Pepper Starting at
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
— How We Do It —
Here is the basic process
we follow when starting peppers here at Johnny’s …
In early
April, once we have determined which varieties we want to grow and how many
plants of each, we assemble the seeds, 20-row
flats, and Johnny’s
Germination Mix that we will need to start the growing process. We place
masking tape on one edge of the 20-row flat, so we can keep track of the
varieties we have sown. We fill the rows three-quarters full with the germination
mix, tamp it down slightly, and seed our rows with 20–30 seeds per row. The
flats are covered with more germination mix and watered lightly. A leak-proof
tray is then set on top, to ensure that the flat retains moisture during
germination, and the flat is placed in a warm (85°F/29
°C
), dark place.
As soon as
the first few pepper seeds germinate, we take the trays out and place them on
heat mats, with the temperature set to 75°F/24°C. Once the plants reach the stage where
you can see the first true leaves, we “bump up” the seedlings to the 50-cell
flats in which they are going to spend their most active growing time. Here
in Albion, Maine, the length of time the seedlings will spend in the 50-cell flats
is usually about 6 weeks, or until they are ready to be transplanted.
Our peppers
are planted on IRT (infrared-transmitting
plastic) mulch, with two rows per bed and plants 18” apart in staggered
rows. The plastic mulch should be at least 32” across, which allows for the two
rows to be planted away from the edges of the poly, where they may receive
unwanted root pruning from mechanical cultivation. We fertilize the ground and
lay the poly on slightly raised beds about a week prior to transplanting.
Depending on current weather conditions, we may install wire hoops
and floating row covers immediately after transplanting, to add warmth and
decrease transplant shock. These row covers are removed when nighttime
temperatures reach an acceptable degree.
During the
main growing season, the pepper beds are mechanically cultivated regularly to
limit weed competition. The planting holes are also checked for weeds, and hand
weeded as necessary.
Depending on weather, a regular drip
irrigation regimen will be established, in order to prevent any major
fluctuations in soil moisture.
And that
about sums it up for the pepper-starting routine we follow, here at Johnny’s.
— Brian Milliken, Albion, Maine, 01/09/2013
To learn more about starting peppers, read:
