Growing peppers from seed can be a bit challenging for beginners, but it’s actually pretty easy. In this post, I am going to show you exactly how to grow peppers from seed, step-by-step, and give you everything you need to be successful!
Peppers (aka capsicum) are one of my all-time favorites! My husband loves them too, and we’ve grown tons of different varieties (both hot and sweet) from seed over the years.
When it comes to growing seeds, you may have heard that peppers are difficult to germinate – and it is true.
But once you learn a few special tricks, you’ll see just how easy it is. So below, I’m going to show you exactly how to grow peppers from seed, step-by-step.
I’ll cover everything from the best method to use, when to start, planting instructions, germination time, seedling identification and care, transplanting, fixing common problems, faqs, and more!
Here’s what you’ll find in this detailed guide…
Table of Contents
Growing Peppers From Seed
This is a general guide to growing peppers from seed, no matter what kind they are. So you can follow these instructions for any type that you want, the steps are the same for all.
Types Of Pepper Seeds To Grow
One of the things that I love the most about growing pepper seeds is the amazing selection I can find. You can’t get much diversity in the seedlings at the garden center, they usually only carry a handful of different ones.
But the number of varieties of seeds you can find is awesome! There are so many different kinds to choose from, it’s pretty crazy.
They range anywhere from the mild flavor of bell peppers, to the sweetness of banana peppers, and the medium heat of chilies… all the way up to spicy cayennes, jalapeños, and the super HOT habanero or ghost peppers.
You name it, I’ve probably grown it! Some of my favorites are cayenne (hot), jalapeno (hot), bell (mild), padron chile (mixed), and purple bell (mild)
Different types of pepper seed packets
Recommended Pepper Seed Starting Methods
Pepper seedlings take a long time to get large enough to produce mature fruit, and they require a fairly long growing season.
They can also be a bit slow to germinate (some varieties take up to a month!). So, unless you live in a warm climate, I recommend starting pepper seeds indoors, rather than direct sowing them.
Related Post: 3 Seed Starting Methods That Every Gardener Should Try
When To Plant Pepper Seeds
The best way to get a good crop is by planting the seeds indoors 8-12 weeks before your average last frost date.
The exact date for when to start pepper seeds depends on where you live. I’m in MN (z4b), and our average last frost is around May 15th. So, I plant them indoors sometime in early March.
Planting Pepper Seeds
Another thing that makes growing peppers from seed easy is that you don’t need to do anything special to prepare them for planting.
No nicking, soaking or cold stratification needed. You can put them straight from the packet into the soil, and they will grow!
A quick word of caution here… if you want to plant the seeds from hot peppers, make sure to wear gloves when handing them. Otherwise the capsicum oils can get on your hands, and cause discomfort (or worse, get in your eyes, OUCH!).
How To Plant Pepper Seeds Step-By-Step
You don’t need to buy a ton of expensive equipment to grow peppers from seed, but you will need a few things. You may even have some of this stuff laying around the house. Here’s what you’ll need…
Supplies Needed:
- Seedling flat with a lid
- Seed starting soil or peat pellets
- Seeds
- Water
- Heat mat (optional)
- Latex gloves (if planting seeds from hot peppers)
Planting pepper seeds indoors
Step 1: Fill the seed trays – Fill the cells with damp seed starting soil, or pre-moisten the peat pellets. Then place them into the trays.
Step 2: Decide how many seeds to use – If you’re using brand new seeds, then you can just plant one per cell/pellet. Otherwise, if they are old or have a low viability rate, then plant 2-3 per cell/pellet.
Step 3: Plant the seeds – The rule of thumb for planting depth is twice as deep as a seed is wide. So plant pepper seeds about a 1/4″ – 1/2″ deep.
To plant them, you can either lay the seeds on top of the soil, then gently push them down. Or you could make the holes first, then drop the seeds in.
Pressing peppers seeds into the soil
Step 4: Cover the seeds with soil – Fill the holes back in, then gently press it down to make sure the seeds come in contact with the soil. Don’t compact the soil though, just gently press it down.
Step 5: Add water – If the soil is not already wet, then you should add water. It’s best to water from the bottom so you don’t disturb the seeds.
