Germination in a raised bed

[graybag]

Hi

I've built a new raised bed, and everything is ready to go. I've put some polythene over to warm the soil and will then sow various seeds directly into the bed. Can I leave the polythene on to help with germination?

Thanks
Graham

[Sanjo]

graybag, is the polythene supported in any way or will the seedlings come through and have the poly resting on them?
I wouldn't have it laying on the ground as the weight will distort what's coming through and if there is a downpour and the seedlings have started to emerge they will be flattened.
Should be OK though if you can support it in some way. What are you intending to grow under it by the way?

[bluemoon]

My raised beds aren't filled quite to the top so I drape polythene over them and weight it with stones outside to pull it taught. The seedlings don't come into contact with it, but you do have to take it off almost as soon as they're through - or at least only pop it back on at night. Otherwise they go leggy and there's a risk of damping off disease.

[hamsterqueen]

not sure where in the country you are, but my seedlings are coming up nicely and I haven't put any polythene over the raised beds ( I have plastic Link-a-bord ones). I'd be inclined to take it off , it can get very hot and wet under polythene. I have put net over mine to stop cats digging and pooing in what they see as giant litter trays.

[graybag]

Thanks for the responses. I've got an enviromesh tunnel turning up in the next few days, it was more from the point of helping carrots, beetroot and courgettes get started.

Nothing in the beds at the moment, so I'm just warming the soil for the seeds. Like bluemoon I can pull it tort and have some space, so I may do that for a week or so and see how it goes!

Thanks
Graham

[rodofgod76]

Hi gray. We built a new bed this year and sowed some seeds in it two weeks ago tomorrow. Got a net over it for the birds and cats, but no polythene. Beetroot's coming along nicely, and the spinach, kohl-rabi, turnips and carrots all broke through the surface today. Despite it reaching zero in our garden a couple of times in the last two weeks.

[GrubbyGirl]

Hi gray. We built a new bed this year and sowed some seeds in it two weeks ago tomorrow. Got a net over it for the birds and cats, but no polythene. Beetroot's coming along nicely, and the spinach, kohl-rabi, turnips and carrots all broke through the surface today. Despite it reaching zero in our garden a couple of times in the last two weeks.

Can I ask what kind of net do I ask for? My kitten thinks I've given him a new toy and is digging everything up - at least he isn't using it as a toilet!!

Angela

[Lottieval]

Lidl are doing garden netting this week, if you've got a store near you.

[hamsterqueen]

Wilkinsons do netting too, quite small mesh. Look for garden protection netting rather than the larger mesh pea and bean support netting. You can get fancy pegs to hold it down, but twigs and bits of old broken bean canes works just as well.

I have supported my netting using canes with cut pieces of those swimming "woggles" on top and then draped netting over them giving about a foot head room.

so far nothing has got under the net,

[nilling]

Polythene over a raised bed you could be creating a haven for slugs

[Gryfon]

I've just put some of my stuff straight out with no cover and it seems to be coming along nicely. Suppose it just depends where you live.

[GrubbyGirl]

Lidl are doing garden netting this week, if you've got a store near you.

There are 2 nearby - I'll take a look tomorrow. Thanks