How quick

[samw04]

Hi i was just wondering what seeds germinate quickest for every one. I only ask coz i planted loads on monday and my hubby was laughing at me for checking the propergator tues morn .
Anyway he was still laughing this morning when i checked again, and found 3 cucumbers popping out of the soil .
I now find myself going out every hour to see if any toms or peppers have come up . Is this normal for them to come up so quick? or am i just special .

[piskieinboots]

Is this normal ....

...behaviour for gardeners - yes

[veg4681]

Wow that is superfast for cucumber, is it not? My cucumber were sown on Saturday but not yet germinated and neither are the courgettes and melons but the tomatoes in the heated propagator have only just started to pop up. The tomato and pepper could germinate from 5-6 days onwards for those starting in heated propagator but it doesn't work out for me though coz like you say, certain vegetable likes you .

[samw04]

It is a heated propagator maybe thats the trick. How long can the seedlings stay in there for? does the heat damage them or should i move them to an unheated one now .

[smallblueplanet]

The seedlings should really come out the heated prop as soon as they germinate. Put them in an unheated one if they need some extra protection. Check the 'feeding seedlings' thread on this forum for what my aubs and chilli seedlings look like. The aubs have been out the heated prop for about four days, but even so the first to come through have gone a little leggy (thru being in the heated prop while the others germinated), should be okay though.

[samw04]

Thanks SBP will move them as soon as they come thru.

[rustylady]

Fresh seed, fresh compost, the correct balance of warmth and moisture and some seeds come through really quickly.

[gardenplot]

Mine not yet germinated, still playing hide & seek

[veg4681]

Mine not yet germinated, still playing hide & seek

What kind of pots have you used? It's my first time playing with heated propagator too but I made a mistake of using 3" pots only with one seed per pot . I threw away most of the tomato seeds that took too long to germinate (2 weeks and over) and restarted them in a shallow plastic tray (shop bought Tiramisu in it) and they started popping out from day 4-5 onwards of sowing. If you can use cell trays, use them as they're shallow and fairly thin in material which may aid germination faster and don't bury the seeds too deeply. Also are you seeds fairly fresh, not too old stock?

BTW I'm still waiting for aubergines and peppers from sowing last Saturday also but taking longer than the tomatoes. They hate me the most, that's obvious.

[PAULW]

SBP said
first to come through have gone a little leggy (thru being in the heated prop while the others germinated),

I should think the problem with leggy seedling is lack of light not heat, I have stuff in the propagator for weeks without it going leggy the trick is to take the lid off once the seedlings are through keeping the bottom heat and allowing the light in, it is suprising how much light is restricted by a clear lid

[smallblueplanet]

SBP said
first to come through have gone a little leggy (thru being in the heated prop while the others germinated),

I should think the problem with leggy seedling is lack of light not heat, I have stuff in the propagator for weeks without it going leggy the trick is to take the lid off once the seedlings are through keeping the bottom heat and allowing the light in, it is suprising how much light is restricted by a clear lid

If I take the lid off the other seeds will get cold! So out they come and onto the windowsill where there is more light. When the weather gets better (weeks no doubt!) they'll take a daily walk to the unheated greenhouse.

[smallblueplanet]

....BTW I'm still waiting for aubergines and peppers from sowing last Saturday also but taking longer than the tomatoes. They hate me the most, that's obvious.

I'm still waiting for some of my peppers, mainly the hot ones, they take longest - there's no hurrying somethings!

[rustylady]

SBP said
first to come through have gone a little leggy (thru being in the heated prop while the others germinated),

I should think the problem with leggy seedling is lack of light not heat, I have stuff in the propagator for weeks without it going leggy the trick is to take the lid off once the seedlings are through keeping the bottom heat and allowing the light in, it is suprising how much light is restricted by a clear lid

Also depends on where your heated propagator is. Mine is in the workshop which is attached to the house. Only space for it with access to mains electricity. Light level is not brilliant, so I only use it for germinating, and only then when I can move the seedlings promptly to better homes. Hence nothing really tender sown yet - I only have an unheated greenhouse, and I find that things get too leggy on the house windowsills.

[filthyrich]

planted mine on tuesday ,this year doing all my seeds etc according to phases of the moon ,cant wait to see if they are better than without the moons influence,just hope being down the road means mine will be super quick to .

[PAULW]

SBP
If I take the lid off the other seeds will get cold!

Put the lid on at night when you tuck them under the duvet, the seeds will not get cold if you have bottom heat.