. So I can move the ones that sprouted off the heat and to more light. Because I was using a heating pad and hitting the button several times😅until new mats arrived it has stalled things a bit.
Now days some packets only have 15 seeds and it’s important to get good germination. And yes, don’t rip the roots off the seeds or wait to long to plant. Once the root peaks out I plant.
( Although engaged in a rather long "runt") this guy is spot on !! no waste of breath .!! Thx for the in-depth lecture. Did not waste me time listening !!
Every year I plant my beets I would take a cup of seed and soak it for at least one day. It makes it hard to plant cause the seeds stick together but I find they germinate way quicker. I mainly do this so I can water after I plant the seeds for maybe a week and not have to worry about spending forever making sure the ground is moist.
That and my sister has lots of cats. The cats love to dig in the garden except if the soil is wet. So if I keep the soil wet and the plants grow and pop up in rows then I don’t have to worry so much. That and I don’t have the time or money to put in a fence which they may jump anyways.
I found this with some of my hot peppers. I crossed my Scotch bonnet with Habanero and so far none of about 30 seeds have sprouted from this cross. I have overwintered so far my Scotch Bonnet plant to try again this year. I think I might cross that with one of my bell pepper plants to increase the chances of these bell pepper seeds germinating and this will cool it down a bit :) I have showcased my pepper seed varieties on my latest video saved from last years fruits. I have got some of the hybrid fruits on the plants from last year on the top right of my channel page :)
I will check this out. I look forward to seeing what you have done! :)
Would you recommend using a warming pad even though I live in the Philippines?
I would say that, if your ambient temperature keeps the soil mix warm enough, then you don't need a warming pad.
I had REALLY good results with Yellow peppers, ok with orange... no luck at all with red and the red/orange blend ones. Any thoughts?
It's great to hear that you've had good results with yellow peppers! When it comes to different pepper varieties, sometimes it can be a matter of trial and error to figure out what works best in your particular growing conditions. Without knowing more details about your specific situation, here are a few thoughts:
-Different pepper varieties may have different requirements. It's possible that the red and red/orange blend peppers you tried simply weren't as well-suited to your growing conditions as the yellow ones.
-Another possibility is that there was a pest or disease issue that affected the red and red/orange blend peppers but not the yellow ones. Did you notice any signs of damage or disease on those plants?
-Lastly, it's possible that it was just a matter of chance or coincidence that the yellow peppers did better. Sometimes plants can be a bit unpredictable, even with the best care.
Regardless, don't be discouraged! Keep experimenting with different varieties and techniques, and you'll likely find the perfect combination that works best for you. Good luck and happy gardening!
If you used all of them the same way then the red were bad. The packages very often are not stored well and the seeds are going bad... Buy another package of red once and start over...
Hi. I did a series of videos looking at 3 or 4 ways of germinating and measuring the success here in zone 7b/8a. We've had a series of weather disasters here that impacted my level of success that year, but I have found one way of germinating that was pretty good.
This year I am trying yet another method - yours! Along with the really good method I learned last year.
I am new to peppers, and wish to become well versed in them. I specialize in hard to find, rare peppers and love to experiment with flavors (last year I fell in love with the Turkish kardoula, for example).
This year I'm doing Middle Eastern peppers, my usual Caribbean and some sweets I usually ignore.
Question: What is your favorite pepper and why?
If you live near Statham, Georgia look up the seed swap date April 15, 2023 at the at Statham public library to get seeds. It's free.
@@honeybeesinstatham1384 That's about 40 miles from me towards Athens. Thanks!
I tend to try to give my seeds away during my live broadcasts 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 8 pm EST.. i have one tonight! Join me!
I reeeally want a red dorset naga plant! Maybe next year.
Do you place the small container of soaking seeds on the heat mat while soaking?
That's what I was wondering as well.👍
Great question. No, we didn't. We just let it soak at room temperature. :)
Employing the last method, would the germinated plants grow any faster if I placed the seed tray with the plants on the heating mat?
