Germination

First thing is to get organised. Get some label sticks and an indelible pen, as it is too easy to muddle the whole lot up once they start germinating. A bag of potting compost and some kind of seeding medium and tray.

Whether its just a plain tray or cell blocks you need to choose a propagation medium. This is what the seeds will actually sit in. A preformed option impregnated with nutrient is probably the easiest and best option but there are 4 choices:

Jiffy Pellets

Soak them for approximately five minutes depending on water temperature and pop the seed in. Do not over-soak them as this will restrict the root growth and could eventually kill the seedling. Enough nutrient and compost to keep the seedling going until it’s got a good healthy root system.

Root Riot blocks

Preformed cubes of pete soaked in nutrient solution with a hole pierced down the centre for seeds. Use straight out the packet, quick, easy and a high success rate.

Rockwool Cubes

Inert non-compostable mineral cubes. Soaked in nutrient solution before use.

Compost soil in cells

Traditional and simple but slow and difficult to repot. Root damage could occur when transporting the seedlings to a larger pot. Sow in about 3 cm cells with 2 seeds in each and thinly cover in compost. Not suitable for plants which will be used in hydroponic systems.

What to watch for!

At this stage your biggest enemy is mold or condensation. If you notice this, simply leave the lid off your propagator for a day to let the air dry them out a bit. Replace the lid to keep them moist to the touch. It's a balancing game between too wet and too dry so watch your new plants closely.

Timings

For a good greenhouse crop you will need a fairly long season especially on the chinense varieties, so aim to start sowing seeds in Feb/March, earlier if you are using controllable light and heat. Pre-soaking the seeds may help getting some harder to germinate ones going. Germination can then take up to 6 weeks depending on variety, in a temperature of 75ºF - 85ºF, although the majority of seeds germinate in the first 2 weeks. Higher temperature can be used giving quicker germination, but overall germination percentage may then be lowered. Light is no factor in germination.

Temperature

Electric heated propagators help and start at about £20. If you haven't got a heated propagator cover your seed tray with cling film to hold the humidity up and place in airing cupboard, on top of a boiler or somewhere near a radiator, keep a regular check on them, because as soon as the seedlings are up they will then need maximum light to stop them going straggly and getting weak.

Congratulation! Now you are onto the next stage... seedlings. Click here to read about seedlings.

This guide was produced in collaboration with Chillis Galore. A useful resource of information, tips and recipes. Visit www.chillisgalore.co.uk