After selecting the container you want to start the seeds in, fill and lightly pack down using a sterile, light-weight seed starting mix. The soil should have been premoistened. Use a finger or pencil to make a divot a half inch deep in each cell. Drop in a couple of seeds. If both germinate you can easily rid the weakest one. 

Lightly cover the seeds and use a spray bottle to moisten the top. Cover with some sort of humidity dome and place in a warm area. I use a heated seed starting mat to keep the temperatures around 75 degrees. The humidity dome I use fits over the plant and allows for growth while holding in the moisture. Once they get a couple of inches tall, I will take off the humidity dome. 

Check daily so the soil doesn’t dry out, but don’t over-water, which will cause other problems. You want the soil moist, not soggy. The seeds will take 7-21 days to germinate. 

Once they germinate, put them under a light. I use a south facing window and in the winter there still is not enough light. The plants still will stretch and lean towards the sun. 

I will start to fertilize with a half solution of water-soluble fertilizer when the plant gets its second set of leaves.

You can use seed starting plugs to get your peppers going if you prefer.  Make sure they are nice and moist and fully expanded, then plant as usual.

For more in-depth instructions on how to start, grow, and harvest peppers with tips and tricks…check out my Ultimate Growers guide.