Yes - sand for seeds, grit/perlite/vermiculite for the rest. Best to get from garden centre. We use John Innes mix seedlings and No. 2 for everything else - the No.2 has grit (3m) - very free draining, soil-based so re-wets well, still heavy when dry (so plants down blow over).

Steve.
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Sorry to hear that. No substitute for a great growing area (and expensive), but maybe a home-made version of something like this: www.aerogarden.org.uk/shop/aerogarden/

Cheers, Steve.
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We have run some from the 'SDCF News' topic in the past. Sounds like time for another..

Steve.
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Hi Colin,

Short History - started growing chillies in my greenhouse while holding down a home-working IT job (worked for DEC mostly, bit of Microsoft, Cabletron, Riverstone). Growing chillies that I read about in Mexican cook books. My early fav was Santa Fe Grande - still very fond of that one.

Found some polly tunnels locally that were in disrepair (2001), started doing farmers' markets (2002), started cooking-up in my home kitchen and making sauces to sell online, to shops and markets, found a field to build the SDCF home patch (2003), moved into our new building (2005), started employing folk (now have 10 staff going to 14 in the summer), completed new farmshop/cafe building 2011.

We have a great bunch of people at the farm and still enjoy the whole seed-to-sauce thing and the new challenges each growing year throws up.

We need to write a book someday...

Cheers, Steve.
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That looks idea. They should be good in that size pot until they are 6" to 8" high.

Cheers, Steve.
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Sounds like it should branch/grow a bit yet. The only variety we have found it necessary to prevent fruiting too early is the Hungarian Hot Wax - the rest seem to know what to do. The night-time temperature needs to be 17c or more for self pollination.

Steve.
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A small 'frost-guard' heater should keep them safe. We use a light weight fleece too. The good light in the greenhouse will be much better for them than being on a windowsill.

Steve.
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Chillies seem to prefer to outgrow the soil before being moved on - helps with the drainage root-to-soil ratio.

Cheers, Steve.
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Looking good. They look like a bit more light would help now - stop them getting too leggy. When you re-pot, would be worth setting them lower to help support the seedling - leave a 1/2 to an inch of stem. No need to pot-on until they have filled the plug with roots though.

Cheers, Steve.
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Hi Steve. If you haven't tried an Aji, they are well worth it. Aji Limon is a great plant.

Cheers, Steve.
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At a constant 25 or so, we usually expect most of them up inside 10 days. We tend to grow them 50 to 100 seeds to a 3" pot and prick out as soon as most are up. A heated propagator helps.

Kind Regards, Steve.
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Well worth a trip. Tip - get there early; the roads can get crazy.
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Hi,

The image on the side of the box was 5 seedlings left to battle it out - you get a bushy/tall pot then. If you want to have more plants, then transplant as soon as you can to avoid the roots getting too involved.

Kind Regards, Steve
SDCF
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