Seed Starting Tomatoes and Peppers: Light, Temperature, and Timing

Start tomatoes and peppers indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Use 40W fluorescent lights 8 inches above trays, 10–12 hours daily. Keep soil at 75°F for germination, then cool to 60–65°F to prevent legginess.

Key Practices

• Watering: Bottom-water; keep soil moist but not soggy.
• Air movement: Gentle fan or hand-brushing strengthens stems.
• Pepper slowness: Peppers germinate slower (up to 4 weeks); cool temps (55°F) after emergence speed growth.
• Hardening off: After frost, place outdoors in shade 7–10 days before transplanting.

Maturity Dates

“Days to harvest” on packets refers to days from transplanting outdoors, not from seeding. Direct-seeded tomatoes/peppers are rare in temperate climates.