vanishing act?

[jemma_charlie]

throughout march and april i have planed sunflowers, poppies, wild flowers and fox gloves. They said on the packet i could direct sow them so i raked first threw down the seeds and raked over then watered. (apart from the sunflowers that i put at the correct depth)

None of them have appeared, nothing at all not even the odd one here and there. Am I expecting something too soon or do you think something has eaten them?

There were at least 7 full packets of seeds that i have planted so thought i would see something

[Two_Sheds]

I expect slugs have eaten them.

I prefer to sow cornflower, sunflower and foxgloves into modules, and then plant out, or else I get nothing too.

[sweetiepea]

Yep, I agree. The little slimes have had a delicious feast! They devour all I have too, so I sow in paper pots then plant out when well established.

[rana]

The sunflower seeds could have been eaten by mice. I've have had seeds dug out of pots (in the greenhouse) before by hungry mice, I'm sure they can smell them germinating.

[Flummery]

I agree - I sow most things into modules now. At least you get a plant at every station. Looking at the cost of seeds, you are better off using a little seed for guaranteed plants even at the cost of some compost. I re-use modules that things have been bought in (by me or my friends who save them for me). Another bonus is that you have seed left over to do the same again next year!

[lynda66]

i sowed a load of flowers direct in march/april, and some of them are just popping their heads up now

[Matt.]

Last year I direct sowed poppies and sunflowers and got nothing. This year I've pre sown in modules as others have suggested.

[jemma_charlie]

live and learn i suppose, off to buy more seeds, i thought at least a few would have survived! never mind we learn by our mistakes.
I think you may be right about the slugs as everything that went into pots has sprouted whereas anything direct sown has never appeared

thanks again

[fran]

I sowed loads of sunflowers individually in modules in mini plastic G/H a few weeks ago. The NEXT MORNING all the husks were lying on top of soil empty. It's bloody meece! I shall try some more only put them up on top floor window-sill. Haven't sown any more yet cos am too busy with the veg. Still I know for next year!

Fran