Simply pour it into the tray until it’s just above the drainage holes, or about 1/4 of the height of the pellets. Dump out any excess water that hasn’t been absorbed within 15 minutes.
Step 6: Cover the tray – Place the clear plastic lid on top of the tray to help keep the soil warm, and ensure that it stays moist.
Step 7: Place the tray in a warm spot – If you can, put it on top of a heat mat. That will help speed up germination.
Otherwise, place it in the warmest spot you can, or run a space heater nearby. If it’s too cold, it will slow down germination, or the seeds may not grow at all.
Lid placed on tray after sowing pepper seeds
Pepper Seed Germination Time
When it comes to growing peppers from seed, you need to be patient. It can take anywhere from one week to almost a month for them to germinate. Some varieties are faster than others.
If yours are taking forever, then it may be too cold. To germinate them faster, put the trays on a heat mat, or over a vent. It’s amazing how much faster they germinate when you add bottom heat.
What Do Pepper Seedlings Look Like?
When they first sprout, pepper seedlings will have two leaves that are narrow and pointy. These first two leaves are called the “seed leaves” (or cotyledons, if you want to get super technical).
All of the next leaves that grow after that are called “true leaves”, and those look like tiny pepper leaves. Those will usually start forming within a week or so after the seed leaves have opened up.
Baby pepper seedlings germinating
Pepper Seedling Care Tips
Once the seeds start to grow, you might wonder what to do next. Yikes! Well don’t worry, cause one of the best things about growing peppers from seed is that the seedlings are very easy to care for.
You can learn all about general seedling care here, but below are a few quick tips that are more specific to caring for pepper seedlings…
Watering
Peppers seedlings need to be watered consistently, but don’t like soggy soil. Allow the very top of the soil to dry out a bit between waterings, but never let it dry out completely.
If you accidentally overwater them, and the soil is soggy, empty all the extra water that’s sitting in the tray. Then, turn a fan on low, and position it to blow over the tray. This will help the saturated soil dry out faster.
Light
If pepper seedlings don’t get enough light, they will start to grow leggy and reach for the nearest window. So, in order to keep them growing thick and compact, it’s best to use a grow light.
Hang a grow light a few inches above the tray as soon as they germinate, and use an outlet timer to keep it on for 14-16 hours per day.
Pepper seedlings reaching for the light
Fertilizer
Once the true leaves begin to form, it’s time to start fertilizing. But don’t give them a full strength dose right away. Use a weak dose at first, and slowly increase the strength as they get larger.
I use (and highly recommend) an organic compost solution (or I make my own with compost tea bags). Or you could use a plant starter fertilizer.
Air Circulation
Once all (or most) of the seeds in a flat have germinated, it’s time to give them some airflow. Remove the lids, and run an oscillating fan over them on the low setting.
This will help to strengthen them, and also prevents problems with mold growth in the trays. Plug it into the same timer as your lights, or run it for a shorter period if you prefer.
Pepper seedlings growing indoors
Potting Up Pepper Seedlings
Once your pepper seedlings have started to outgrow the trays, pot them up into larger containers to give them plenty of room to grow larger.
I like using plantable pots to make it easy for transplanting into the garden. If you like that idea, but prefer a more sustainable alternative to peat, try coco coir or cow pots.
Otherwise, you can use small plastic nursery pots (which are reusable). Or even recycled containers like yogurt cups or small milk cartons (just be sure to poke drainage holes in the bottom!).
Potting up pepper seedlings
Transplanting Pepper Seedlings Into The Garden
Once the weather warms up in the spring, we can get pretty antsy to get our seedlings planted into the garden!
But it is essential that you transplant them at the right time, and do it correctly, or all of the hard work you put into growing peppers from seed will be for nothing.
When To Transplant Pepper Seedlings
Pepper seedlings hate the cold, and they could be killed if you move them into your garden too early. Even if they do survive the cold, their growth could be stunted by it.
So, it’s best to wait to transplant them until after all chance of frost is gone, and the soil has warmed up. Here in zone 4b, that is usually in early June.
Hardening Off Pepper Seedlings
But wait! Before you can think about planting them into the garden, they must be hardened off first to prepare them for life outdoors.
