Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before transplant? Bell
Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it is.
Ok, last year got a lot of sprouts then a final cold snap
hit late out of season just as I put them out.
They also didn't grow much as I had them over planted in
the containers so I've been collecting things about the
house that will do for bigger ones.
I also picked up a grow light with 2 arms that twist all
about and a 4 pack of heater mats with individual temp
control.
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before
transplant? Bell
Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it
is.
Carol wrote:
...
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before transplant? Bell
Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it is.
peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until
well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures are
consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells or
frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if they
drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's not a
good thing for them.
it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've
put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half
tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot they
will be ok to start and get established. after they are
established they will probably not need to be worried about
as much.
songbird
Carol wrote:
Ok, last year got a lot of sprouts then a final cold snap
hit late out of season just as I put them out.
They also didn't grow much as I had them over planted in
the containers so I've been collecting things about the
house that will do for bigger ones.
I also picked up a grow light with 2 arms that twist all
about and a 4 pack of heater mats with individual temp
control.
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before
transplant? Bell
Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it
is.
Hi, Carol~~~~~
I usually drag my plant lights out at the end of January/
beginning of February, but only start the cool weather
seeds at that time. Lettuce, onions, etc.
I wait until around the end of February to start the warm
weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc.
Six to eight weeks before time to transplant them outside.
Two reasons: 1) limited space even when I use two plant
lights and 2) I don't want the plants getting too leggy
when using the lights.
Figure that getting the plants up to ~four inches or
so before setting them outside, although towards that
time I will set the flat of plants out on the deck for
a few hours of real sunshine when weather permits to
help them get used to being in the real world. ;)
As Songbird noted, the temperature must be at least
55F consistantly before transplanting the warm weather
goodies.
Another thing to keep in mind, especially down at VB
is the wind. Strong winds can wipe out plants just
as well as a cold snap. When in doubt, protect the
newbies on windy days with some sort of barrier such
as a piece of cardboard or other blocker to keep
the plants upright and happy.
More snow coming later today and tomorrow morning. Since
we're only 90 miles apart, you'll be getting some of
that too, I bet.
Nyssa, who still has some snow on the ground from last
weekend's snow dump
Nyssa wrote:
Carol wrote:
Ok, last year got a lot of sprouts then a final cold snap
hit late out of season just as I put them out.
They also didn't grow much as I had them over planted in
the containers so I've been collecting things about the
house that will do for bigger ones.
I also picked up a grow light with 2 arms that twist all
about and a 4 pack of heater mats with individual temp
control.
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before
transplant? Bell
Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it
is.
Hi, Carol~~~~~
Hey there!
I usually drag my plant lights out at the end of January/
beginning of February, but only start the cool weather
seeds at that time. Lettuce, onions, etc.
The sunroom ceiling is all phlorescents (sp?). Not strong ones but
they work. The room is only heated with a space heater (cooled with a portable A/C). Too expensive to heat in winter so gets closed off
then. That's why the heater mats. It stays above freezing but plan to
start the warm weater folks 1 March or so, or heat the room a bit to at
least 50F (with heat mats as well).
songbird wrote:
Carol wrote:
...
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before transplant? Bell
Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it is.
peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until
well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures are
consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells or
frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if they
drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's not a
good thing for them.
it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've
put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half
tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot they
will be ok to start and get established. after they are
established they will probably not need to be worried about
as much.
songbird
Thanks Songbird! I must have put them out too soon last year. This
time, 1 seed per container. I've got some bigger containers gathered
now as last time, they were getting pot bound before could transplant.
On 1/10/2025 10:30 AM, Carol wrote:
songbird wrote:
Carol wrote:
...
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before transplant?
Bell Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it
is.
peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until
well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures are
consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells or
frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if they
drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's not a
good thing for them.
it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've
put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half
tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot they
will be ok to start and get established. after they are
established they will probably not need to be worried about
as much.
songbird
Thanks Songbird! I must have put them out too soon last year. This
time, 1 seed per container. I've got some bigger containers
gathered now as last time, they were getting pot bound before could transplant.
I plant 3-5 seeds per hole then thin to the 2 strongest . I read
somewhere that peppers like to be planted close together . Seems to
be working , I'm still using Serrano's from 2019 .
On 1/10/2025 11:54 AM, Carol wrote:
Nyssa wrote:
Carol wrote:
Ok, last year got a lot of sprouts then a final cold snap
hit late out of season just as I put them out.
They also didn't grow much as I had them over planted in
the containers so I've been collecting things about the
house that will do for bigger ones.
I also picked up a grow light with 2 arms that twist all
about and a 4 pack of heater mats with individual temp
control.
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before
transplant? Bell
Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it
is.
Hi, Carol~~~~~
Hey there!
I usually drag my plant lights out at the end of January/
beginning of February, but only start the cool weather
seeds at that time. Lettuce, onions, etc.
