Seed sowing thread 2022

[quanglewangle]

Another row of spinach in greenhouse bed. I'm determined to get this succession business nailed.

[Mr Bones]

First batch of this years radish.

[Babru]

Lunchbox peppers, dwarf Venus tomatoes and Black Beauty aubergine in the heated propagator. I'm leaving my main tomatoes till the end of March, because if I'm too early I'm struggling to get them out to the greenhouse as it's still too cold.

[Gearoid]

I sowed some kale, chives, Welsh onion and strawberries today.

[Sweet savory]

3 more chillis Zimbabwe black. Only had one germinate so far but it is very different in colour from the supermarket seeds I threw in when I didn’t think it was going to show and which all came up of course.

[Mr Bones]

Three types of summer cabbage (Golden Acre, Kalibos and Stonehead), Parsley, Coriander and Celeriac.

[Sweet savory]

More perpetual spinach as not good germination from 1st sowing which could be due to awful peat free compost I was using. I have now mixed it with some seed compost and more vermiculite to try and improve it. More calabrese and long red Florence onions multi sown.
i am fast running out of container modules.
There were 8 root trainers empty so filled with early peas douce de Provence.

[quanglewangle]

More perpetual spinach as not good germination...

My germination rate has been lower this year. I'm not sure why. I use a thermostatically controlled propagator so conditions are the same. I have had to sow second batches of both tomatoes and melons.

I don't see how compost quality can affect germination (although I agree quality has gone down) because seed will germinate on a wet flannel - won't grow much past cotyledon stage, but will germinate.

[Bren In Pots]

I’ve had the same problem I’ve sown 4 types of lettuce 2 failed to produce anything, all 4 were new seeds.

[annie8]

Sowed 7 types of tomato seeds and 3 types of chilli seeds in the heated propogator. .

[Bren In Pots]

Finally got around to sowing my Tom's and few other things.

Black cherry, San Marzano, Gardeners delight and Indigo Cherry Drops Tomatoes.

French breakfast radish
Basil
Spring onions

[Teds Mum]

Yesterday was big greenhouse cleanup and seed sowing day.
I sowed tomato - Gigantes Liscio, cucumber - Beth Alpha, onions - Red Baron and Aisla Craig, three different kinds of leek - northern lights, giant Bulgarian and Musselburgh. Also squash - Marina di chioggia and kabocha

[mothhawk]

I don't see how compost quality can affect germination (although I agree quality has gone down) because seed will germinate on a wet flannel - won't grow much past cotyledon stage, but will germinate.

I was told years ago that too much fertiliser in compost can prevent seeds germinating, because the fertiliser chemicals are mostly salts, and they can prevent seeds from taking up water. That's why I always stick to seed compost, not multi-purpose, for sowing, and add in vermiculite too.

I don't know how true this is, but never had an issue germinating new seeds.

[ameno]

I was told years ago that too much fertiliser in compost can prevent seeds germinating, because the fertiliser chemicals are mostly salts, and they can prevent seeds from taking up water. That's why I always stick to seed compost, not multi-purpose, for sowing, and add in vermiculite too.

I don't know how true this is, but never had an issue germinating new seeds.

It's half true.
It won't stop the seed itself taking on water, nor will it usually stop the seed sprouting, but the salts (nitrogen salts, usually) can burn and kill the tender shoots before they actually emerge from the compost.
Gardening Which reported on this problem of excessive nitrogen with several cheap composts a couple years ago. It's not just an issue for seedlings, either. It negatively affects almost all plants.

[Sweet savory]

Today is leek sowing day. One 24 module of autumn giant 2 and a plastic ex meat tray of old seeds from 3 odd packets.
The modules will be multisown and the rest for singles.
As I had some compost over, a few more pots of early peas.