Since they’re used to living in a warm indoor environment where there is no rain, wind, or direct sun, you need to toughen them up for life outside. So do not skip this step.
Hardening pepper seedlings before transplanting
Spacing
Most pepper plants stay pretty compact, and don’t need a lot of room to grow. So, plan to space your seedlings 12-18″ apart in the garden.
Larger varieties may need a bit more room. But they like to be touching each other a little bit once they get larger, so don’t space them too far apart.
Pepper Seedling Planting Depth
For best results, plant your pepper seedlings slightly deeper than they were in the tray or pot. Don’t go super deep, just about 1/4-1/2″ deeper than they were before.
At minimum, you should plant them at the same depth, just make sure that all of the roots are completely buried.
How Long To Grow Peppers From Seed To Harvest
As I mentioned above, they take a fairly long time to mature. Depending on the type you have, it can take 4-5 months (100-150 days) to grow peppers from seed to harvest.
Some grow much quicker than others do. And of course, they will start producing much faster in the ideal conditions. So give them plenty of heat and sun for the best results.
Mature peppers ready to harvest
Troubleshooting Problems Growing Pepper Seeds
It’s super frustrating when you struggle to grow pepper seeds, especially when you have no idea what’s wrong (or how to fix it!).
You can find out more in my detailed guide for fixing common seedling problems here. But below I have listed a few of the most common things you may struggle with…
- Pepper seeds won’t germinate – Failure to germinate can be caused by a few things. It could be old seeds that are no longer viable, too much or too little water, or not enough heat.
- Pepper seedlings falling over – This is caused by a disease called seedling blight (aka: damping off), and it’s from using dirty equipment. Unfortunately there’s nothing you can do to save them once they flop over. But in the future, be sure to clean and disinfect the flats before using them again.
- Leggy seedlings – Lack of light will always cause seedlings to grow tall and leggy. Usually a sunny window will not provide enough light for them, so be sure to get a grow light.
- Seedlings not growing – If your seedlings aren’t getting any bigger, then it’s probably too cold for them. Move them to a warmer location. Overwatering can also slow their growth, so be sure the soil is never saturated.
FAQs About Growing Pepper Seeds
Below I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about growing peppers from seed. If yours wasn’t answered in this post, then please ask it in the comments below.
How many pepper seeds per hole?
When using new or fresh pepper seeds, you can plant one per hole. If you’re using old seeds that have a low viability rate, then plant 2-3 per hole. If more than one germinates, thin out the weakest once they have 2-3 sets of true leaves.
How deep do you plant pepper seeds?
In general, you should plant seeds twice as deep as they are wide. So plant your pepper seeds 1/4″ – 1/2″ deep.
What is the fastest way to germinate pepper seeds?
By far the fastest way to germinate pepper seeds is heat. They will sprout much, much faster if you add bottom heat, and place them in a warm location.
Can you plant seeds from a pepper?
Yes, as long as they are mature. Small, immature seeds from a pepper that isn’t ripe will not grow.
Do pepper seeds need light to germinate?
No, pepper seeds do not need light to germinate. However, the seedlings will start reaching as soon as they sprout, so be sure to turn the light on right away.
Growing pepper seeds is easy once you get the hang of it. Following this detailed guide will give you the best results. Plus, once you know how, you will be able to grow any type of peppers from seed that you want!
Up next, read all about successful pepper plant care.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by starting your garden from seed, or need someone to show you exactly how to do it all, then you need my online Seed Starting Course. It’s a comprehensive online training with step-by-step videos and support to guide you along every step of the way. Enroll and get started today!
Otherwise, if you just need a quick-start guide to growing seeds indoors, then my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook is the perfect answer.
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More About Growing Seeds
- How To Grow Broccoli From Seed: Step-By-Step
- How To Grow An Avocado Tree From Seed
- How To Plant Cucumber Seeds: A Step-By-Step Guide
- How To Grow Tomatillos From Seed & When To Plant
Share your tips for growing peppers from seed in the comments section below.
