seed helpline

[raine]

Hi All, it's me the seed killer again! I'm desparate to grow some things from seed (chill, toms and peppers) bit I kill them time and time again I need help quick!
here are the basics:
I have no windowsills (honestly)
I have one basic heated propagator ,no temp guage, just on and off.
1 kind hubby who doesn't mind where we put the blasted things
1 plastic greenhouse
several large cold frames
and an allotment
Please is there hope for me?

[dwrudd]

Hi Raine,

Don't worry, there is always hope, thats why most of us keep gardening

At what point do your seedlings turn to disaster, do they actually sprout or never come up at all?

Give a few details and I am sure we wil have many ideas to get things going.

Darren

[shirlthegirl43]

Do you have a nice bright window that you can stand a table beside?

[gardenplot]

Yes loads of hope or you just keep trying you will win in the end.
Try putting your seed trays on a table near a window so they get plenty of light from the sun when its out. A bit too cold to put outside just yet.


Good luck and keep chin up you can do it

[Snadger]

Hi All, it's me the seed killer again! I'm desparate to grow some things from seed (chill, toms and peppers) bit I kill them time and time again I need help quick!
here are the basics:
I have no windowsills (honestly)....................................

Are you in prison then?

[raine]

My secrets out! (not really, just an old house) I can normally get the seeds to sprout but they keel over very quickly. My propagator seems to run with water down the sides of the lid while the middle is like the sahara desert. I plant in individual cells within the propagator tray.
I do try to put out tables and get the light but my cell -oops house gets light only in mornings or in afternoon/evening and not in one place (if you see what I mean)
I must say, very impressed with the speed of all these replies, many thanks for suggestions. Please keep 'em coming -they make me feel like getting the old seed packet uut right now only I have to go 'cos the warden will be round in a minute....

[smallblueplanet]

If you can get them to germinate, take them out the prop immediately and then put them somewhere light (and not too cool) if that means waiting until you can use your greenhouse, then so be it. It'll soon be useable, you'll be able to wrap the seedlings in fleece at night to keep them warmer.

Best to wait if you've nowhere light inside, they will catch up.

[Flummery]

I'd suggest waiting a month or two. Really. Things do catch up and you won't have as much trouble with leggy stuff. Sow them and put them as near a window as you can - maybe on a table near the window. They'd come through faster and you could put them in your coldframes to grow on.

[davefromthechipie]

Hi All, it's me the seed killer again! I'm desparate to grow some things from seed (chill, toms and peppers) bit I kill them time and time again I need help quick!
here are the basics:
I have no windowsills (honestly)
I have one basic heated propagator ,no temp guage, just on and off.
1 kind hubby who doesn't mind where we put the blasted things
1 plastic greenhouse
several large cold frames
and an allotment
Please is there hope for me?

If you really cant get any light on them try 150W 6400K CFL GROW LIGHT HYDROPONICS LAMP VEG/BUD BLUE on eBay, also Hydroponics, Plants Seeds Bulbs, Garden Plants, Home Garden (end time 06-Mar-08 16:02:42 GMT) Im trying somthing like this year~ only because my tom plants got laggy and i have to say its working . The heated prop Untemped mite be a problem , I wouldnt use it . chills are very fussy ( so i find) on temp and do seem to take there time to show Not to sure wot to say . your could try fake light inside( as above )with no heated prop . or get a cheap single Paraffin greenhouse heater for 10 pound in your greenhouse .
Toms should grow with the cheapest of plantbag soil wickes/aldes.etc... just keep inlight about 2 ml down in soil and damp ( dont let drown or dry ) hope this helps

And if that fails just wait a week and buy already grown plants from your local garden center .

[Vecten]

My secrets out! (not really, just an old house) I can normally get the seeds to sprout but they keel over very quickly. My propagator seems to run with water down the sides of the lid while the middle is like the sahara desert. I plant in individual cells within the propagator tray.
I do try to put out tables and get the light but my cell -oops house gets light only in mornings or in afternoon/evening and not in one place (if you see what I mean)
I must say, very impressed with the speed of all these replies, many thanks for suggestions. Please keep 'em coming -they make me feel like getting the old seed packet uut right now only I have to go 'cos the warden will be round in a minute....

Are you removing the propogator lid as soon as the seedlings appear, are you keeping the compost slightly damp? And are you keeping the seedlings out of direct sunlight?

[Two_Sheds]

We grow chillies and tomatoes in an unheated greenhouse. A little basic propagator starts them off (in a shed, not that much light really). It is kept damp but not running with water...shake out the water and replace lid if it's running.
We won't be sowing for a few weeks yet, because it is a struggle when warmth and light are scarce.
They always catch up when sown a bit later - we always have good crops.
The moral is always: DON'T SOW TOO EARLY !!!

[raine]

I haven't been removing the lid as soon aas they show so perhaps i'll try that. I like the idea of the lightbut before i go down that road i might have to try buying a little bit of patience! Thanks for all your replies, i'll just go and get another seed packet - you never know...

[Sue]

Raine
Cutting three sides out of a box then covering with aluminium foil does help get all the light you can, you put the plants in the box with the alumunium at the back reflecting the light for you.
Sue