Warmth is only required to get the seed to germinate in a reasonable period of time. Once the seed has germinated and has the cotyledons exposed (the 2 baby leaves) the heat should be removed and now light is important. Leaving seedlings on a heat mat will cause them to stretch upwards (become leggy) and lead to weak plants. I germinate my peppers in a tray of 40 cells which I cut into sets of 6 trays. Each 6 cell tray is planted with the same type of seeds so that the faster germinating seeds (usually the milder peppers) can be removed from the heat mat and placed under grow lights. This means that the 'super hots' that can take upwards of 2 weeks to germiate - even in perfect conditions - can remain on the heat mat. Germinating multiple seed types in a 72 cell tray is asking for trouble!
i use a dome over the tray with the heat mat
Excellent! Our new seed starting setups have domes as well. Very helpful for maintaining the humidity rate.
Germination is easy.. Main thing is to keep soil moist and warm at all times, use a plastic bag or humidity dome and heat mat. Nature is pretty good at taking its course given the right conditions. Plant more seed then you need in case one gets damaged or doesn't germinate. No need to soak your seed, if your keeping your soil moist.
I have a question please help me. I am new to grown my own garden this year. First I did germinate seeds in pellet coco coin and cover with dorm. But not sure during seeds germinating tray on top of heating mat do I need to turn on LED light or not?
please state if there is another way, because we do not have heating mats in my country. Nor loose dirt...
U said keep them moist, how? Water from below or sprits from above. Do u use a small fan for circulation to avoid stem rot. Video was ok but a few holes in the technique HELP, will be trying Jimmy Nardello and Orange Blaze, only have 10 seeds each. I’ll watch again. Will probably use a clamshell container from store to germinate then move to small flat, that what I need help with the watering. Thx
Along with what you do, have you tried scarification, as in attempting to mimic what happens in a bird's digestive system??
Even with my heat mat I can barely reach 75F. Or about 5deg warmer than room temperature. I have it set for 80F.
It’s like 80-100 from April to November where I live
Soak seeds in a cool strong tea brew, works for a lot of seeds
So there are two plants per cube. Do you prune one out? Do you also transplant to a larger container before final transplanting? Great info!
Great question Jon. Yes, we will typically transplant to a larger container, and if we are able, we will keep both plants alive and just split into two pots at the time of transplanting.
In my mini garden
Very good!
I always soak my seeds, but I use cold black tea.
Temperature 85 degrees F = 30 degrees C for those in metric countries
Soak chilli seeds in cooled black tea for 24 hours, the tannins in the tea really soften up that testa
I hate to sound stupid but do i let the seeds dry out before i soak them if im using from store bought pepper 🌶🤔😊
Drying pepper seeds before planting them is generally recommended for best results. It may not be 100% necessary, but it helps to prevent mold and fungal growth during germination. That would be my opinion.
Soaking the seeds prior, but at what temperature of water? Since it wasn't mentioned I assume only at room temperature. Natural, drinking water not tap water.
I plant my pepper in tray with cocopeat and put it inside a big plastic then close it with rubber. It's my first time planting pepper seeds its been 5days, hopefully it will work. I put my hand inside the plastic it's kinda warm.😂
I never generated seeds by using the wet towel in a sandwich bag before. How long does it typically take before the seeds start to sprout as you then would remove them from the bag?
Don't do that.
See @user-nl5cs7jd4q commet. I left a reply under his comment. It's not hard but it's not really simple either but it gives a very controlled environment for getting the seeds to where they are rooting. You NEVER want to leave seeds in towels and a bag to where they sprout like his had. You don't want to have to use scissors to cut up anything like what he had to do. You only want to get the seeds to where they are rooting and then put them in potting soil.
What temperature we need?
