Can I bring plants back to life?

[Nickerly]

I went away for a few days and came back to find that my bf had put all my seedlings outside because they were in his way and 'forgot' about them

All my beans and tomatoes are dead as are any new seedlings which had just sprouted and suspect none of the seeds will germinate.

The only thing I think I'll be able to salvage is the strawberries which look a bit withered and brown and the carrot seedlings.

My question is - is there anyway I can revive the strawberry plants if I bring them back inside?

Will have to go out and start again this Easter. Luckily have some seeds left but is very annoying.

[zazen999]

Strawbs are hardy, so I'd pop them into a tray and keep watering until they stop drawing water up. Then, put them somewhere sunny and warm, but sheltered [a coldframe?].

The main thing is what to do with your BF now?

[Capsid]

Sorry about your plants, that's a bummer. But it's still not too late to sow some more. i haven't sown my beans yet. The seeds may still be OK and a bit of a chill might spur them into germinating. So don't throw them just yet.

The strawberry plants are outdoor plants and hardy so they should be fine, there's no need for them to be indoors really.

Are you planning to transplant the carrots? This is not usually very successful, best to sow direct.

[Nickerly]

I'm all for dumping him over this zazen99, but it would take me too long to load the car up with all my plants

[Nickerly]

Capsid - we only have a little balcony so the carrots are in a big, deep container.

Is it too cold to leave them out? I am really tempted to put the pot back out there (hardening them off first) as it is getting in the way a bit.

It amazes me that he didn't think I'd notice he'd put them outside when I came back and saw them all shrivelled. He must think that I want to turn the house over to triffids, that's why I have colonised all the window sills for them.

[Nickerly]

Should add - have just put a few more seeds into each repotted-pot (they were paper pots and it rained hard so they were all turned mushy) and have put them in plastic bags on a sunny window sill next to a radiator to germinate.

Good idea? :/

[FionaH]

Carrots should be fine outside, mine are.

[Nickerly]

Thanks Fiona.

This is turning into a bit of a multi-question thread, but is it better to grow tomato plants from seeds or just buy them? I am not having any luck so far (probably because I am doing it wrong) so am wondering if I should just wait until May and buy some plants as I have to buy more seeds now anyway?

[Capsid]

Tomatoes should germinate readily, I sow about 6 seeds spaced evenly in a 3" pot indoors, they usually emerge about a week or two later. I then pot them up into individual pots when they have true leaves and put them outside in the greenhouse.

[veggietrouble]

i suppose it depends on which variety you are thinking of and how many plants. I always used to get our 6-8 toms from the local show - this way I knew what time of year to get organised, but also they weren't too dear. oh, and sorry that bf thinks you are blind

[teakdesk]

I'm all for dumping him over this zazen99, but it would take me too long to load the car up with all my plants

If the same happened in my household the plants would stay where they were and there would be a wardrobe's worth of clothes lying in the street !!

[Sweepster]

I suggest adding nuts (or a big glug of your dubious olive oil) to every meal you make from now until he's sufficiently penitent. And only buy crunchy nut cornflakes.

Starvation can make a man learn the error of his ways very quickly.

[Zenithtb]

- we only have a little balcony so the carrots are in a big, deep container.

Are you another Balcony Grower?? Photos??

Mark