I ordered small packets of a number of Caribbean and South American chilis which I can't buy around here. I set up 6 small square tubs full of potting soil and planted a few seeds in each. I arranged them next to a window that gets sun most of the day and kept them properly watered. Nothing hatched for over a month.

I later got some Red Cayenne seeds and did the same. They took off like gangbusters, and in two weeks were starting to set flowers. The others? Still nothing.

So, I had a shallow planter which I filled with a base of the sandy ground I have here, then dumped all the tubs into it and spread it all around. I set it out in a part sun location and watered it when I watered the rest of my weeds (often, under current weather conditions).

Within 4 days I had several hatchlings. Now at 9 days I count 29 of them, and I'm sure more are on the way.

Interesting environmental puzzle, but, though I had some prior successes, I shall no longer attempt to start seeds indoors.