covering seeds

[growingkasbar]

I have just planted a few seeds in the hope that my the time shoots are big enough my raised veg bed will be ready. Anyway i had no lids to put on the top of my seed trays and so i have covered some of them with sandwich bags and some with cling film. Has anyone else tried this, will my seeds be ok?

[Jeanied]

Yes, I have gk. The old fashioned way was to put a sheet of glass over the seeds that needed a bit of light to germinate, or newspaper and glass over those that didn't. Modern equivalents - plastic and cling film. Keep an eye on condensation and drips on new seedlings though.

[ginger ninger]

I've been known to cut the bottoms of 2ltr plastic pop bottles and use them as a cloche, they fit nicely over a 3" pot, I've also used small sandwich bags over 3" pots as well.

[Madasafish]

I am still using a 15 year old 20 metre long roll of clingfilm to cover seeds.. works well...

[binley100]

In the GH I've been using a hooge polythene bag split down one side that fits over about four trays. In the middle there is a tower of small plant pots to hold it up like a tent.

[Flummery]

I don't do it for everything. When you think about direct sowing, you don't sow a row of lettuce or beetroot outside and cover them. At this time of year I'm sowing seeds in pots or modules in the greenhouse without covers, though tender stuff, toms etc. are sown in the house and poly-bagged.

[Creemteez]

The only problem I've found with plastic and clingfilm alike is the condensation weighing it down onto the top of the compost and possibly inhibiting seedlings pushing through.
I overcome this by using two lengths of thick garden wire arched cross-ways over the pot or tray creating a tent effect much like the stack of pots used in a previous post.

[taff]

I use ziploc bags, got quite a few large ones free,if you form a point on them, they don't tend to collapse.

[growingkasbar]

Thanks everyone. I just needed to know that i hadn't failed before i'd even got started! I will keep an eye on them and make sure cling film is not touching the seeds. No signs of life as of yet. I find this waiting part the worst thing about growoing veg!! I want them to grow NOW!

[Rocketron]

Thanks everyone. I just needed to know that i hadn't failed before i'd even got started! I will keep an eye on them and make sure cling film is not touching the seeds. No signs of life as of yet. I find this waiting part the worst thing about growoing veg!! I want them to grow NOW!

You're not the only one. my seeds only start showing signs of life after I've sworn at them. My wife says they are scared into action.

[growingkasbar]

Thanks rocketron, I will try it lol

[Nykied]

You're not the only one. my seeds only start showing signs of life after I've sworn at them. My wife says they are scared into action.

I may try that with my one tomato seed that hasn't germinated

I've been using a mixture of cling film and the 1 litre Robinsons cordial bottles, cut in half. They fit nicely into the 3inch pots and they're easier to lift off to water.

[growingkasbar]

Well Rocketron.....it worked!! My peas and radish have been scared into action. Also little gem lettuice is showing signs of life! Who knew swearing is the fertiliser of the future!