Pepper Redemption

A few weeks ago I told you the tale of my failed pepper seedlings. In a last attempt at having something to show for this season, I threw a handful of paprik pepper seeds into my pots, embraced a warm spell, and held on. I did also go to my local garden centre to pick up a few healthy cayenne seedlings. But my heart yearns for paprika and I had nothing to lose by an eleventh hour hail mary planting.

As the Pacific Northwest whipsaws between actual summer and weather approaching November, my new pepper seedlings have sprung to life. With warmer weather, these seeds germinated much faster. As soon as it warm was enough, I put the new seedlings outside in the afternoon. By the end of the week, they were pretty acclimatized and they haven’t come back in the house yet (and I don’t imagine they will).

My lesson learned, on top of the original lesson of not starting seeds so early is that it helps to have a few tricks up your sleeve, a good supply of seed that you’ve saved so you’re not flushing money down the toilet, and a bit of faith that one spring (or in my case, summer) actually hit, plants want to grow. I don’t know for sure if these peppers will get quite big enough to produce impressive yields but I’m quietly hopeful that my timing will mean that I slide in under the wire and get at least some peppers this season.