Can You Use Seeds From a Bell Pepper to Plant?

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Bell Pepper Selection


The typical seeds from a grocery store bell pepper aren't likely to sprout, and if they do they probably won't produce fruit like the one you collected the seeds from. Viable pepper seeds come from open-pollinated varieties, or non-hybrids. Open-pollinated, garden grown peppers usually produce viable seed true to the parent plant. Many open-pollinated types are labeled as heirloom varieties on the seed packet. Even if store-bought peppers are open-pollinated varieties, the fruit was likely harvested before it was fully ripe so the seeds won't be mature enough to save and plant.
Seed Collection


Viable seed comes from fully ripe bell peppers, which are usually just past the preferred eating stage of maturity. Pick the peppers once they reach their full color and the skins begin to wrinkle. Slice open the pepper and shake the seeds out of the fruit and into a bowl. The seeds require drying for a week or two to store well, unless you are planting them immediately. Spread them out in a single layer on paper plates and allow them to dry completely in a warm, dark and dry location. If you aren't storing seeds, you can plant them in pots right after collecting them.


Storage


If you aren't immediately sowing the seeds, you must store them correctly so they remain viable until planting. Most bell pepper seeds store well for at least two years when packaged correctly. You can store the seeds in a paper envelope or a glass jar. Include a packet of silica gel in jars so it can dry any moisture trapped in the container. Make sure the jar or envelope is labeled with the bell pepper variety and year harvested, then store it in a dark, cool place until you are ready to sow the seeds.
Planting


Peppers require warm temperatures to sprout successfully, so it's best to start them indoors about seven weeks before the last expected frost in your area. Sow the seeds about 1/4-inch deep in a moist sterile potting mixture. Mist the potting mix with water daily so it stays moist, or seal the pots in plastic bags so they don't dry out. For best germination, keep the soil between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The pots won't require light until the seeds sprout. Peppers typically require 14 days to germinate, but they may take as few as seven or as many as 21 days to sprout.