Condensation in mini cloche - good or bad?

[onefivenine]

Newbie question alert!

I have sowed seeds indoors on a sunny windowsill under minicloches.
(broad beans, coriander and catnip)

These get some condensation build up by the late afternoon.
I'm just wondering if it's a good or bad thing?

[Gwyndy]

It's inevitable - as the compost warms, the water evaporates and has to go somewhere. Remove the covers and let the seedlings breathe during the daytime. This will prevent any mildew effects, etc.

[onefivenine]

Thanks Gwyndy, that sounds like good advice. I'll do that to be on the safe side. They're warm enough indoors anyway I reckon.

[Jillyreeves]

It's inevitable - as the compost warms, the water evaporates and has to go somewhere. Remove the covers and let the seedlings breathe during the daytime. This will prevent any mildew effects, etc.

I was wondering about this too

Is it OK to leave the mini cloches in place during the day until germination has taken place and then remove them during the day and replace at night or should they be removed every day?

Does my question make sense

[rainbowbrite]

as long as they are warm i would remove them for a bit every day, you don't need long just a bit to get some air moving in there. once the seedlings emerge you should be looking to remove the lid for longer periods and once big enough you will need to start hardening off anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

Broad beans don't need to be indoors. You'll just get lots of soft, sappy growth that will either get killed by the cold, or sucked by aphids (blackfly).

Toughen them up, put them outside.

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Coriander doesn't like transplanting. It is best sown direct, or sown into loo rolls and then transplanted whole (so as not to disturb the roots).

Best of luck

[selfraising]

I wipe the condensation off once a day, only really so that they get maximum light coming through.

[onefivenine]

Broad beans don't need to be indoors. You'll just get lots of soft, sappy growth that will either get killed by the cold, or sucked by aphids (blackfly).

Toughen them up, put them outside.

---------------

Coriander doesn't like transplanting. It is best sown direct, or sown into loo rolls and then transplanted whole (so as not to disturb the roots).

Best of luck

Thanks 2 sheds.

None of these have germinated yet - should I put the beans out anyway?

Think I'll try some loo rolls with coriander too. And if you start them in loo rolls do you slip them out of the rolls when you transplant them?

Thanks matey.

[FionaH]

Loo rolls can be planted directly into the ground as the cardboard rotts down, I have parsnips in mine havent tried it with coriander

[Gwyndy]

I was wondering about this too

Is it OK to leave the mini cloches in place during the day until germination has taken place and then remove them during the day and replace at night or should they be removed every day?

Does my question make sense

Your question makes perfect sense. I usually leave the covers in place until the seeds have germinated, then I start removing the covers during the daytime. The important thing is not to let the compost and the seedlings get cold. Equally important is to harden seedlings off before planting out. Put them outside during the daytime provided that its not too cold or too windy. I raise my seedlings in the house or in the greenhouse and then transfer them to a cold frame once established.

[djhs196]

I leave the covers on until the seeds germinate, then take them off completely.

The other thing that I'd suggest is that the water that condenses on the cloche over the seedlings is NOT poured back on the seeds, use it on full grown plants instead. The microclimate of in the water droplets on the underside of the cloche of humid, warmth, sun is conducive to potential disease / damping off to which the seeds will be susceptible.

If the compost gets dry before the seeds germinate, use fresh tap water.