When do you descide you have too many seeds?

[HeyWayne]

It sounds like a daft question now I've said it out loud, but here's my rationale;

I've noticed a number of grapes giving away seeds, and I've been the lucky recipient of some, but I'm yet to reciprocate. The reason being is that I'm not sure I've planted all that I want yet, but I'm worried that by the time I do, it will be too late for anyone else to plant them - so I'll miss the opportunity to give any away.

How do you know when you've used all the seeds you're likely to use?

[janeyo]

When the packet is empty! lol

Small packets obviously, am darn sure I can't plant 1000 brocolli seeds in a season!

I guess when you feel you have used all you will need, done successional sowing and don't want to save them for next year.

I have also been giving away the ones that prob won't last another season. And ones that I know I can't use even in a few years, ie I only need 2 courgette plants but got about 100 in the packet.

janeyo

[FoxHillGardener]

... am darn sure I can't plant 1000 brocolli seeds in a season!

... ie I only need 2 courgette plants but got about 100 in the packet.

janeyo

which brings me on to me current favourite mystery - why so many seeds in a packet? (apart from keeping the seed swap board active, of course)

I know there are some suppliers out there that do smaller amounts, but your typical T&M, Suttons and the rest, why would I ever need 250 cauliflower seeds? why would janeyo need 1000 broccoli seeds? I mean, even with a rubbish germination rate and a fair few losses to slimers and the rest, we're never going to need that many

Perhaps it's to do with the way they collect and pack them - particularly the small seeds - but I need to know!

[FoxHillGardener]

... but back to the question. I have too many when I can no longer squash them all into my seed box(es). No, that's not true, I just get another seed box. But I'm trying to be firm with myself this year and not expand the box collection any more...

[HeyWayne]

Apart from the size of the seed, I always thought they put more of the ones that are a little more difficult to propagate in the packet, and less of those that are quite easy?

[FoxHillGardener]

Apart from the size of the seed, I always thought they put more of the ones that are a little more difficult to propagate in the packet, and less of those that are quite easy?

to some extent, I think that's true, but still, 250 caulis? Perhaps I've had a lucky start (first year cauli grower) but I've only used a few pinches over 2 sowings and have about 30 seedlings already up. Which makes me think, why did I do another batch yesterday? oh yes, succession, just in case, perhaps all my friends and neighbours would like spares

[zazen999]

No idea chuck; I usually get rid when someone asks for some for school projects or someone offers a swap for stuff i would want. They then make the decision for me!

I think it was 1000 parsnips in the pack I bought this year; I haven't given any away yet as i will succession plant and if I get 20 out of that lot [on past experience] I'll think myself lucky.

[HeyWayne]

That's just it, I haven't done any successional sowings yet...

[janeyo]

I only had 15 strawb seeds and they were blooming hard to grow! Ended up with 7... not sure how many will last though.

And the tomsnand peppers in a packet are usually small ammounts and yet the seeds are small, and quite fussy to grow. I have huge troubles with chillis and peppers.

Mind you I did use a whole packet of spring onions and NOTHING to show for them! Hmmmpf

janeyo

[rustylady]

I tend to save my part-packets for next year. Unfortunately when I cleared out my seed file this year in some cases next year had become the year after, and the year after. Some were so old I had to throw them out as I tried the kitchen paper germination trick and they were DEAD.

[zazen999]

Don't forget you gave away some seeds to me for the BG man competition; and they are growing nicely here.

Although I succession sow, i also do hold backs; so sow about 20 say toms; when the first ones are big enough I'll pot them on but leave half of them in the original pot that I sowed them in. They will continue to grow but slower. Then, if I get frosted or damping off, or anything else bad happens; I already have more ready to replace them without having to sow them. If they don't get used, they are potted on about a month later and already the second batch is rocketing away.

I first did this when my OH sowed whole packets of onion and carrot seed [he always sows the whole packet - love him]; and I decided to hold some back and worked out that actually, it worked! I could hold them back without any problems and not have huge gluts with the lot coming good at once.

Plus I don't like thinning out for no reason; I'll happily ditch seedlings that aren't as strong as others; but don't like thinning out strong ones just because they were sown too thickly.

so many different ways of doing things and so much advice!!!

[zazen999]

Mind you I did use a whole packet of spring onions and NOTHING to show for them! Hmmmpf

janeyo

Talking of which; my onions are taking an age to germinate this year. Not sure why. Might have to bring them all indoors soon - they usually germinate fine in the garage/ground but nothing thus far. chives as well. And leeks come to think of it.

[Seahorse]

HW, I reckon at least some of the people who do giveaways are seed addicts with far more than they could ever plant

[HeyWayne]

Don't forget you gave away some seeds to me for the BG man competition; and they are growing nicely here.

Dang, I forgot abot the BG man competition! I could of ran another one this past week! Out heating went of late lastweek and a BG dude arrived on Saturday, tried to fix it, thought he had and went, only to be called back on Sunday. Again, he left thinking he'd fixed it.

We've had no heating since Sunday night, and today 2 dudes arrived (1 trainee) and they left actually having fixed it! LadyWayne is very pleased.

I could of had a competition to see which dude would fix it. Bugger.

[areia]

i think im the only sad person here, that when i buy large seeds i count how there are in the packet so far out of all the ones ive bought this year so far they have been wayyyyy over than whats said on the packet