HELP NEEDED With MY Seeds.

[Megans-mum]

Please can somebody tell me how to grow my veg from seeds. At present i have a propagator which is unheated. I have used seed growing compost . I have put 2 seeds into each module which should have given 30 plants . up to date only 10 have grown. They have been in the compost for 10 days now. Please can somebody tell me how to propogate successfully. How often i should water and how much etc. I was given the propagator by a none gardner, also there were no instructions with it, so i have just had to wing it so to speak. The seeds were free, from a very recent veg magazine.
Thanks everybody. regards judith.

[greenfingers007]

what type of seeds are they 10 days doesn't seem that long top me give them a little more time. also where are they placed? I had some tomato plants that didn't germinate for about four weeks, I was about to through them out then one day there was one, and then the rest followed.

Don't know much about propogators I just bang mine in some seed trays and water every few days or so.

Im sure some one will be able to give better advice than me though, good luck with it and keep the faith.

[Birdie Wife]

I agree, give them a little more time, water little and often from the bottom (stand the modules in trays if you haven't already) which will encourage the roots to draw downwards to get the water. Just remember, they want to grow, so don't worry if you make the odd mistake occasionally - even growers of many years experience make mistakes!

[SueA]

You don't always get 100 % germination either from any veg. seeds, about 60-75 % is normal I think depending on the variety so it's always worthwhile putting a few extra seeds in each pot if you have enough & then if they all come up you can either just pull out the weakest & throw it away or try & carefully split them into separate pots. If you've watered the compost when you've sown the seeds you shouldn't need to water them until they've come up if you do you risk the seeds rotting before they come up if they're too wet. An unheated propagator is fine for lots of veg. seeds, just check the back of the packet to see what kind of temperature they need, usually an unheated prop. kept in a warm kitchen is hot enough & some seeds will germinate directly outside in the soil.

[Megans-mum]

You don't always get 100 % germination either from any veg. seeds, about 60-75 % is normal I think depending on the variety so it's always worthwhile putting a few extra seeds in each pot if you have enough & then if they all come up you can either just pull out the weakest & throw it away or try & carefully split them into separate pots. If you've watered the compost when you've sown the seeds you shouldn't need to water them until they've come up if you do you risk the seeds rotting before they come up if they're too wet. An unheated propagator is fine for lots of veg. seeds, just check the back of the packet to see what kind of temperature they need, usually an unheated prop. kept in a warm kitchen is hot enough & some seeds will germinate directly outside in the soil.

Thanks sue
As you live not far from myself, you will understand our weather conditions. is it possible i could make you my gardening buddy. As regards my seeds they are Durham early cabbage. They are on the window sill in my family bathroom, as this is where the radiator is, which controls the rest of the system, so it is the hottest room in the house. I watered them for the first time Monday morning from above. I had watered them when i planted them and kept checking the soil to see if it was damp. I will keep checking them in hope that the rest or some of the rest come up. Thanks once again. Regards judith.

[Megans-mum]

I agree, give them a little more time, water little and often from the bottom (stand the modules in trays if you haven't already) which will encourage the roots to draw downwards to get the water. Just remember, they want to grow, so don't worry if you make the odd mistake occasionally - even growers of many years experience make mistakes!

Thanks for the reply, i guess im panicking a little i'm new to this game and just want to be successful. Regards judith.

[Megans-mum]

what type of seeds are they 10 days doesn't seem that long top me give them a little more time. also where are they placed? I had some tomato plants that didn't germinate for about four weeks, I was about to through them out then one day there was one, and then the rest followed.

Don't know much about propogators I just bang mine in some seed trays and water every few days or so.

Im sure some one will be able to give better advice than me though, good luck with it and keep the faith.

Thanks for the reply yes i will keep the faith. They are Durham early cabbage.Regards judith.

[Megans-mum]

You don't always get 100 % germination either from any veg. seeds, about 60-75 % is normal I think depending on the variety so it's always worthwhile putting a few extra seeds in each pot if you have enough & then if they all come up you can either just pull out the weakest & throw it away or try & carefully split them into separate pots. If you've watered the compost when you've sown the seeds you shouldn't need to water them until they've come up if you do you risk the seeds rotting before they come up if they're too wet. An unheated propagator is fine for lots of veg. seeds, just check the back of the packet to see what kind of temperature they need, usually an unheated prop. kept in a warm kitchen is hot enough & some seeds will germinate directly outside in the soil.