This was great - thank you! But please revisit the use of peat. 🙏
Try using 2-ply toilet tissue instead of paper towel. It’s still sturdy enough to work but it also breaks down easier!
That's a great suggestion! Thanks for sharing.
OMG, super informative, I am participating in give away sir, tq
Thank you so much for watching!
I germinate seeds in folded paper towels in a ziplock but i plant them as soon as the roots start to come out. Waiting as long in the video doesn't make sense because it stresses them out.
Great tip, that was exactly what I thought too. In the vid, he’s waiting too long and leaves have started forming before he transplanted which could cause them to die. Just do it immediately roots form, so keep an eye and they will more likely survive better.
Black tea soak? And seeds tip cuttings abit
I have no problem with jalapeños. I ended up with way more than I needed and gave the plants away. My bell peppers were ok. My cayenne peppers give me great difficulty. I can’t seen to get more than about 5% to germinate.
I tried the soaking in water method this year mine ended up in water for 3 days then planted as instructed not 1 seed germinatedtrying again with the paper towel method
Can you soak tomatoe seeds as well?
Yes, you can soak tomato seeds before planting them to help improve their germination rate. Soaking tomato seeds can help to soften the seed coat and make it easier for the seedling to emerge.
I've seen another but similar method. Take 2 pieces of a toilet paper, cut a same size piece of plastic (from any plastic bag). Place a slightly wet toilet paper on the plastic, space the seeds on one edge and roll the whole thing as a cigarette. Put the "cigarette" in a plastic cup with a little bit of water (like 1cm or so) (seeds are in the upper part). Keep in a warm place. The paper will wick water to your seeds and you can observe your germination. Its a space saving way.
1. Soak seeds overnight in solution of water one cup and normal vinegar 2 TBS. Then drain and put them in a ziplock and add half Tsp water.Seal and put on top of geyser. Better wrap it in aluminum foil for uniform heating. The seeds will sprout in 4 to 7 days depending upon variety. Take them out and put in small individual pots filled with potting mix and put in light or out door if weather is good. Do not use tissue paper, tender roots entangle in paper and break while taking out
@악마 현혹 You can use any place where temperature is normal or not cold like kitchen. Point is warm and moist atmosphere with darkness is required
Soak in black tea for 24 hrs is the best method
I just planted my pepper seed but i waited 12 days and it didn't grow 😭 and then i check the soil and saw the seed empty idk why my seed is empty
Birds ate them. 😬
My adult son wanted me to start a Carolina Reaper pepper plant for him. There are only a few seeds for $5, so I'm feeling a little pressure here. 🤯
I wish you well! We haven't tried anything that hot before, but I know the seeds are expensive!
I save my seeds from my Bellpeppers for the last year ....
Would it not be cheaper to buy a pepper and extract the seeds ?
@@LegendProbablyKnowsIt Not sure,but I have plenty of seeds from this point forward..
I think you left the seeds too long on the paper towel. Waiting g till the leaves show means that the root can be damaged in transplanting. Put the seed in the soil as soon as the little root shows
We agree with you. Unfortunately, for the sake of the video (and the amount of time it took to record it) things went a little too long. I think that is where the results show some issues. Thank you so much for the comment!
Sir after you soak the seed in water and planted it,did you still water them?
I want to know the process that you did after you soaked the seed,thank you in advance for the reply
His process was to soak the seed and THEN do these different methods.
So, always soak.
Then, try these different methods to see which works best for you.
However I'll modify one of his techniques and give you some detail about how and why.
This is a modification of using paper towels inside a plastic bag. The concept of doing that has multiple problems, one being disease setting in on the seed before you ever get the seeds into potting soil.
Get yourself a 10 x 20 inch seed tray.
Get yourself a rubbermaid container that is not as tall as the seed tray or about the same height. You want the length and width of the contaner to be about 6 inches. A 4 x 4 inch gauze pad will need to fit in it, laying flat.
Get yourself plastic wrap.
