Jessica ZanderIf you love spices like me, peppers are a part of your diet. People consume different pepper varieties daily. Therefore, it is sometimes more economical for you to just grow your pepper. Growing pepper seeds require patience, you have to be willing to dedicate time and attention to nurturing your pepper seedlings. But you might wonder how long it takes to grow peppers from seed.
The pepper variety you’re growing determines how long before true leaves begin to grow and the peppers appear. This article will explain how long does it take to grow peppers from seed? On that note, let’s begin.
Contents
How Long Does It Take to Grow Sweet Peppers from Seed?
Sweet peppers are pepper plants that take longer to grow. Plants usually take between 60 to 90 days from sowing to harvesting. Therefore, the sooner you begin the planting process, the better. We recommend sowing your sweet pepper seeds 8 to 10 weeks before the disappearance of the last spring frost.
Germination of these viable seeds usually occurs within ten days of planting. Once the true leaves appear, you can transplant them outside. In addition, you can grow bell pepper plants inside using grow lights.
When growing sweet peppers, ensure the nighttime temperature isn’t below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because it could lead to transplant shock for your potted pepper plants, resulting in their death.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Ghost Peppers from Seed?
The ghost pepper is another type of fresh pepper known as Naga Jolokia. Some people know it as ghost chili, a member of the nightshade family that includes tomatoes, eggplant, and bell pepper.
Ghost peppers have a longer growing season than most pepper varieties. Becoming a mature pepper plant usually takes up to 150 days from planting to harvest. Therefore, we advise you to start the pepper seed germination indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date in your location.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Jalapeno Peppers from Seed?
Jalapeno pepper is among the capsicum Annuum species, including cayenne peppers, sweet bell, and habanero peppers. It is in the middle when it comes to its spiciness. Jalapeno pepper usually takes three to four months to grow from seed stage to harvest.
The germination process in this pepper plant growth takes about 1-2 weeks. It depends on whether you’re growing open-pollinated, hybrid, or heirloom peppers. They change color as they mature from a light color to dark green. Once they become mature peppers, they would turn bright red.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Reaper Peppers from Seed?
If you’re a fan of hot peppers, then you would enjoy planting the reaper pepper seeds. It once made the World Records as the hottest pepper. These mature pepper plants are hot enough to cause chili burn. Therefore, you should use it with caution.
Although this pepper isn’t harder to grow than other potted pepper plants, it requires a long growing season. This pepper seed germination process is slow, and it takes 90-100 days to become mature pepper plants. You also need to start the pepper seed germination indoors six weeks before it makes it outside.
Sometimes, the germination rate can be very slow and take up to two weeks before you see any sprouts. Although peppers love warm temperatures, they’re sensitive when exposed to different temperature ranges. Therefore, hardening your reaper pepper for a couple of weeks before transplanting outside is a good idea.
How Long Does It Take for Purple Bell Peppers to Grow from a Seed?
If you love varieties of colors in your food, then bell peppers can give you all the colors you need. Green peppers of this variety can grow into mature pepper plants of various colors like orange, yellow, and red. However, several people are unaware that there are also purple colors among the variety of colors.
The purple pepper seeds take 90-100 days to grow into mature peppers. However, from transplanting, it only takes 70-80 days to go from the immature stage to mature pepper plants. With a warm temperature, the right potting mix, and a proper watering schedule, your hot peppers will ripen in no time.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Thai Peppers from Seed?
Another type of hot pepper that you can grow is Thai peppers. They’re small in size and green when they’re still immature. However, these potted pepper plants turn red when they’re ripe.
It takes the Thai pepper seed 100-130 days to grow from seed. However, the ideal temperature range can ensure faster growth for you. If you live in a terrain with a shorter season, start growing this chili pepper eight weeks prior to the last threat of frost in your area.
These pepper seeds need well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist and also provide it with warm soil temperatures. A heat mat is one way to maintain a warm spot around your Thai pepper plant. In addition, placing the pepper seeds close to a sunny window will help it get the maximum light it needs.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Habanero Peppers from Seed?
For the hottest peppers, habanero is one of the leading choices. The hot pepper seeds grow into mature plants 75 days after transplant and are fully ripe 110 days from transplant. These hot pepper seeds love warm climates, so soil temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit will cause them not to germinate at all. It also reacts poorly to the threat of frost without ample protection.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Peppers from Seed: Banana Peppers?
The sweet banana pepper is an excellent option if you’re looking for hotter peppers to add more spice and a delicious flavor to your meals. Growing sweet banana pepper is easy once you have the ideal growing conditions. They love a warm location and a long growing season. Banana peppers usually take 60-75 days after transplanting to become mature peppers. You can harvest a sweet banana pepper once it reaches its full size, 4-8 inches tall.
What Month Do You Plant Pepper Seeds?
Peppers react poorly to the threat of frost, so you should start growing your plant indoors in the spring. This means early March or February; it usually takes about ten weeks before the plants are strong enough for transplanting into larger outdoor containers.
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the best time to grow potted pepper plants is in January or February. However, the outdoor temperature isn’t ready to support the growth of your outdoor pepper plant. Therefore, you should dedicate indoor space to your plants at the beginning, especially the hotter varieties that take longer to grow.
Conclusion
The exciting part about peppers is that they come in different shapes and sizes. There are sweet varieties and hot pepper varieties; you’re sure to find one that caters to your taste. However, knowing how long it takes to grow them will help you determine the right pepper plant to grow.
Growing and maintaining pepper plants can be challenging. However, when you water pepper plants and choose the ideal fertilizer for pepper plants, it will lead to faster germination. In no time, you’ll have mature peppers in pots just waiting to be harvested.
I've been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
- How to Get Potatoes to Sprout Eyes: Detailed Growing Guide with 3 Options - July 31, 2023
- Weight of a Medium Potato: Revealed in Detailed Guide - July 29, 2023
- Maris Piper Potatoes: 9 Substitutes You Should Know About - July 27, 2023
Hello! I’m Jessica Zander, a garden coach and consultant based in the Boston area (zone 6b), offering virtual consultations across the country and Canada.
I’ve been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
Add comment