Flowers From Seed

[Fat Bob]

This is a bit of a general beginner question regarding growing my own flowers from seed.

I've grown a few varieties such as rudbeckia, cosmos, aster, petunia, stock, impatiens, nicotiana etc and they've have mostly germinated well and grown into little two leaved seedlings.

What now!?

From what I've read in books (mainly vegetable) you are meant to prick out as soon as they are big enough to handle, but could I prick out into large 84 cell trays or do they need their own little pots or can I leave them to develop in the trays of compost?

I'm really only comparing it to what I see in garden centres where they have quite big young plants all packed together in trays and was wondering what normal people do with young flower seedlings.

The main reason for asking this is, I have a tray of stocks seedlings which seemed to have stopped growing, they look really healthy, but they are just enjoying the sun, soil and water and not putting any effort in. Is it down to me or them?

[Two_Sheds]

could I prick out into large 84 cell trays ?

Yes I would.
I start my flowers off in 3" pots on the windowsill. HHA (not hardy ones) go in the propagator first.

I let them all get on with it until they get their real leaves and have put on a bit of weight.

Then I prick them out into individual cells (size depends on the size of your seedling really).
** you could just sow straight into celltrays, if you have room for them **

Then they are too big for the windowsill, so they go into the plastic greenhouse to carry on.

then harden off for a week or two, then plant outside.

[Fat Bob]

Thanks for that TS.

Last year I tried flowers, used all the wrong stuff and got very little by way of return, so this year is a nice surprise to have trays of greenery, but I want to get them into proper flowers. I'll go the cell route.

Again, thanks.

[MrsC]

Hi FB, I tend to sow direct into 1" cells for the bigger seeds, cosmos etc and then I will pot onto 2.5" cells before planting out. I sow most into unheated greenhouse, some in the heated propagator, it depends really. I like using the cells though as I seem to get a good root on them, hope this helps

[Fat Bob]

Thanks MrsC - it definitely helps yeah.

It's quite nice to work with the bigger seeds in single cells as I had a bit of a conundrum with things like the lobelia which was like dust. I ended up sprinkling those randomly into 1" cells with a thought that they would grow into little well filled plugs. Hopefully anyway, they've not germinated yet.

[MrsC]

Thanks MrsC - it definitely helps yeah.

It's quite nice to work with the bigger seeds in single cells as I had a bit of a conundrum with things like the lobelia which was like dust. I ended up sprinkling those randomly into 1" cells with a thought that they would grow into little well filled plugs. Hopefully anyway, they've not germinated yet.

They should do, I did the same with some Godetia seedlings, they look lovely now, ready for potting on

[Snadger]

They should do, I did the same with some Godetia seedlings, they look lovely now, ready for potting on

Reminds me I must sow mine. Godetia is one of my favourite flowers. It always reminds me of the ornamental bunch that the conjurer pulls from his sleave!

[jackie j]

Thanks MrsC - it definitely helps yeah.

It's quite nice to work with the bigger seeds in single cells as I had a bit of a conundrum with things like the lobelia which was like dust. I ended up sprinkling those randomly into 1" cells with a thought that they would grow into little well filled plugs. Hopefully anyway, they've not germinated yet.

I sow most of my seeds into single cells ( one big seed per cell ) including lobelia ( spinkled ) but although they germinated ok I lost them I dont seem to be able to grow things that have tiny seeds, dont know what I do wrong cos everything else is ok.

[Fat Bob]

I sow most of my seeds into single cells ( one big seed per cell ) including lobelia ( spinkled ) but although they germinated ok I lost them I dont seem to be able to grow things that have tiny seeds, dont know what I do wrong cos everything else is ok.

You've done something right to get them germinated Jackie, however I can offer no advice on keeping them alive. I'm still in that precarious position myself.

When I see my first flower, then I'll celebrate.

[Two_Sheds]

I just lost half my lobelia seedlings ... they got fried on the windowsill. The bigger seedlings are still OK

[MrsC]

I sow most of my seeds into single cells ( one big seed per cell ) including lobelia ( spinkled ) but although they germinated ok I lost them I dont seem to be able to grow things that have tiny seeds, dont know what I do wrong cos everything else is ok.

What small seeds are you sowing Jackie and where are they. As TS posted above it's easy for them to get fried

[jackie j]

What small seeds are you sowing Jackie and where are they. As TS posted above it's easy for them to get fried

All sorts of flower seeds to try and save money on plants lol some are ok others not. They are in the back bedroom which gets the sun in the mornings but they are not on the window sills they are on the shelves The bigger the seed the easier I get them to grow, no problems with sweetpeas, sunflowers or veg seeds.

[2e1fmo]

The main reason for asking this is, I have a tray of stocks seedlings which seemed to have stopped growing, they look really healthy, but they are just enjoying the sun, soil and water and not putting any effort in. Is it down to me or them?

Im glad im not the only one wondering this, my stock seedings have also seem to have stopped growing, but are as healthly as can be, perhaps they are just really slow growing? I can see the first true leaves just poking through, but they are taking ages.

Has anybody grown stock from seed before? and had the same experience

Thanks
Daniel