Hi Sue do you know how long i should keep the little windows on top of the propagator lid closed. ( air holes). When should i open them etc? Thanks . judith.

[zazen999]

Thanks sue
As you live not far from myself, you will understand our weather conditions. is it possible i could make you my gardening buddy. As regards my seeds they are Durham early cabbage. They are on the window sill in my family bathroom, as this is where the radiator is, which controls the rest of the system, so it is the hottest room in the house. I watered them for the first time Monday morning from above. I had watered them when i planted them and kept checking the soil to see if it was damp. I will keep checking them in hope that the rest or some of the rest come up. Thanks once again. Regards judith.

Hi
Brassicas are hardy, and will do better outside - even for the germination stage. If they are too warm and they germinate - then they are likely to give up the ghost as soon as they are put outside.

Pop some seeds in a pot or other container with holes in the bottom, outside somewhere and leave them be. They will germinate soon enough and be 'harder' than any sown indoors. Best thing to do is to forget about them for a week or so.

[Megans-mum]

Thanks zazen 999 i will certainly give it a go. I'm doing some planting up tomorrow so will do the test. cheers judith.

[Snadger]

But watch out for the slugs snails and pigeons!

My Durham early germinated well in a large pot outdoors! I covered the plants with mesh to keep the wood pigeons off but didn't bank on the slugs and snails. All my seedlings have been 'grazed' taking out the growing point in most cases so they are ruined.
The other seeds I sowed direct in the allotment got washed away!

Such are the pleasures of gardening!

[SueA]

Hi Judith, you're welcome to any advice you need, I only grow in my garden at the moment in pots, containers & a 4ftx4ft veg. patch & I think we probably do share a lot of similar weather (rain!). As you're growing cabbages they should be fine without any heat.You normally open the vents on the top of the propagator during the day when it's warm & close them at night so that there's not a big drop in temperature. Once the seeds have germinated & grown an inch or so you can take them out of the propagator, I'd keep them inside for a while until they've put some growth on then move them outdoors for a day or two & bring them in at night so that they get used to the lower temp. outside & then plant them outside wherever you're growing them. As Snadger says you have to watch out for slugs & snails, lots of my cabbages have been eaten by them so use whatever you normally do, I don't like to use pellets but I've tried garlic sprays, copper tape round the beds, slug stoppa granules, slug pubs, picking them off by hand etc. all with limited success.

[Megans-mum]

Hi Judith, you're welcome to any advice you need, I only grow in my garden at the moment in pots, containers & a 4ftx4ft veg. patch & I think we probably do share a lot of similar weather (rain!). As you're growing cabbages they should be fine without any heat.You normally open the vents on the top of the propagator during the day when it's warm & close them at night so that there's not a big drop in temperature. Once the seeds have germinated & grown an inch or so you can take them out of the propagator, I'd keep them inside for a while until they've put some growth on then move them outdoors for a day or two & bring them in at night so that they get used to the lower temp. outside & then plant them outside wherever you're growing them. As Snadger says you have to watch out for slugs & snails, lots of my cabbages have been eaten by them so use whatever you normally do, I don't like to use pellets but I've tried garlic sprays, copper tape round the beds, slug stoppa granules, slug pubs, picking them off by hand etc. all with limited success.

Hi sue i too only have 2 raised beds in my garden 10ft x 4ft x 1ft deep. I too try to grow in pots. I put a whole pack of winter carrotts into a rather large tub on saturday . I shall see what comes up. I'M amazed how small the seeds are . You almost need a magnifying glass to see the carrott seeds. As regards the slugs, i use organic pelletts and i sprinkle them around the outside of my beds. Up to now none have got past those. I do twice daily checks, just in case. I did find some caterpillar eggs on Saturday on one cabbage leaf, so obiviously the butterflies are still about.
p.s this is my first attempt at growing veg so i'm learning all the time next year hopefully will be my first harvest. Thanks for the advice sue. kind regards judith.