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[gturfrey]

I am very new to this and have just got an allotment. I have sown some seeds in pots of compost as per instructions and kept them in my house for germination. So far the onions, and spring onions and cos lettuce have shown no sign of life. The tomato seeds seem to have acquired a white fluffy mould. Am i doing something wrong, I was going to sow my F1 turnips and market express but im concerned im doing something wrong. Any help would be appreciated on the best germination method for these seeds.

Gavin

[vicky]

Hi Gavin -
(where are you?)
If you're really just starting to grow it's probably a bit early in the year to start planting. The threads on here about starting tomatoes, chillis etc early are really for those who have a bit of experince as they are are not that easy to grow now, plus can't go outside for a while so you'll have windowsills full of leggy, weak plants (unless you have a heated greenhouse or are in Spain!)
You can plant a few things outside now - garlic, onion sets, early peas but the majority of veg needs to wait for a month or two (look at the back of the seeds packet - if you're in the south you can sow a bit earlier, north a bit later)
I'd bin the tomatoes if they're mouldy (sounds like they had a bit too much watering maybe?), give the onions a bit longer (how long have they had?) as they can be started off now, you will need to find somewhere with lots of light in the house to keep them from getting leggy.
Now's the time to be planning the lottie beds and preparing the ground
BTW - welcome to the vine!

[gturfrey]

Hi Vicky,

Thankyou, I am in West Sussex. About 30 minutes from Brighton. The onions and cos have had about 3 days so far. I will throw the tomatoes. I only sowed according to the seed instructions which was to sow in pots, im pretty miffed at the thing to be honest. Im putting up a unheated Poly greenhouse tomorrow to house some and also have a heated prop in the post.

Does the tissue method work on most seeds?

Gavin

[Two_Sheds]

I am ...30 minutes from Brighton

Worthing way then? If you put that into your profile we won't keep asking you where you are

the seed instructions which was to sow in pots, im pretty miffed at the thing to be honest.

nothing wrong with sowing in pots, it's just that you're about 7 weeks too early

Im putting up a unheated Poly greenhouse tomorrow to house some

an unheated poly won't be very warm at all. You need to consider the temp plus daylight hours. It's still very cold & dark in Jan/Feb. Most seed sowing takes off in March when the days lengthen significantly

and also have a heated prop in the post

The heated prop will be good for plants that need a higher germination temp, eg chillies & tomatoes. Onions won't need it

Once you've germinated all these seeds, do you have somewhere light & warm they can grow until they go outside in April/May?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Onions germinate best at 70 - 75 degrees and take around a fortnight at that temperature range.

[Shadylane]

The onions and cos have had about 3 days so far.

Onions take about a week I think, and lettuce should be coming through soon. Is the mould on the soil or the seedlings? If it's on the soil just scrape it off and cut back on watering. I seem to recall when seeds are just germinating they look a bit furry just as they're popping their heads through. It's not mould though - I did think it was once.

[northepaul]

If you dont have any luck with onions, you could try some sets, they are a little easier to get going especially for the first time. You can buy them from ebay or a garden centre or wilkinsons.
When you get your heated prop, start your tomatoes off in that.

[gturfrey]

Thanks Paul,

Will do, two sheds thanks for the words but i maybe 7 weeks earlier but i only followed the packet so feel free to write to unwins on my behalf.

When they have germinated I was going to place them in the conservatory on shelves.