Get yourself Johnson & Johnson Band-Aid brand Large Gauze Pads. These pads are 4 x 4 inches. This needs to lie flat in that rubbernaid container.
Get yourself a large insulated drinking mug.
Get yourself a heating mat for the 10 x 20 inch seed trays, one that has temperature control. You'll need one of these anyway for controlling the temp inside a seed tray when you're growing the seedlings. Don't try to save money and get a mat that isn't temperature controlled. A good one, actually it's a 6 pack is the Luxbird 6 Pack 30W Seedling Heating Mats 10" x 20.75" with Thermostat Controller. This allows you to use 1 to 6 heating mats off of the same thermostat controller and electric cord. The heating pads will hook together to form a chain of heating pads. But if you feel you will never need more than one heating pad, save the money and buy 1 heating pad, that's temperature controlled.
Another option for the seed tray, if you have problems finding a rubbermaid container that is no more than 2 inches tall is instead of using a 10x20 seed tray, get a box that you can cut down to 4 - 5 inches tall. A heating mat needs to be able to fit into this box. If you need to use a box instead of a seed tray you'll now need a towel that will cover the top of the box instead of plastic wrap.
What you are doing is making a controlled environment for the seeds, and it's small enough to where you can put it in your house/apt., not outside.
You will first soak the seed for 1 day in mild to luke warm water, as in it feels mild to your fingers, not cool or very warm. You don't want the water to become cool. If you have a large insulated drinking mug this will help keep the water from cooling off quickly. Check the water about every 6 hours and pour out/add a little water to bring the temp up if needed. If you understand water temps, water that feels neutral on your skin is 85 - 90 degrees F. That's what you want for the seeds.
After the seeds soak, put a 4 x 4 inch gauze pad in the rubbermaid container. Add FRESH water that's mild to luke warm in the container, not enough to where the pad is under water. Place the seeds on top of that pad. Take about 1/2 the thickness off another 4 x 4 inch pad and lay that over the other pad with the seeds. The goal is that this top pad will wick water up into it, but it's not sitting in the water. This will allow air to get to the seeds but at the same time the seeds are wet, all around the seeds including the top.
You then put the lid on the container. You then put the heating mat in the box or seed tray. You then put the heat sensor in the box/seed tray, closer to the top. You then set the container with the seeds on the heating mat. You turn on the heating mat and set the temp for 81 - 82 degrees. You're going to check later to see what this does to the water temp inside the container. If using the seed tray you can then cover it with plastic wrap. This helps to keep the heat in so the heat mat isn't continually running, which will overheat the seeds. Then put a towel over the top to keep it dark. If you had to use a box instead of a seed tray, you probably can't use plastic wrap to cover the top and will just put a towel over it.
After about 6 hours remove the towel/plastic wrap, and open up the container and check the water temp. If it feels warm then adjust the themostat to be a couple degrees cooler. If it feels a little cool then adjust the thermostat up. Wait another 6 hours and check the water temp again. If the water feels like already discussed then you can maintain that temperature for the heating mat.
Once a day check the seeds to see if any have started to root. As soon as you see a few of them rooting, plant the seeds. Otherwise you're going to make sure the water level is still OK and also empty out a little water and add in some more fresh, luke warm water. This will help to keep any diseases from setting in. Adjust the thermostat if any of the daily checks shows the water temp to be cool or too warm.
That's it. As far as planting the seeds you can deal with that on your own of get info elsewhere.
What he did with the wet towels was allow the seeds to not only root, but sprout. That's why he had a lot of failure with that method. Don't do that. You need to get the seeds into the dirt as soon as they start rooting. And also when you put the seeds into soil, you need to water with water that's about the same temp. as the water they were soaking in. After that, follow the guidelines for germinating seed in the seed tray, with potting soil.
i have only squash, tomato,sitaw,and ampalaya
Great varieties!
cut little bit of the Testa before planting