My “Big Jim” hatch chile plant isn’t looking very big yet. The Guizeppi Milds and California Wonders are doing a bit better. This was the first day I took them all outside for a few hours to start the hardening off process. I’ve had them inside with a fan and grow lights up until now.
I expected some flowering at this point, but it’s been stupidly cold and rainy here since I planted back in late March (I’m in 6a/6b), so maybe I’m expecting too much too soon? Next week is the first week it will in theory be above 55 degrees F overnight.
I’ve also been battling gnats (sticky traps and mosquito dunks for the win), which is weird to me because with the fan, the top layer of soil dries out pretty quickly, but I think I have them managed now.
I would say heat and light are the two big things pepper plants love.
I put some pre-seeds into the a raised box 30 days ago, and they are 3x that size easily. I’m in an 8b flipping 7a though. Lots of light throughout the day, but cold temps at night now which is unheard of for this area.
These plants thrived during the hot days though. Some even started fruiting when too low to the ground.
If these aren’t in direct sunlight for 6+ hours a day with 70F or better temps, they will be on the smaller side. Maybe consider getting a heat mat if they aren’t ready for the outside environment yet.
Echoing what everyone else has said, peppers love heat. Ours were started about the same time as yours and they look about the same. They don’t really start popping off until they are outside, with room to grow and it gets hot hot.
Good job getting them started so early, I’m sure you will be rewarded once their established root systems are given the environment they need to thrive in.
Quite slow. They can take their time at the beginning. But that’s far too long. We’ve had some frigid days where I am so that doesn’t help. If they start getting sun and heat like crazy they’ll take off. If you’re feeding them consider holding off. Just water for a bit.
Peppers like warm soil. They will be slow growers until the ground they’re in warms up. The sooner they can go in their final pot or garden patch, the sooner they’ll fruit. The sooner the soil is warm, the sooner they’ll fruit.
Any time temperature drops to 50F/10C or less peppers can pause all growth for up to a week. You’ll see the difference once it’s a little warmer.
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:laughs in zone 11a:
It looks like you are growing those peppers and coco coir? They need to get fed more nitrogen and make sure the pH is between 5.8 - 6.0. of the water/fertilizer you are giving them.
