Germination frustration

[dilettante]

I've been feeling so frustrated and questioning myself over the seriously low rates of germination I've been experiencing. Most of my seed is new this year, I've actually bought proper seed compost and vermiculite and I have been getting horribly low rates of germination, and the seedlings that have come up seem to be growing so slowly. Now the latter issue is probably me comparing myself to folks with lovely warm greenhouses, vs my probably not that warm, homemade coldframe, but the germination issue I'm not so sure about.

I've been fretting about watering, because most of my seedlings are down on the plot, but even the molly-coddled ones at home in my blowaway seem not to be germinating too well.

I have determined that slugs and snails are at least part of the issue, because I've discovered a fed tomato seedlings suddenly sans leaves. Have I possibly just forgotten that things are slower earlier in the season? I've resown a few things this week, and am going to chuck slug pellets about inside the coldframe.

I feel like I'm being a bit neurotic about the garden this year, and have forgotten how to do everything.

[Muddy_Boots]

I was the same when I first started, the weather is quite cold at the moment and germination is slow in unheated greenhouses as a result. I also did the resowing bit then found when it warmed up everything went mad and I ended up with twice the seedlings I wanted.

Slugs and snails are easy to spot if they have been active as you can see the trails, look to see if there are any snails hidden in your cold frame as they hide away in the daylight.

As they say patience is a virtue and as we had hail here yesterday afternoon when I was thankfully in the greenhouse its still a tad cold for proper germination, soon as it gets warmer things will happen.

[vixylix]

we're all impatient with germination dilettante give it a bit of time, wait for the weather to pick up and you'll be away! I keep finding mystery seedlings where I've given up on germination, thrown the compost back in my tub and then suddenly they all decide they have perfect conditions now!

[muddled]

It does all seem a bit late this year doesn't it?

I've had parsnips in the ground for five weeks now with not a seedling to show for it...unsure whether slugs have grazed them, they may have rotted off or they might...fingers crossed....burst forth in a week or two.

Seedlings too are petulantly hanging around at the seedleaf stage...sulky and depressed looking. My tomatoes are pathetic and I'm tempted to bin the chillis altogether....can't see them catching up in time!

so yeah, I'm feeling neurotic with you!
I suggest a virtual bottle of wine and a Kevin Costner movie...(always cheers me up) and if things are still this rubbish in a fortnight we'll go to the garden centre and buy bedding plants instead!

[Alison]

It's very cold for a lot of things to germinate outside yet, even in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. There's a clue in the names in cold and unheated. I tend to germinate even pretty hardy stuff inside before moving outdoors and tender stuff has not yet ventured out the door. Temperature effects germination more than any things else.

[WendyC]

I'd agree as to what has been said about temperature. We have have had warm spells but not consistently so.

[Jungle Jane]

Things are slow at the moment some of my seedlings are tiny it feels like they'l never have time to flower. We are early in the season still but I do feel really behind,I haven't even sowed my parsnip seeds yet or carrots (or loads of things!!)

[Alison]

I only sowed my carrots and parsnips on Friday, loads of time yet

[dilettante]

Update: I just went to the allotment this evening, and actually can see a lot of things are just starting to poke their heads above the soil. I can even see a few of the celery seeds poking out little roots. I also chucked a bunch of slug pellets down, so that'll do.

I've got to learn to be more patient.

[Zelenina]

Yes, it takes patience dilettante. You also need to find out the preferred germination conditions of each kind of plant, because they are all different. Here are some useful germination tips, and a list of germination temperatures for the most common types of veg. Germination

[dilettante]

That is a really handy page, thank you.

[Gillykat]

Thanks for that link Zelenina - I've saved it in my favourites until I can print a copy out for my garden diary

[Snoop Puss]

I suggest a virtual bottle of wine and a Kevin Costner movie...(always cheers me up)!

Totally off topic: how about some Switzerland chocolate and Open Range? One of my favourites.

Back on topic: snails and slugs are a proper nuisance in my cold frames. I've now moved my brassica seedlings onto tables outdoors in a bid to save them from destruction. So commiserations.

Plus, it is a bit chilly for some seeds. I don't have a heated or unheated greenhouse. My courgette seeds have been a bit hit and miss despite spending the night under the settee: one lot (old seed) germinated well, the others (new seed) have simply rotted. Guess the watchword is still 'patience'.

[Scarlet]

I haven't even started courgettes, cues or squash yet!
What have you got germinating in your cold frame Dilettante? Most seeds I sow this time of year will be left in the house until they start to germinate.

[Philthy]

I've decided I'm going to be lazy this year and just buy plugs of the crops I want to grow. The nursery can have the hassle of raising them from seed. It is rather cold still.