The sunroom ceiling is all phlorescents (sp?). Not strong ones but
they work. The room is only heated with a space heater (cooled
with a portable A/C). Too expensive to heat in winter so gets
closed off then. That's why the heater mats. It stays above
freezing but plan to start the warm weater folks 1 March or so, or
heat the room a bit to at least 50F (with heat mats as well).
Get some 1/2 inch pvc pipe and make a frame (or more) that you can
drape clear plastic over to help hold that heat from the mats .
You'll need to ventilate them periodically to keep excessive humidity
down .
Snag wrote:
On 1/10/2025 10:30 AM, Carol wrote:
songbird wrote:
Carol wrote:
...
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before transplant?
Bell Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I think it
is.
peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until
well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures are
consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells or
frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if they
drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's not a
good thing for them.
it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've
put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half
tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot they
will be ok to start and get established. after they are
established they will probably not need to be worried about
as much.
songbird
Thanks Songbird! I must have put them out too soon last year. This
time, 1 seed per container. I've got some bigger containers
gathered now as last time, they were getting pot bound before could
transplant.
I plant 3-5 seeds per hole then thin to the 2 strongest . I read
somewhere that peppers like to be planted close together . Seems to
be working , I'm still using Serrano's from 2019 .
Ok, I'll try 2. I got some better pots, silicone bottom so you can get
them out better.
On 1/11/2025 2:50 PM, Carol wrote:
Snag wrote:
On 1/10/2025 10:30 AM, Carol wrote:
songbird wrote:
Carol wrote:
...
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before transplant?
Bell Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I
think it is.
peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until
well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures are consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells or
frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if they
drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's not a
good thing for them.
it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've
put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half
tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot they
will be ok to start and get established. after they are
established they will probably not need to be worried about
as much.
songbird
Thanks Songbird! I must have put them out too soon last year.
This time, 1 seed per container. I've got some bigger
containers gathered now as last time, they were getting pot
bound before could transplant.
Snag
I plant 3-5 seeds per hole then thin to the 2 strongest . I read somewhere that peppers like to be planted close together . Seems
to be working , I'm still using Serrano's from 2019 .
Ok, I'll try 2. I got some better pots, silicone bottom so you can
get them out better.
Have you tried using TP tubes ? Cut them in half , stand in a
suitable container and fill with potting soil . Come time to
transplant - whether to a larger container or to soil - just bury
the tube , it'll decompose .
Snag wrote:
On 1/11/2025 2:50 PM, Carol wrote:
Snag wrote:
On 1/10/2025 10:30 AM, Carol wrote:
songbird wrote:Snag
Carol wrote:
...
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before transplant?
Bell Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia Beach, Zone 7A I
think it is.
peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until
well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures are
consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells or
frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if they
drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's not a
good thing for them.
it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've
put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half
tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot they
will be ok to start and get established. after they are
established they will probably not need to be worried about
as much.
songbird
Thanks Songbird! I must have put them out too soon last year.
This time, 1 seed per container. I've got some bigger
containers gathered now as last time, they were getting pot
bound before could transplant.
I plant 3-5 seeds per hole then thin to the 2 strongest . I read
somewhere that peppers like to be planted close together . Seems
to be working , I'm still using Serrano's from 2019 .
Ok, I'll try 2. I got some better pots, silicone bottom so you can
get them out better.
Have you tried using TP tubes ? Cut them in half , stand in a
suitable container and fill with potting soil . Come time to
transplant - whether to a larger container or to soil - just bury
the tube , it'll decompose .
Snag, well meant but this is not suitable for the indoor setting.
On 1/12/2025 10:07 AM, Carol wrote:
Snag wrote:
On 1/11/2025 2:50 PM, Carol wrote:
Snag wrote:
On 1/10/2025 10:30 AM, Carol wrote:
songbird wrote:
Carol wrote:
...
Anyone know how high seedlings should be, before
transplant? Bell Peppers mostly. I'm in Virginia
Beach, Zone 7A I think it is.
peppers love heat, so don't plan on setting them out until
well after the ground has warmed up and the temperatures
are consistently above 55F at the least. any cold spells
or frosts may get them to drop leaves or kill them. if
they drop leaves they can recover, but of course that's
not a good thing for them.
it can take some time for peppers to start and grow. i've
put them out even after they've reached a foot and a half
tall. as long as you keep them watered if it gets hot
they will be ok to start and get established. after they
are established they will probably not need to be worried
about as much.
songbird
Thanks Songbird! I must have put them out too soon last
year. This time, 1 seed per container. I've got some
bigger containers gathered now as last time, they were
getting pot bound before could transplant.
Snag
I plant 3-5 seeds per hole then thin to the 2 strongest . I
read somewhere that peppers like to be planted close together
. Seems to be working , I'm still using Serrano's from 2019 .
Ok, I'll try 2. I got some better pots, silicone bottom so you
can get them out better.
Have you tried using TP tubes ? Cut them in half , stand in a
suitable container and fill with potting soil . Come time to
transplant - whether to a larger container or to soil - just bury
the tube , it'll decompose .
Snag, well meant but this is not suitable for the indoor setting.
Put the TP tubes in the cells of your starter trays .
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