Tweet
This week, it was time to check on their progress… and I was pleasantly surprised.
Simple Setup, Great Results
All of the seedlings were kept indoors on a bright windowsill. The radiator below provides gentle background warmth, but it’s not on constantly. Everything relies mainly on natural light and normal household temperatures.
Despite the simple setup, germination has been excellent. Most of the seedlings are strong and healthy, with just one looking a bit leggy - something that’s easy to correct with careful potting.
It just shows that you don’t need expensive equipment to get started.
Ready for Potting On
Once seedlings develop proper roots, they need more space. Leaving them too long in small trays can hold them back, so potting on at the right time is important.
For this stage, I used a coir-based compost mixed with perlite, which has been working really well so far. It holds moisture nicely without becoming waterlogged - ideal for young plants.
Sweet Banana Peppers
I started with the Sweet Banana peppers. Around five had germinated well, so they went straight into individual pots.
Each seedling had a good root system, making them easy to transplant. Once potted, they’ll go straight back onto the windowsill - it’s still far too cold for peppers in the greenhouse.
Candy Cane Peppers
Next came the Candy Cane peppers. Again, germination was strong, with at least five healthy seedlings ready to move on.
Some were bigger than others, which is completely normal. Not every seed grows at the same speed, and that’s nothing to worry about at this stage.
Mixed Hot Chilli Varieties
The final group came from a mixed pack, including Carolina Reaper and several other hot varieties.
I selected the five strongest seedlings and potted them up. These were sown around the 20th–21st of January and have germinated quickly, especially considering there’s no artificial heat or lighting involved.
While I enjoy a bit of spice, I’m more interested in flavour than pure heat - so it’ll be interesting to see how these compare to the milder varieties later in the season.
No Fancy Equipment Needed
Many growers use grow lights, heat mats, and multi-tier racks, and those setups can produce fantastic results. But this experiment shows that you can still grow healthy chilli plants with a very simple setup.
Natural light, a warm windowsill, and decent compost can go a long way.
It’s not about having the “perfect” system, it’s about using what you’ve got and making it work.
What Happens Next
All the seedlings are now potted up and heading back indoors. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be tracking how they grow, when they’re ready for the greenhouse, and which varieties perform best.
🎥 Watch the Videos
Here are the related videos from this series:
👉 Potting On Chilli Seedlings – Windowsill Method
https://youtu.be/5CdZLwSfbuQ
👉 Too Early for Chillies? I’m Testing It Anyway
https://youtu.be/objs9fUSSLg
👉 Mini Greenhouse & Winter Growing Playlist
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...l1KitqUoDlGuE9
Attached Files
