How long do you wait until giving up on a germinating seed ?

[Forage420]

I sowed some cauliflower seeds on the 11th of February, 7 out of 11 have popped through, that's a germination rate of 63%. It's likely the age of the seed (they are expired by some years) .. I've had close to 100% germination on my onions and leaks and cauliflower are not known to be shy of the cold so I don't think it's the lack of warmth or fluctuations in temperature.

It's got me thinking, when do you give up ?

.. Three weeks ? A month ? More than a month ? Im genuinely interested to know what other people do.

[Penellype]

Brassicas are usually fairly quick and a month would be a long time for cauliflowers, particularly if some of the seeds have already germinated. I've known carrots take a month and peppers can be very slow, so it does depend on what you are trying to grow.

[MarkPelican]

If it hasn’t come up within a week of similar seeds, I usually give up. (I.e. if you sow a few different varieties of lettuces, ones that haven’t germinated in a week of the rest are past it).

[Forage420]

Ahhhh that's good to know, .. seed packets usually state 7 - 21 days.
I have had zero germination on peppers and aubergines which I sowed on the 23rd Feb so I sowed a new batch of those 2 days ago.
Thanks for reminding me about lettuce Mark, I completely overlooked lettuce as I generally get sick of it over winter, and that's a good tip.
Haven't been able to get on with much outside work due to the bad weather.

Always good to bump heads with people on the details

[annie8]

Depends on the seed and how desperate I am to use the space for something else. Some Chillis for example can take ages to germinate so I might give them a month, while tonatows usually pop up in a week so would only give them a couple of weeks.

[SarrissUK]

When germination doesn't happen for me, I sow more of the same type in the same tray. That way there's no confusion whatever seeds germinate
I've sowed caulis in two different trays this year, and neither have come up! Is that common?

[veggiechicken]

For the best/quickest germination rates you need to sow at the right temperature.

For example, Caulis sown at 50F will take 20 days to germinate. Sow them at 59F and they'll take 10 days and at 77F they'll take 5 days.

For more, follow the link in https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ion_93787.html

[Aberdeenplotter]

When germination doesn't happen for me, I sow more of the same type in the same tray. That way there's no confusion whatever seeds germinate
I've sowed caulis in two different trays this year, and neither have come up! Is that common?

Caulies normally show within a couple of weeks with fresh seed and like most seeds the success rate drops with age(of the seed). Temperature affects germination rate as well so bear that in mind. I normally sow my brassicas in cell trays - 2 seeds per cell. If both come, I first of all move one into any blank cells and prick the other spares into pots or cells depending on how many there are.

I haven;t ever had a total faillure.

[SarrissUK]

Thank you - that's interesting. They've both been in my bedroom which has been well over 20 degrees since I sowed them, which must be over a month now. Neither have showed any sign of life at all. I have no idea how old the seeds were, but some have been hanging around for a long time, so it could definitely be dud seeds. I'll try again

[Forage420]

I've been reading all of my lettuce seed packets and all the directions state to sow seeds outdoors ''where they are to crop''.
The sow&grow instructions don't seem to vary from supplier to supplier either, so I'm curious to know why this is as many growers seed in cells or trays indoors and then prick out until eventually planting on outside or keeping them inside in a glass house.
Is there something obvious that I'm overlooking here? The only exceptions to the rule that I can find in my seed collection are salad frilly mix & purslane where indoor sowing is at least referenced.

[MarkPelican]

I sow in modules because:

1. It means I can sow earlier;
2. More reliable germination;
3. Better spacing when planting them out;
4. Stronger plants;

As far as I know, most commercial growers plant plants rather than sowing seed for things like brassicas and leafy crops.

[SarrissUK]

I agree with Mark, and to add to that list, it's easier to sow in modules, then plant them out, than being on your knees sowing in the ground. My knees can't cope with kneeling for too long, so modules and seed trays as much as I can

[annie8]

For me it is about getting things started earlier in the greenhouse (unheated) when the soil in my raised beds is still too cold. So I have salad growing in the greenhouse no way living this far north that I would risk putting them straight out yet. Also as others say it can give you a good start for crops that don’t mind being moved. Ive started beetroot I the greenhouse that will get moved and will be starting courgette and courgette soon. I generally follow the advice on seed packs but have also learned from the people on this forum and bit of trial and error.

[Small pumpkin]

I also agree with Mark.
The only things I sow directly are carrot, parsnips & spring onion.

only thing I use on the back of seed packet is the sowing times. Then it's only used as a rough guide.