Lemon Drop Chilli Pepper

Both sweet peppers and chilli peppers need a long growing season and so it is best to start them early in a propagator which has a temperature of 25 – 30 degrees C. I start mine at the end of January, but anytime in February should be okay, however early March is the latest really to get a good crop. Make sure that the propagator is not in direct sunlight as this can affect the temperature greatly. Grow lights can be really helpful to keep the seedlings stocky. Once they have germinated and have two true leaves then prick them out into modules or small pots to grow on. Don’t overpot them as the plants seem to like a slightly restricted growing environment for their roots, but you may need to pot them on once during the growing on period. You can grow them on at a lower temperature, but keep them warm or they will sulk. Keep them warm until mid to late April when the greenhouse temperatures should be warm enough but if your conditions are chilly at night then take measures to protect them by bringing them back in the house overnight. By May you should be able to plant them in a larger pot or in a greenhouse bed. Keep the plants fed on a weekly basis – I use homemade comfrey feed but seaweed feed is also good.