Is the paper towel in baggie method better than germinating seeds in rockwool or soil? In this video I explore this question using hot pepper seeds I got from supermarket peppers. Three different peppers, one red, two green. One germinated, the other two didn’t, can you guess which germinated?
Hope you enjoy this video!
From what I read green pepper seeds are too young to grow. When the pepper is red the seeds are ready to grow. I had to use the paper towel method to get spinach seeds to sprout. It helped putting them in the fridge too.
Have you tried to germinate in small clear plastic containers (tupperware kind)? Just drop the seeds and spritz with water. The paper towel makes it hard to remove the seedlings for me. I end up tearing the roots. Good video. Mistery pepper… Is it hot?
Even Jalapeno peppers mature red and seeds from green may not be viable. Grocery store peppers, like your anonymous red & green, could be hybrids which means you could end up with any of the parent plant varieties, and may not have the good qualities desired. I use a heat mat under rock wool cubes and potting soil in small pots in a standard 10" x 20" tray with good results and only save seeds from heirloom type pepper & tomato plants.
Another great video from Tikki! (the BEST!) I planted several pepper varieties in rock wool and then in hydroponics and they grew like crazy. The pepper plants (all 9 of them) are all about 40 cm tall and are bearing fruit. We had planted the seeds from the peppers we bought and subsequently ate. The only problem was that it took them forever to mature. Great job, Tikki!
Jalapeno take awhile took me 3 weeks slow as molasses but the Hungarian peppers sprout within 3 days those are the fastest one also good ones
Amazing madam
Very informative comparison Tikky, thank you I really appreciate it.
Tikki, I always love seeing you and learning from you. You always have such great information!
Why do you call them "peppers" but you wrote "Chili"?
if i want to prolong the life of the seeds, what should I do?
Hi thank you – maybe the green peppers were GMO and did not have seeds that would regrow…?
many peppers come from different countries, when they arrive they are radiated at low levels to kill pests but that also kills the seeds, which could be a reason why some do not sprout
Hi Tikki,
I decided to grow spinach seeds using the paper towel and baggie method. While they germinated just fine after a week, I transplanted and put them into a hydroponic solution but they dried out and eventually died. Any insight would be valuable! Thanks!
Thanks for an enjoyable video, as always. Your are correct, chillies are fruits and green ones (unless it is their genetic colour characteristic) are immature with red being mature.
I always find seed starting a pain.
Have you tried perlite or vermiculite?
I appreciate , your information is really helpful
The only benefit for growing in a paper towel is if you don't have a lot of seedling pots or little space to but seedling pot so you don't have wasted real estate for non producing seeds OR old seeds Great experiment..
I love your works videos. Keep it up.
Question. Where do you place the seeds while in germination process? With the lights or dark area?
Rock wool is not classified as a carcinogen. The fibers are biosoluble. Only concern is the fibers can be irritating on the skin but that is only a mechanical temporary issue.
Well, that explains why none of the pablano or green pepper seeds I tried to grow, grew. I'd always thought that green peppers were a type of pepper, not just an immature pepper, though I suppose that doesn't make a lot of sense in retrospect since I never thought that about something like a green tomato. Anyway, thanks for the tip, I'm already putting it to use with an old red bell pepper that was in the veg drawer.