Germination temperatures

18 -21C to germinate. Grow on at around 12 -13C

Minimum temp is 16 degrees c.Ideal temp being 27 degrees c.should germinate in 7-14 days.Then grow on a light window sill until final planting.

With almost all seeds there is an optimum range of temperatures that seeds will germinate at.

A study on the internet shows that for peppers:

at 0 degC........ 0% seeds germinated
at 5 degC........ 0% seeds germinated
at 10 degC...... 1% seeds germinated
at 15 degC...... 70% seeds germinated but took 25 days
at 20 degC...... 96% seeds germinated but took 13 days
at 25 degC...... 98% seeds germinated and took only 8 days - BEST
at 30 degC...... 95% seeds germinated, again in 8 days
at 35 degC...... 70% seeds germinated but took 9 days


This shows that you can use soil temperatures from 15 degC up to 35 degC and still get germination but it will be quicker, and more will germinate, if you use 25 to 30 degC.




Growing temperatures are cooler than germination temperatures but depend on the light available. If light levels are low then the plants should be cool (say around 13 to 15 degC) but if light levels are high the temperature can be up to 20 degC.


Note that different varieties of chilli or pepper germinate faster or slower than the average times given here but the temperature and germination results will be little different.



EDIT: my long post is a long-winded way of saying what ScarletRunner said much more succinctly !!

hmmmph, I just read the seed packet

That's what I've found. Some are up in the heated prop in around 11 days, their tardy brothers are taking 35+ days on the cool windowsill

Can't fault that method !!

Thomson and Morgan have for my Heatwave Chilli - germination usually takes 8-14 days at 24-27C.

They say the same for my Prairie Fire.


But for my Pinnochio's Nose they say - place in a propagator at 18-20C until after germination, which takes 7 to 14 days.

And they recommend this lower temperature for my Jalepeno.



I don't read each of my seed packets and tend to use bottom heat (un-regulated) to germinate my all chillies regardless and I do notice that some varieties do come up much quicker than others. You may well have pointed out the reason: could certain varieties benefit from lower temperature than others?

I'll have a read later.

Thanks.



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