I start all my peppers from seed. Currently I have jalapeņos, habaneros, Serrano, and cayenne peppers for the hot peppers and red and yellow sweet peppers. I have one word for successfully growing peppers in the PNW(for me) it's "greenhouse"! I've never had any luck until I bought a small greenhouse. They like well draining warm/hot soil. If you don't have a greenhouse try covering your soil with black plastic. This will not only help with the weeds but will increase the soil temp. My peppers are all grown in pots only for the ease of working with my small greenhouse(4'x6'x6')