Customer question:
I'm in Colorado Springs, and I want to start some sweet and mildly spicy peppers indoors. Should I start them indoors in February or March?
I'm in Colorado Springs, and I want to start some sweet and mildly spicy peppers indoors. Should I start them indoors in February or March?
Growing peppers in the Colorado is a great idea! Many varieties do grow well here, depending on where you are. The Front Range including most of Colorado Springs is usually around Zone 5b, and can have a relatively short growing season depending on the weather conditions in the spring and fall. You can start pepper seeds in Colorado in February through March-April, starting earlier if you have room. We usually start ours at the end of February, but you can start them earlier.
We recommend the fastest growing peppers since most of the front range and western slope have relatively short growing seasons (while the mountains have an even shorter growing season!) Fastest growing peppers can be started about 6-8 weeks before the end of May, for planting them in mid-to-late May depending on the spring weather. Wait until it's warm enough to transplant them! Consistent 50˚F nights or higher is best before you plant them outside.
We recommend the fastest growing peppers since most of the front range and western slope have relatively short growing seasons (while the mountains have an even shorter growing season!) Fastest growing peppers can be started about 6-8 weeks before the end of May, for planting them in mid-to-late May depending on the spring weather. Wait until it's warm enough to transplant them! Consistent 50˚F nights or higher is best before you plant them outside.
If you want to grow hot peppers that don't need a long time to produce, our Orange Spice Jalapeno can have up to 80k Scovilles, so it packs a big punch, and it ripens in just 65 days after transplant – perfect for shorter growing seasons. The bright orange Bulgarian Carrot pepper is also a good short season hot pepper (12k Scovilles) that has great flavor and is bright orange like a carrot!
The Hottest Peppers need more Time:
If you want to grow extra hot peppers like Aji peppers, Habaneros, Ghost Peppers, Trinidad Scorpions, or Carolina Reapers, it's important to know that they are slow growers and need a very long growing season to produce and ripen pods. Start super hot peppers earlier to give them at least 10-12+ weeks of growing indoors before transplanting outside in late May to early June (depending on your weather and frosts). We grow our extra hot peppers in pots so they can be moved into shelter with late spring storms or early fall frosts. I start them from seeds on a seedling heat mat with my Aerogarden on top of it (keeps them warm, they like to be about 80-90˚ F to germinate). Some Colorado growers grow super hots in greenhouses or hot houses (hoop houses) as they trap in the heat at night, keeping the peppers much happier, while extending the growing season and protecting from hail, frost and storms.
Caring for Pepper Seedlings:
Caring for Pepper Seedlings:
After the seeds germinate, make sure to put a fan on them or brush them daily with your hands, as this will keep them from getting leggy or dying from damping off (where they shrivel up and die). Movement also stimulates them to grow stronger, stems so they're better acclimated to moving outside.
Supplemental light also is needed, although you don't need anything fancy, just make sure the light is fairly close to the seedlings. Old flourescent lights work as well as all the new LED growing lights. Read more about the Best Lights for Seedlings.
Transplant them into larger pots when their roots outgrow their growing space, the bigger the root-ball, the better for transplanting in the spring. Most gardeners along the Front Range of Colorado don't usually transplant peppers outside until late-May to early June, since we have a lot of cold spells, storms and cold nights even in mid-May. Peppers don't like temps below 50˚F - which can stunt them, and even a light frost will do them in. Also, don't forget to harden off pepper seedlings before transplanting!
Supplemental light also is needed, although you don't need anything fancy, just make sure the light is fairly close to the seedlings. Old flourescent lights work as well as all the new LED growing lights. Read more about the Best Lights for Seedlings.
Transplant them into larger pots when their roots outgrow their growing space, the bigger the root-ball, the better for transplanting in the spring. Most gardeners along the Front Range of Colorado don't usually transplant peppers outside until late-May to early June, since we have a lot of cold spells, storms and cold nights even in mid-May. Peppers don't like temps below 50˚F - which can stunt them, and even a light frost will do them in. Also, don't forget to harden off pepper seedlings before transplanting!
THE FASTEST GROWING PEPPERS
Our customers in Colorado like to grow the fastest growing peppers since we have a short season here, these include:
Short Season Hot Peppers:
Jalapenos (there are several varieties from mild to extra hot)
Green Chiles (Big Jims, Pueblo chiles or Hatch)
Short Season Mild/Sweet Peppers:
Chocolate Bell Pepper (earliest!)
Shishitos (also very early and very productive here!)
Sweet Hungarian Wax peppers (great for pickling)
Discover all of our short season peppers »
Check out all of our pepper seeds - we have over 100! Sandia Seed is based in Castle Rock, Colorado, and we specialize in Hatch chile seeds and Pueblo chile seeds but have peppers from all over the world.
Check out all of our pepper seeds - we have over 100! Sandia Seed is based in Castle Rock, Colorado, and we specialize in Hatch chile seeds and Pueblo chile seeds but have peppers from all over the world.
Here are our top 12 tips for growing peppers from seed that will help you grow peppers successfully in Colorado!
Happy growing!
