trouble with cucumber and tomato seeds

[Alice]

Patience is usually the answer Divvy. Happy for you.

[divvy]

OK , anyone know where they are selling cucumber plants . I give up . I had one doing nicely out in the greenhouse and then it flopped over and is just sitting on the surface dieing . The one Iv'e got indoors is still doing well . But only one out of 6 seeds.The rest haven't even showed their faces . I would like 2 or 3 plants . So far Iv'e planted 12 seeds , a whole pkt , and I have killed 2 . I don't really understand how , as they are in the greenhouse with a little cloche on at night . I have slug pellets all round them, Maybe it is a bit early to put them out there but everything else is doing well. The salad is growing like wildfire , the beans are up and looking wonderfull . Even the tomato's are looking good . What is it about bl.....y cucumbers !!!! .

[zazen999]

Hi

I'm not sowing my mains for another week yet [beginning of May], why not wait until it actually warms up? You've still got time to do a seed swap and get a few more seeds.

They always do better sown later anyway, as the earlies get stunted when it is even a bit cold.

[divvy]

Well , I still only have one cuc . it's about 4 inches high now but still no sign of any more . on the plus side I had my first picking of my mixed salad leaves last night and very nice they were too .

[Flummery]

Still not sown mine. I do feel it gets too cold in the greenhouse just yet, even if seeds are germinated indoors. I still bring them in at night if the forecast is at all iffy. It can be the shock of going out into the cold from a warm house that does for them. Out in the day and in at night for a few weeks will harden them off.

[cupcake]

I germinated mine on top of the radiator in the lounge after seeing nothing for a week! Came up in 2 days tho the last one that I left in the porch took another week and has only just shaken of its seed coat. They are now doing well in the greenhouse.
Tomatoes I don't have any bother with, they germinate like weeds.

[Samwise]

I've had trouble with both too this year, of the 4 cuc seeds I planted 2 germinated and of those 1 promptly died a few days later the same way your one in the greenhouse did! Tomato germination has also been poor apart from the tumbling toms of which only 1 failed to germinated and now they're a bit rampant! Have faith, it may take a while but it'll all turn out right in the end

[divvy]

Quick update . I planted another 4 seeds in pots inside sealed plastic bags on windowsill in kitchen . 3 cuc's have come up . At last , now I'll have 2 to many !!!!!! I can only get 3 in the greenhouse , I had 1 , my mum gave me 1 and now I have 3 seedlings .
No sign of corgettes though and they were planted same day in same way .

[Duronal]

I found this article very helpful

How to Germinate Cucumber Seeds Overnight | eHow.com

by follwing the method my cucumbers germinated within 2 days.....easy peasy.

D

[divvy]

Thanks for that info . I will try that next year . :0)

[rana]

The windowsill can be a harsh environment for seed germination. Cold night air on the outside of the window has a cooling effect on the sheet of air on the inside (even through double glazing). Cooler air is heavy so falls groundwards. Consequently a cyclic flow of cold air slides down the window and across the sill. Your seeds are therefore sitting in a cold draught. You could try placing the pots in a propagator (or box) which would provide some insulation from the cold airflow thus improving germination success.

An indicator of this process is the collection of condensation (or frost) on the inside of the window during cold winter nights.

[Florence Fennel]

I'm on my second try with outdoor cucumbers, I was far too early sowing in February and although they germinated, the plants were quicky leggy and yellow. Five have sprouted this week, so I'm hoping for better this time.