The Temperature for Germinating Bell Peppers

Germination Temperature

• Bell peppers germinate best with a temperature range between 75 and 85 degrees. Germination time and rate decline with cooler temperatures. Seeds will not typically germinate at temperatures below 65 degrees. Seed decay can occur if the seeds are slow to germinate. Seeds are also subject to insect damage in the soil.

Germination Time

• Under normal conditions, bell pepper seeds commonly germinate in about one week. If the seeds were planted during a period with temperatures near 80 degrees, you should see the pepper plants emerge in a week to 10 days. If no plants are visible, carefully check the soil and then reseed. Pepper seeds should be no older than two years for optimal germination.

Growing Temperatures

• Peppers actually grow best in temperatures slightly cooler than the germination range. Ideal plant growth occurs when daytime temperatures range between 70 and 80 degrees. Night time temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees also help the bell pepper plant thrive. High temperatures, over 100 degrees, can negatively impact plant growth.

Transplanting

• Starting the bell pepper seeds in a greenhouse or hotbox allows the gardener to maintain optimum conditions. Bell pepper plants require about eight weeks of growing indoors before transplanting outdoors. Determining the ideal time to plant bell peppers indoors requires a knowledge of the weather and a little luck. Start the seeds two months before the daytime temperatures reach 75 degrees and nighttime temperatures are about 60.