Help: Seeds in unheated greenhouse....?

[newshootsinsunlight]

As I'm lacking on windowsill space, but have new empty unheated greenhouse on my allotment, I thought I would chance trying some seeds in the greenhouse. Have sown the following:

Red onions
Nasturtium
Sweet Pea
Pea (Dwarf - half-pint)
Aubergine
French Lavender
Verbena

That was aboyr 14 days ago and nothing has appeared yet. Some are are in trays and are covered by a plastic propagator lid, but I've been covering all of them at night with fleece....
I am hoping for too much for these seeds to germinate in an unheated greenhouse. On a sunny day it's getting pretty warm in there....
Any advice appreciated!?

[shirlthegirl43]

I would guess that if they are going to grow they will, just slowly as it is still chilly at night. The sweetpeas will definitely be okay in the cold greenhouse and I think the onions too, the others I am not sure about though I had calabrese germinate fine in my frost-free greenhouse. Be patient.

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, be patient. The seeds you've put in should mostly be okay. Things grow slowly, if at all, when its still relatively cold and dark.
Everyone thinks the days are lovely and sunny and warm right now, and rush to sow sweetcorn, squash and other tenders, all the while forgetting that the nights are still freezing. (It's all very well getting something to germinate, but you've got to look after those little plants indoors for another 2 months at least until they can go outside.)

[Flummery]

The aubergines might struggle but the rest should be ok. Things seem to come through within a week on the kitchen windowsill but can be up to a month in a cold greenhouse. You need to be patient I think!

[Cutecumber]

I agree with Flum - most things should be ok eventually, but I think your aubergines are unlikely to flourish.

[newshootsinsunlight]

Thanks for all the top advice......thinking about the other seeds I have to sow, I wondering what will and won't work in the unheated greenhouse....
Toms?
Peppers?
Thyme?
Basil?
Chives?
Geranium?
For the Toms and Peppers do they really need to be started on a window sill,
Thanks again, this forum really is a big help!

[brooklynodog]

Why not get an inexpensive parafin heater for the coldest nights when frost is likely?

[Cutecumber]

Tomatoes, peppers and basil are very tender and need more constant warmth than you will get in an unheated greenhouse. I would wait a month.

Chives are hardy so they'll be ok.

[Madasafish]

I have the same problems and:
use a small plastic greenhouse inside my glass greenhouse.
Mount it on a bench where it gets most light.
Put a paraffin heater under it for frosts.

Our greenhouse is bubble wrapped but we get some hard frosts.. and wind so anything tender would die overnight if not heated... and even when heated I don't have a powerful enough heater...

I don't put anything into the greenhouse till Mid March and then cover them all at night - heated or not - with fleece.

We've had snow in May in the past:-(

[Flummery]

Had it in June here Madasafish. Only once but it makes you take no chances with your little seedlings!

[Madasafish]

>Flummery
Yes saw it on the Yorkshire peaks in June and the Lakes...about 20 years ago...

As for Scotland where I was brought up....:-(

[veg4681]

Thanks for all the top advice......thinking about the other seeds I have to sow, I wondering what will and won't work in the unheated greenhouse....
Toms?
Peppers?
Thyme?
Basil?
Chives?
Geranium?
For the Toms and Peppers do they really need to be started on a window sill,
Thanks again, this forum really is a big help!

Peppers and aubergines are hard work to germinate, they need warmth but I wouldn't even chance them on the window sill. I use heated propagator for these. Tomatoes are not as bad as those two but again I've had problem with my window sill too as it's to do with this time of the year.

Chives are like onions so they should be alright on window sill or even unheated greenhouse but you just have to accept that they'll take long to germinate in there. Not sure about others but I take the easy way out with heated propagator for any early sowing. Another option is to sow later as specified on the seed packet.