cosmea

[Ja9]

I am having trouble germinating my Cosmea seashells... they are in the propogater at 20oc and covered with a compost bag to exclude light, but only 12% have grown. Other veg seeds I have planted almost come up 100%.
not sure where I am going wrong and any advice for sowing the next batch would be appreciated.

[sagegreen]

Sea Shells looks like an interesting variety of cosmea (just looked in Suttons cat'). I wonder if 20-degrees is just a little -too- hot for them? Don't know where you are based, but in the south-west you can sow cosmea directly outside from now onwards if the soil is reasonably warm and workable. Maybe try re-sowing undercover with no, or just a little heat - or even outside??

[Two_Sheds]

T&M recommend that cosmos is germinated at 21-24C. I grew them last year, but honestly can't remember what I did. Prolly just bunged them in the propagator until a few came up, then bunged them in the cold greenhouse.

[sarraceniac]

I just shoved them in a seed tray and stood them on top of my computer server. And promptly forgot them. I went into the back room today (genuine coincidence) for something else and there were loads of tall spindly seedlings in rather dry compost. I immediately shoved them out into the rain and brought them back in just before dark. They can go into the cold greenhouse tomorrow (unless its raining). The germination temp. was officially 18° but add 2° for the server.

[Ja9]

thank you.I think that they may have been too hot as the propagater is getting very warm with the sun now. I excluded light as instructed but it suggestes from your replies that perhaps you don't have too....shall go and experiment!

[Two_Sheds]

the propagater is getting very warm with the sun now.

Oh yes.
I turn the lecky off when the sun is shining: I don't want to bake my seeds