Baffled re germination

[Paul Bromley]

A question re peat pots, I bought the square small peat blocks for seedlings from Wilkos and sowed 24 lettuce and 24 beetroot using john innes and put them in my propagator . Not one of the seeds germinated despite keeping them moist. I have just re sown the lettuce in a tray with the same compost and within four or five days they are up ! and the same with the beetroot in the unheated greenhouse. I am a beginner and wonder what may be going on, I have thrown the rest of my peat pots in the bin ! What have I done wrong ? or is it possible the peat pots have some issue?
Baffled !

[Bill HH]

Bit of a mystery that, have you checked the temperature of the proagator? could it be too hot or cold? I cant see the peat pots making any difference to germination, if there was an issue with them it would show up when the roots actualy touch the pot.

[Kristen]

I bought the square small peat blocks ... sowed using john innes

Just to avoid possible confusion: I presume there were peat pots, rather than "soil" blocks that you just drop a seed into?

I can't see that making a difference, so either temperature or too wet perhaps.

However, I hate those peat pots. They dry out far too much, and I don't think that roots can easily grow through them at all. if you need a "plant it pot and all" solution I recommend making pots from rolling a piece of newspaper around an aerosol can. Free and surprisingly durable.

Either way, peat pots or newspaper ones, make sure you tear off any part of the "pot" that sticks out above the soil after planting, otherwise it will act as a wick and dry out the part of the pot that is underground.

There are not many things that need no root disturbance on planting out, so I use regular pots for almost everything. My exception is for Parsnips and Sweetcorn (and Sweetpeas).

In case of interest here's how I make newspaper pots:
How to Make Pots from Newspaper | K's Garden

[Paul Bromley]

Yes the small cone shaped peat multi block things, a lesson learned I think avoid them like the plague !

[Two_Sheds]

sowed 24 lettuce and 24 beetroot ... in my propagator .

Neither of those needs any heat, but a cloche over the top will help germination, to keep the soil moist until the leaves appear.

Try again in plastic reusable pots or cell trays, no heat