Advice with seed compost

[sindy]

Hello there, could any one advise me on what is the best soil for seedlings, i planted some chillis aubs and toms at least two weeks ago and nothing yet, they are in a heated greenhouse, I have to say it does on the packet suitable for seedlings but its very thic, sort of large bits of stuff. Sorry this is from a beginners gardening for dummies question

[Cutecumber]

when you say a heated greenhouse, what do you mean? Are the seeds in a propagator inside the greenhouse?

Chillis, aubergines and tomatoes need a constant warm temperature to germinate - say 70 degrees. I wonder if this is more of an issue than the compost.

You don't say where you are gardening, but, for example, I only get 70 degrees in my greenhouse for a couple of hours a day when it is very sunny (at this time of year).

[veg4681]

I may be wrong but I think you might be better off starting these 'fairly challenging vegetable seeds (esp the aubergine and peppers) off in a heated propagator and you may place the propagator fairly close to the window for better light. Also the aubergine seeds could be soaked overnight before sowing to aid faster germination.

Also make sure to use cell tray/module as they're fairly shallow and thin material for better heat distribution/conservation to aid faster germination possibly within 1 week. I used a 3" pot with disasterous consequences that the toms, aubergine and pepper just wouldn't germinate (over 2 weeks) and I had to start again, that's over 3-4 weeks wasted. Valuable lesson learned.

I gather you're using a bought 'seed compost', did you break up the lumps with your fingers? Better to do this before sowing the seeds as every little helps. Do not bury the seeds too deeply, only just very lightly cover them. Do not overwater or underwater the seeds, use a fine rose for a house plant watering can if you can. We tend to leave the heated propagator on all the time. Good luck.

[SMS6]

Don't know how true this is but I once read that if you can see the seeds against the soil then cover them but if you can't don't.

Does that make sense?

Oh and I've found this year that I've had better germination success with mixing find grade vermiculite with the compost

[Tigerella]

Hi

I have just bought some soil based compost, because I feel that some of the cheaper composts can be "too thick", the contents have not rotted down properley to become finer.
It is difficult to cover seeds with just a little compost if it is too coarse.

T

[wellie]

Hi sindy!

If you don't have a plug-in heated propogator, I'd strongly advise buying one as they are fantastic, and really not that expensive (from a garden centre). Then you wouldn't need to heat the whole of your greenhouse to just germinate seeds.

A multi-purpose compost, or Seed Compost is the correct compost to use, and break it up with your fingers, removing any large lumpy bits. The compost will need to be kept at a constant gemination temperature (21c for aubergines & peppers) until the seeds have germinated (14-21 days) and then slightly cooler after that so that they don't grow too tall & spindly.

Hope this helps a little for now, and if not, come back and ask us some more questions. We're all here to help make it work for you!!

[sindy]

thanks everyone, ive got a heater in the greenhouse which ive been keeping as warm as i can, but i think i might start again this weekend, and put them in a plastic bag on the window sill in doors and see what happens then. I think the compost is john innes but not sure, still in my pj.s and not running out to the greenhouse with these on, might scare the birds. thanks everyone im desperate to grow this year so apologies for all the questions that i will be pestering you with,
Oh I start my new job today so very excited. Have a real rough few weeks.

[hypnophil]

Hi Sindy,
Good luck with the new job!
I sowed chillies, toms and aubs and the temp has fluctuated between 15 and 9 degrees, with sunlight during the day, and they have nearly all come up, after 2 weeks, aubs were a bit longer, toms first but i have different varieties and some came up before others. i use a multi purpose compost in cell trays. i sowed lots of other stuff aswell and germination rate is great, i just put them in, water and wait, no stressing ( they may sense it !!! ). just see what happens, yours may sprout soon!!!!!!

[T-lady]

Hi Sindy

I'm with the others on the heated propagator thing.

The other thing I do - especially with chillis and tomatoes - is to put the seed on top of the compost and then cover it over with vermiculite. It's expensive but it works really well. I sowed some tomatoes in my heated propagator on Sunday and yesterday they were already over an inch high.

Hope this helps

T-lady

[Paul Wagland]

I have some tom, sweet pea and broad bean seedlings indoors on a windowsill, and some more broad beans, sweet peas and leeks on an electric propagator in a cold frame outside. They don't all fit on the propagator, but it heats the whole cold frame nicely. Propagators are really worth the money - I like the 'Top Ten' and the 'Super Seven', which have lots of small trays so you can sow various different things at the same time.

[rustylady]

I know you're not supposed to use it for seeds, but I always buy a big bale of B & Q multi-purpose compost. I sieve it for small seeds, using a plastic kitchen colander. I personally don't like John Innes compost, although they are good for mature, heavy, specimen plants in large pots.

[terrier]

I know you're not supposed to use it for seeds, but I always buy a big bale of B & Q multi-purpose compost....

Er, why not? I've used B&Q big bale compost for years for my flower seeds and for the last two years for my veg seeds. I've never had any germination probs. I think germination temperature is more important.