Germination Periods

[Iamhanuman]

At the beginning of the month I planted a load of different seeds - they were:
3 Tomatillos
2 Cape Gooseberries
2 Mints
3 Basils
10 French Marigolds
2 Garden Pearl TOMS
5 Red Alert TOMS

All but the Tomatillos, Cape Gooseberries & Mint are shooting up.

They are inside in my conservatory where it is warm but not hot, they have been kept moist and they are all planted in toilet roll tubes or newspaper pots.

Can anyone tell me whether I should be expecting anything from those suspects above, or if it's early days yet?

Many Thanks

As Usual Paranoid Iamhanuman

[zazen999]

Could be too warm, too cold, dodgy seed, too wet, or just not long enough.

[Victoria26]

I'm growing Tomatillo (Purple de Milpa) They sprung up in 4 days and are going really well now. I had 100% germination fromn them.
I sowed mine in a non heated propagator so is it possible your seeds were not viable? Where did you get them from?

[Iamhanuman]

Could be too warm, too cold, dodgy seed, too wet, or just not long enough.

ooh Zazen your message changed from "what do you think i'm going to say"! and I know I know.
i expected the tomatillo to be the same as the tomatoes as it says they should be treated the same way.
I think i'll sow some more to be on the safe side

I'm growing Tomatillo (Purple de Milpa) They sprung up in 4 days and are going really well now. I had 100% germination fromn them.
I sowed mine in a non heated propagator so is it possible your seeds were not viable? Where did you get them from?

that was what i expected - i got them from GrowMoreVeg website where I got a lot of the rest
i wonder whether I have overwatered...
'tis my downfall!

[Victoria26]

Once mine get to a decent transportable size I'll send you a couple if you like? They're too tender at the mo. (I'm nice like that - )

Not being stingy but I got 6 seeds as a swap and 5 germinated but I lost one when transplanting and another never germinated. You can have 2 of my 4 seedlings though! I like to share.

[Alice]

I think there's still time for your seeds to appear Iamhanuman.
Bit puzzled about you think you might have overwatered. There's no need to water seed trays if you do this.
Plant the seeds in nice damp compost (not soaking wet)
Put the seed tray in a freezer bag and clip it closed.
Leave it alone until the seeds germinate then remove from the bag.
No watering of seeds required.

[Eyren]

I agree with Alice - if you water the seeds once when you sow them then cover with a propagator lid, plastic bag or whatever, they generally don't need watering again until they germinate.

I tend to be fairly stingy with water in cool weather. Also, unless the seedlings are visibly wilting I always test the compost with a fingertip before watering; if the surface is anything other than dry to the touch, I don't water. It's a balancing act, but on the whole I think it's easier to revive a wilted plant than dry out a waterlogged one!

[TonyF]

As somebody said yesterday to a similar enquiry:

Patience Grasshopper

and it's very early for the basil, they get very leggy and are very prone to rotting off.

[Iamhanuman]

Once mine get to a decent transportable size I'll send you a couple if you like? They're too tender at the mo. (I'm nice like that - )

Not being stingy but I got 6 seeds as a swap and 5 germinated but I lost one when transplanting and another never germinated. You can have 2 of my 4 seedlings though! I like to share.

that is VERY sweet of you Victoria, and I note you swapped your pic! Hi Doggy! I actually got about 500 seeds when I bought the Cape Gooseberries and 50 when I bought the Tomatillos so don't trouble yourself sending me seedlings, i'll just sow some more.

I think there's still time for your seeds to appear Iamhanuman.
Bit puzzled about you think you might have overwatered. There's no need to water seed trays if you do this.
Plant the seeds in nice damp compost (not soaking wet)
Put the seed tray in a freezer bag and clip it closed.
Leave it alone until the seeds germinate then remove from the bag.
No watering of seeds required.

i have added water a couple of times when it felt dry to the touch, Alice but not done the freezer bag thing at all - they are in toilet roll tubes.

I agree with Alice - if you water the seeds once when you sow them then cover with a propagator lid, plastic bag or whatever, they generally don't need watering again until they germinate.

I tend to be fairly stingy with water in cool weather. Also, unless the seedlings are visibly wilting I always test the compost with a fingertip before watering; if the surface is anything other than dry to the touch, I don't water. It's a balancing act, but on the whole I think it's easier to revive a wilted plant than dry out a waterlogged one!

Agreed - I will sow again and try to keep them covered up and not water them after sowing as I have been.

As somebody said yesterday to a similar enquiry:

Patience Grasshopper

and it's very early for the basil, they get very leggy and are very prone to rotting off.

thank you sir!!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I think there's still time for your seeds to appear Iamhanuman.
Bit puzzled about you think you might have overwatered. There's no need to water seed trays if you do this.
Plant the seeds in nice damp compost (not soaking wet)
Put the seed tray in a freezer bag and clip it closed.
Leave it alone until the seeds germinate then remove from the bag.
No watering of seeds required.

Take notice of your wise Auntie Alice!

[Iamhanuman]

Take notice of your wise Auntie Alice!

I have I have.
I resowed the three failed seeds - the Tomatillo, Cape Gooseberry and Mint, plus sowed a few more of the successful ones because I love them and I will not water again until the soil looks as arid as the Gobi desert!

Thanks for all your sage advice oh wise Grapes!

[Victoria26]

Sigh - Thats me lost all but two of my Tomatillo "Purple De Milpa"

Vicious cat attacks and stems just rotting away... Oh well. I've never grown them before and it'll only be me that eats them so happy days still.

[Matt.]

Germination rates very so much its difficult to say what to expect. I sowed Sungella tomato seeds a month ago and they've only just started to come through. I was tempted to write them off last week and start again but it just shows patience is all you need!

[Growem]

Yeah, none of my tomatoes have shown themselves either, and I'm sure I haven't killed all of them all at once! Time and patience, time and patience.

[Iamhanuman]

Sigh - Thats me lost all but two of my Tomatillo "Purple De Milpa"

Vicious cat attacks and stems just rotting away... Oh well. I've never grown them before and it'll only be me that eats them so happy days still.

ah you poor thing - and you were offering them away to me too!!!

i re-sowed. i really don't think anything was happening but this time i will jsut leave them and only water if the soil is really dry