Miranda Lancaster-Moore says
I started Ancho and Serrano chili seeds about 3 weeks ago. The Anchos are all growing slowly but look healthy, but the Serranos are growing/sprouting but laying on the ground. The plants still look healthy but they are all laying on the ground! Is this normal or is there something I can do to fix the problem?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your pepper seedlings still look healthy, then maybe you didn’t plant the seeds deep enough, and that is why they fell over. If that’s the case, then gently stand them back up and try either planting them deeper, or adding more soil so they stay upright. Otherwise, if they have fallen over and died at the base, then that is called “damping off”, and unfortunately there’s nothing you can do to save them. All you can do is make sure that you disinfect your trays well before using them again.
Jeff Laing says
What is the best kind of light to use? Fluorescent/ LED etc. Thanks so much and i will be using this as my guideline this year for my first attempt from seed.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Either of the types of lights you mention would work for your pepper seedlings. Here’s a post that will give you even more details… Lighting For Seedlings: When To Put Seedlings Under Light & How Much
marystella says
thanks alot for the tips since i had planted my seeds in my kitchen garden which is usually moist because of the rain, but now i will correct the mistake when i plant new seeds
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Joy says
Wow thanks Amy. Your guide has really helped, especially the plant being leggy and when to transplant.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, glad you hear it! You’re welcome. 🙂
Lakshmi says
How do I naturally get rid of whiteflies that have infested the leaves of my pepper plants?
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear that your pepper plant is infested with whiteflies. An all too common problem. 🙁 Here’s how to eliminate them… How To Get Rid Of Whiteflies.
Thomas Baker says
I have several different varieties of pepper plants growing. The plants are quite large, but keep dropping peppers before they’re ready. Cayenne peppers dropping while green, with no bite marks. Habanero peppers and poblano peppers dropping as well, both without bite marks. I’ve lost over 90 peppers now. And the same rates garden bed I have red bell peppers that are growing and are huge without problem. Someone please help.
Amy Andrychowicz says
This can be caused by many different problems, like improper watering, lack of the proper nutrients, extreme heat, or too much shade to name a few. I would test the soil to make sure it’s not too acidic, and contains the right ingredients, and also make sure the plants aren’t drying out too much. Here’s my full care guide for more info… How To Grow Peppers: The Ultimate Guide.
Elaine Moore says
Hi my seeds have shot up in a week but seem very leggy do they need support?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your pepper seedlings are getting leggy, that means they need more light. A grow light works best, as a sunny window doesn’t usually provide enough light indoors.
lynne says
hello… my kids planted the seeds from a pepper…. the planting was haphazard and then they got left out in the rain the pot got totally filled with water tipped up and it was a mess. anyway i didnt do anything with the container thinking it was doomed and suddenly i have basically a grass like carpet filling the pot …amazing pepper babies thriving in such adversity!!…. how can i help the amazing baby peppers now? do i pot on into pots? or do i move directly to the garden? id love some help. i have grown many veggies but never peppers. thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Haha, isn’t that how it goes sometimes! How fun for you kiddos! If the pepper seedlings are large enough to be transplanted into the garden, and there’s no more chance of frost in your area, then you can go ahead. Otherwise, if they need more time, you can pot them up into larger containers, or simply thin them so the healthiest ones can grow larger. Here are a few articles that will help you out…
Sandria says
My peppers are grown they are in full sun but they are not sending out blossoms and it’s over six months now please help me thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
Peppers need hot weather, and 8+ hours of direct sunlight in order to bloom. If you’re sure those two requirements are being met, then it’s probably too much nitrogen in the soil. I would start feeding them with a fertilizer that’s made for peppers and tomatoes, or one that’s higher in phosphorus (the middle number on the package). Here’s my full guide to pepper plant care, which has all the details for fertilizing, sunlight, watering, etc… How To Grow Peppers: The Ultimate Guide.
Noel says
My seedlings are not growing fast in nursery what can I do its been 23 days but they are too little
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your pepper seedlings aren’t growing, then it could either be too cold or too wet for them. Ensure that you’re not overwatering, and that the soil is never soggy. And move them to a warmer location, or add a heat mat. They need a lot of heat to grow. For faster growth, the temperature should always stay between 75-85F degrees.