No show Toms and Peppers

[Marb67]

Well, even buying the brand new tomato kit from Wilko which has a germination guarantee has not shown. I sowed them in the compost that came with it and covered in the house with the plastic lid about 3 weeks ago. Nothing.

Chill pepper (brand new seed) has produced just 1 from a sowing of a few seeds at the same time and just one pathetic seedling has showed. The rest of the peppers (las years seed) zilch. because the seed cells are so small they have dried out easily so had to put a bit of water in the base incase someone suggests the usual overwatering.

All kep on a sunny windowsill and also taken in the greenhouse during the day when the sun is on it.

[marysuegardens]

how deep did you plant the seeds.

[Marb67]

As advised on the instructions.

[ameno]

I've found pepper seeds can often be unreliable, even when new. It's why I now pre-germinate all of my pepper seeds on damp kitchen roll above the kitchen radiator. Any good seeds should sprout within 5 days, and can then be potted up. This saves a lot of time, as I can far more quickly tell whether the seeds are any good or not, rather than waiting ages only for them never to come up.

[goosander]

Have been buying the cheap seeds ie 99p per packet along with the well known names. Sowed plenty of the cheap seeds not expecting much and they have done far better than the far more expensive ones.
Bob,

[Nicos]

I've found pepper seeds can often be unreliable, even when new. It's why I now pre-germinate all of my pepper seeds on damp kitchen roll above the kitchen radiator. Any good seeds should sprout within 5 days, and can then be potted up. This saves a lot of time, as I can far more quickly tell whether the seeds are any good or not, rather than waiting ages only for them never to come up.

That's exactly what I do ameno.
I place each seed on a small square (1/2”square) of wet kitchen paper on top of the wet, scrunched up kitchen roll so when I lift each square , the tiny roots aren’t damaged. I pot them on with that piece of paper vertically, roots facing downwards.
I probably lose one or two per batch that way as seedlings but that’s how I get my best success rate.
I use a deep bowl too and cling film the top placed on the top of the actual radiator. I initially thought it might get far too hot and bake them, but it certainly works for my peppers and tomatoes.

[Marb67]

I have put them all on top of a radiator and had it running a few mins. better than in the cold greenhouse while it's miserable, cold and wet outdoors presently. Failing that I will do the tissue thing. I have also put my peas in modules on the rad too as they have a tendency to rot.

[Nicos]

I like the tissue thing marb mainly because I find it such a waste of time just hoping something will poke its head above the compost. At least when you can see something has actually germinated you know there’s no need to start all over again having lost a couple of weeks or more.

[MelanieSW]

You're not alone Marb. I've just resown all my tomatoes. Out of the 13 varieties, so far only one had germinated. Admittedly several of them were 3 or 4 years old, and mostly self saved, but I didn't expect zero germination. In my experience it is usually hard to keep them from popping up!
Luckily it is still early enough, if there is still nothing in 10 days I'll get more seeds.

[Marb67]

I have tried the tissue thing with peas in the past with disastrous results. Unfortunately I live in an old Victorian semi with hardly any heating on except the coal fire in evenings. they would be better off sown in the greenhouse which gets some sun in the day.

[ameno]

I have tried the tissue thing with peas in the past with disastrous results. Unfortunately I live in an old Victorian semi with hardly any heating on except the coal fire in evenings. they would be better off sown in the greenhouse which gets some sun in the day.

It's cold out there at night, though.
Consistently warm-ish temperatures are a lot better for seed germination and seedling growth than hot days buy cold nights.

[Vince G]

When I signed up for GYO mag many years ago, they were giving a free gift of a plug in heated propogator. Works well every year. Only thing you have to watch is that you keep the pots covered or the compost dries out in a matter of hours

[Muddy_Boots]

Anyone for Tomatoes and Peppers? I seem to have green fingers this year as they look like just about all of them have germinated and I'll be potting them on into individual pots very soon.

[ameno]

When I signed up for GYO mag many years ago, they were giving a free gift of a plug in heated propogator. Works well every year. Only thing you have to watch is that you keep the pots covered or the compost dries out in a matter of hours

I've got one of those (although not from GYO magazine). I'd definitely recommend one. They're not that expensive to buy, and very cheap to run (mine is 12 watts).

[Marb67]

Anyone for Tomatoes and Peppers? I seem to have green fingers this year as they look like just about all of them have germinated and I'll be potting them on into individual pots very soon.

You must have the heating on a lot then Interesting you use the clear plastic fruit cartons as I have used them as a mini cloche in the past. I didn't know you could sow seed in them being clear but obviously you can. I shall use mine now