Starting Seeds for Basil and Pepper in Peat Pellets

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It’s time for another seed starting update for our basil and peppers in peat pellets. I plant basil and peppers every year for our vegetable garden. I find that basil is indispensable as a seasoning and for making pesto. Basil also has a some companion planting benefits when planted alongside the vegetables in the garden (particularly the tomatoes!) Peppers are delicious in cooking all kinds of foods and we grow both the sweet and hot peppers every year.

Basil Seed Selections

For basil I’ve planted ‘Dark Opal’ which is a purple basil, an Italian basil, and some ‘Spicy Globe’ basil. I’ve enjoyed all three in the garden and have to keep adding them in to the planting plan. Last year I tried a purple ruffle basil which was very cool for its ornamental value. Cinnamon basil is another neat basil that hopefully I’ll get going again this year. I saved seed for it but haven’t started it yet.


Italian Genovese Basil Seeds – $1.99
from: Botanical Interests

Purple Petra Basil Seeds
from: Botanical Interests

Lemon Mrs. Burns Basil Seeds
from: Botanical Interests

The last frost date (April 15th in our area) has past so it’s time to get planting in the garden. You’ll notice that for the basil seedlings I have some planted in a reused container. Anything that holds soil can be used as a container so why not reuse what you can a few times before you throw it away? Just make sure that you add proper drainage to any container you use if it doesn’t already come with holes.

Check out these other basil seedlings in the peat pellets. Peat pellets are a good easy way to start your seeds. They are relatively cheap, come in various sizes, are biodegradable, and make seed starting simple. You setup the peat pellets in the planting tray then add water and let it absorb into the peat. After that you sow your seeds in the top of each (now expanded) pellet then cover with the plastic humidity dome.

Then just wait a few days and you end up with a tray of happy seedlings! These basil seeds took about a week to germinate. You can see that not all the peat pellets successfully grew basil. Part of that can be do to the planting depth of the seeds. Planting all the seeds at a consistent depth will yield consistent results but often all that you have to do is give the peat pellets that haven’t germinated a little more time.

Jiffy Seed Starting Greenhouse with 72 36mm Peat Pellets (Amazon Aff.)

Peat pellets are an easy an inexpensive way to start your seedlings.

Peat pellet trays are usually perfectly sized to fit heat mats underneath. Heat mats improve germination time and results by keep the temperatures steady and in the ideal range for the seeds to grow. Thermostats to help adjust the temperature can also be handy.

It’s finally time for us here in Middle Tennessee to safely begin planting our hot season vegetables and annuals. Zinnias, sunflowers, beans, marigolds, and all kinds of other plantings should be safe from the killing frosts. Now’s the time when all out gardening begins!

7 thoughts on “Starting Seeds for Basil and Pepper in Peat Pellets”

  1. I've been wanting to try the Globe Basil for the past two years and rats-until this moment–I FORGOT yet again! I have Cinnamon, Lemon, Plenty and Blue Spice going so I'm not sure I need more, but……..

  2. Morning Dave, Looks like you've been using your potting shed! I've been tucking little zinnia seedlings into the garden, planted cllantro two weeks ago~I was sure we wouldn't get a frost. Once itdries out a bit I will plant the rest of the garden goodies. gail

  4. Things going on today but plan to replant tomorrow. Okra, cukes & squash. Must straighten corn up as the wind blew it over this afternoon.

  5. Hello DAve!! I am sharing my EDANAME growing this sowing saturday and some more sowing!
    Andrea, From CAlifornia
    today we had a 80f hot day! 🙂
    I love basil too, I am growing sweet and genovese basil

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