Nothing growing!

[Albanach]

Put cabbage, coriander, parsley, beetroot, courgette, spring onion seeds into a seed tray with compost and plonked them into the plastic propagator greenhouse thing nearly 3 weeks ago and nothing has come through

Could this be a bad batch of seeds? Operator error? Too early?

[Creemteez]

Hi Albanach,
It could be all of the above, but assuming you followed the instructions on the seed packets, used a good quality compost and have kept the compost damp (NOT wet), I would go for it being a little bit too cold for your seedlings to germinate. Try bringing a couple of the trays in and putting them on a sunny window sill. I bet you'll see some action within a few days - especially the cabbage -they don't need much excuse to get going.
Once they are up I would wait until they are about an inch (2cm) tall before putting them out in your plastic greenhouse during the day, but bring them in at night until they've acclimatised.
If you have no luck with the window sill method, I would suggest trying again - applying all the above advice! You still have plenty of time. Good luck!

[Snadger]

Cabbage should have been up but others may need a higher temp or a longer time!

[Creemteez]

By the way, your Courgettes will definitely need to be started in warmth - and kept there- until all danger of frost has passed!

[Bigmallly]

Because of the vast variety of seeds, I can only think it is something you have or haven't done. Something should have shown within a week if not less. Are they too deep, too wet, too cold. As said above, ideally you need warmth to germinate. Did you put the courgettes on their ends or just lay them flat?.

[Albanach]

The only thing that has germinated is leef beet which was planted at the same time.

used a good quality compost and have kept the compost damp (NOT wet)

Are they too deep, too wet, too cold

Wet - I don't think we have over watered even during the recent warm weather where the daily temp was in the region of 15 deg C for 6-8 days.

Deep - probably a max of 12mm deep.

Cold - see above for recent hot weather but the temperature is after dropping significantly to near enough 0 deg C at night last night.

If you have no luck with the window sill method, I would suggest trying again - applying all the above advice! You still have plenty of time. Good luck!

I take it is a case of chucking the seeds out and starting again as well as chucking out the compost?

Did you put the courgettes on their ends or just lay them flat?

I probably lay some flat and others on their end...should they be on their end? Can I readjust them now or is it too late?

Any tips on how to water seedling trays without drenching them - we currently use a hosepipe on its very fine mist setting but there might be a better way?

Cheers for all the help!

[Helgalush]

I water my seedling trays with a little spritz from a spray bottle, or if they look like they need a bit more than that, I give a little drink out of one of those small plastic jugs you get with your iron. In the past I have definitely overwatered my seedlings so try to just add a very slight amount when the soil looks like it is starting to go a bit dry, just enough to keep the soil moist. I'm not as experienced as many of the gardeners here, but this seems to be working well so far this year.

[Albanach]

I water my seedling trays with a little spritz from a spray bottle

Excellent sounds like a good plan!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Try using the cheap plastic modules, the very thin wiggle ones. They usually come as a tray of 40 modules but can be cut down to however many you want with scissors.

This will allow you to have different seed in different places to suit the germination of that seed. Also it will allow you to water from the bottom when the seedlings need it.

When sowing seeds I lightly water the compost, leave it for 1/2 hour, plant the seeds, cover to the required depth and then leave. Unless something goes awry you should not need to water again until after germination and then only little.

As a guide your compost should look dry on the surface otherwise you stand a chance of the seeds rotting in situ.

Colin

[Albanach]

Try using the cheap plastic modules, the very thin wiggle ones. They usually come as a tray of 40 modules but can be cut down to however many you want with scissors.

This will allow you to have different seed in different places to suit the germination of that seed. Also it will allow you to water from the bottom when the seedlings need it.

When sowing seeds I lightly water the compost, leave it for 1/2 hour, plant the seeds, cover to the required depth and then leave. Unless something goes awry you should not need to water again until after germination and then only little.

As a guide your compost should look dry on the surface otherwise you stand a chance of the seeds rotting in situ.

Colin

Cheers - I use the cheap plastic modules so will give it another whirl.

Is there any way of salvaging the seeds I've already planted...can I remove them (mainly the courgette and butternut squash) and re pot?

[Two_Sheds]

how to water seedling trays without drenching them

how to water seedlings - YouTube

[Helgalush]

I remember watching your video last year Two Sheds, thanks for the reminder about watering properly.

[Bigmallly]

Rule of thumb is to plant seeds twice the depth of the seed size so if your seed is 2mm diameter, plant it 4mm deep, 12mm sounds a little deep, they may have rotted as already suggested. Try chitting your courgettes on kitchen paper first.

[singleseeder]

I also use a spray bottle to water seeds and small seedlings.

A pop bottle with small holes made in the cap with a darning needle (remember those?) also works well for larger seedlings. Turn the bottle of water upside down and no water comes out until you squeeze. Stop squeezing and the water stops again. I leave several of these full bottles in the greenhouse to warm the water up. See I love my seedlings, me.

Before you water, lift your trays and pots. You will soon get used to the difference between the weight of damp and dry compost.

[Albanach]

I'll try chitting the courgette seeds with the peas. Should the butternut squash seed be planted flat or vertically?