Chilli Pepper & Tomato Seed Germination Guide

April 14, 2025

🌱 Germinating Chilli Pepper & Tomato Seeds – Step-by-Step

Here’s how to germinate your seeds successfully.

Use seed trays, Mini-greenhouse, or small pots 5–10 cm deep. 6 packs also work great.
Ensure drainage holes are present to avoid soggy roots.

Germination success starts with the right mix.
Don't use garden soil or regular potting mix.
- They hold water and have large particles that hinder seedling emergence.
Investing in quality seed-starting mix improves germination and establishes seedlings quicker.
- You only need a little—one bag lasts a long time as you only need it for this stage.

Tomatoes: Sow 6-8 weeks before the last frost in your area.
- In Marlborough this is around mid of September.
Chilli Peppers: Sow 8-10 weeks before the last frost in your area.
- In Marlborough this around end of August.

Fill trays or pots with potting mix.
- I like to tamp down if using cells to compact the soil before drilling the hole.
Use a stick or finger to drill 5–10 mm deep hole
Cover back over and mist the surface with water
It will need to be covered with a humidity dome, or a clear lid so it doesn't dry out.
- Mini-greenhouses are great for this step.
Place in a warm, bright area—not in direct sun.
- Think windowsill or table, greenhouse if you have it.

Mist regularly to keep the top layer evenly moist, not soggy.
- This is import otherwise the seeds will rot or if dry out will stop germination.
A heat mat is a great investment, you want temperatures around 25°C
Ventilate daily to prevent mould.
- if using the mini-greenhouses part open the vents.

Crop Days to Germinate Ideal Temp

Tomato 5–10 days 22–25°C

Chilli Pepper 7–21 days 24–28°C
Note: Peppers take longer, especially the chinense species, and benefit from bottom heat!

Crop	Days to Germinate	Ideal Temp
Tomato	5–10 days	22–25°C
Chilli Pepper	7–21 days	24–28°C

Remove covers once seeds sprout with no vents, with vents open fully.
Make sure to keep seedlings in a bright area (greenhouse or sunny windowsill)
Water gently from the bottom or mist the surface
Once seedlings develop 2–3 true leaves, pot them into their next pot.
Best to pot seedlings at this stage in smaller pots, ~4-6 inch pots.
Once adapted to the new pot, 1-2 weeks, than pot them in the ground or a large pot.

Capsicum chinense (e.g., Habanero, Fatalii Jigsaw, Bhut Jolokia):
Super Hots can be very slow and difficult to germinate, place seeds between damp paper towels inside a ziplock bag, and keep in a warm place (25–28°C).
If you have a heated floor this works great. Check daily and pot up once seeds just start to sprout.
If you don't have a heating mat, a hot water cupboard can work to aid in gemmation, but make sure to get the seeds out as soon as you see them coming through the soil.