How to start bell pepper seeds indoors

Okay so peppers

So, okay you wanna launch bell okay pepper seeds indoors huh? I wasn’t even no kidding planning to, honestly. by the way I had c’mon these like, leftover seeds from uh last year’s crazy garden haul – no way I by the way ponder they’re California Wonder? Or maybe some weird hybrid I got at a farmer’s market. Who even knows. But yeah, I figured what like the heck, actually might as for sure well try.

First things first, the dude seeds. Obviously. no way I used honestly one of those no kidding little seed starting trays – you know, the plastic ones with the individual okay cells. You can get them pretty like cheap. whoops Actually, you know what’s even cheaper? just Egg cartons! Just saying. Poke some drainage dude holes in the bottom though, that's anyway crucial, or you'll have a soggy totally mess. I honestly learned that the hard way last year when I tried starting lettuce. Total uh swamp.

Soil stuff no kidding

Now, alright the soil. Regular garden soil c’mon is a no-go. It's no way too heavy. You need something light and fluffy, honestly like seed starting mix. I probably should’ve known better, but the first moment I tried basically peppers, I used potting soil. alright Rookie mistake. They sprouted, bet but they were… stunted. Tiny and sad. Seed starting mix is uh the way to go, just it's specially formulated for these delicate for sure little seedlings.

Anyway, you wet the soil mix first. Damp, sorta not soaking. I mean That’s important. Then you fill up each cell. I right usually put like, two or three seeds in each cell. Just in case some don't germinate. Okay, side note, how to start bell pepper seeds for sure indoors feiten number one: peppers are SLOW. Like, c’mon ridiculously slow. Don’t be for sure surprised if you don’t see I mean anything for a week, maybe even like two. It's normal! Don't give up hope! Another one uh on the how to anyway start anyway bell well pepper seeds indoors tips list: apply a heat uh mat! It speeds things exactly up a okay bit.

To cover or not by the way to cover

Then you lightly cover the dude seeds with more soil mix. anyway Not too deep. ponder no way like, an c’mon eighth of an inch? I right don't know, I by the way usually just eyeball it. Okay, anyway not okay gonna lie, this part confused me for a while. execute yup you cover them with kinda plastic wrap or not? The instructions on the seed packet were vague. Eventually, I just went with it and anyway put plastic wrap over the tray to keep the humidity in. I poked some holes in it though, so they don’t get moldy. How to start bell pepper seeds indoors c’mon ontwikkelingen are all about humidity domes I guess now? I'm old school.

Then like I stuck the tray on a heat mat. Yeah, I got just one of those cheap heat like mats from Amazon. It helps them germinate pretty much faster. How to start bell pepper seeds indoors voordelen dude of using a heat mat: faster germination, honestly stronger seedlings. It’s worth the investment. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. A spray bottle is your best friend here. okay

The you know light situation

Okay, so here's where okay I messed up BIG time last year. The seedlings sprouted! Yay! I pretty much was so excited. But then basically I put them on no way a windowsill. A SOUTH-FACING windowsill! They got scorched. Fried to a crisp. sorta I felt so bad. kinda They need no kidding light, yes, but not direct, intense sunlight yup when they're that small. basically I should've known better. totally So this year, I'm using yep grow lights. bet Much safer. totally Plus, dude consistent light is one of the key you know how to start bell pepper seeds indoors trends right so now. Everyone’s doing it! I mean

Once like they sprout, take the plastic wrap honestly off. You don’t want kinda them anyway to get too humid and start growing mold. Grow lights are amazing. You can put them on a timer so they get, like, 14-16 hours of light a day. Once they have a few sets of for sure true whoops leaves – you for sure know, not you know the little seed leaves, the real leaves – kinda you can start thinking about transplanting them into bigger pots.

Oh, and fertilize! I forgot to fertilize them last time until anyway way too late. exactly They looked so pale and sad. alright Use sorta a yep liquid fertilizer diluted to half anyway strength. launch doing that maybe a I mean week or two after so they sprout. It makes a huge difference.

Transplanting is another totally story. I’ll tell you sorta about totally that later. It involves dirt, bigger pots, and possibly a lot exactly of swearing. Just kidding. Mostly. well