Pigletwillies Banana Shallot Seed update

[Bex]

Alice, I am getting low germination rates as well or no germination at all with one sowing. I'm going to sow some in the coldframe tomorrow and see how they do as my first & second sowings were on the kitchen windowsill.

[pigletwillie]

It seems that some people are having good germination and others not so.

It may be that some of the seed is poor because of my collection technique or it may be that some people growing environment wasnt right for the seed.

My first sowing germinated very well and a subsequent test sowing is showing in excess of 75% germination. This is just sown into 4" pots, covered with a touch of compost and left in the kitchen.

Can everyone report back with how their seed germination has gone so far so that I can get some idea of whether or not the seed quality is at fault.

[Alice]

Hello Bex and Piglet. Following your advice Piglet I thought maybe I was trying to germinate them too warm. I made another sowing and just kept them on the kitchen windowsill. Only 4 germinated - much worse than before. Once germinated the seedlings don't seem to lack vigour. They are growing on very well, but the germination rate is very low. Very interesting to hear how everyone else is getting on.

[Mrs Dobby]

34 Bannana Shalots have germinated so far for us, out of a total of about 160 planted. They were planted in a seed tray, filled with potting compost, covered with vermiculite and placed in an unheated propagator, on the back bedroom windowsill (south facing), just above a warm radiator. So, about a 1 in 5 rate, or 20% here, but it could be down to our techniques, especially as this is our first year of planting from seed.

Mind you, they were only planted and put into the propagator last week, so there's still time for some more to germinate yet!

I've still got some seeds left, which I was planning on propagating in a few weeks time, possibly in one of our heated propagators if we dont have any more success in the unheated one.

[Fezinio]

Hi PW

First 7 seed sown didn't germinate at all but I think that was me everything I planted didn't germinate because the soil was water logged. (DOH!)

6 out of 10 on my second attempt has germinated in an unheated propagator. Will wait a few more days at least to give the remaining 4 a decent chance.

Will be doing a third sow in a unheated propagator in the next few days. Probably around 40 or so.

Fez

[bramble]

Will not be sowing mine until tomorrow but will keep you posted on how well they germinate.

[mandyballantyne]

11 out of 40 in an unheated propegator on the window ledge, really tall and strong. Will leave the other seeds for now and wait and see, I am off down south tomorrow so I figured leave them be and you never know.

Mand

[Protea]

In response to the %age germination rate, i'm not too sure, as i didn't count how many i sowed, but it was quite a lot! I had approx 34 germinate and make it to transplanting, so i reckon it was under 50% germ.

Can anyone help with the problem i'm having at the mo? i've attached a pic of my shallot seedlings in their modules (pricked out at crook stage or just after), as you can see they have gone 'all floppy' and i don't know why. I've made little paperclip crutches for them as i thought sprawling over the damp compost was bound to encourage fungal infection, but they're not showing any sign of straightening out even though some are growing their 2nd leaf.

Any ideas? what did i do wrong?

[nick the grief]

They loo OK to me Protea. It may just be the shock of the transplanting and once they can be moved into the greenhouse they will harden off & revert to normal growth

[Protea]

They loo OK to me Protea. It may just be the shock of the transplanting and once they can be moved into the greenhouse they will harden off & revert to normal growth

Hmm... they've been transplanted for over a week - should i put them in the greenhouse - maybe the house is too warm? Only problem is my show onion seedlings are arriving tomorrow or Wednesday (according to Medwyn anyway ) and i'll be putting the heaters on in the greenhouse.

As an aside Nick - thanks for the sugestion about bottom heat in an unheated greenhouse, my baking trays of damp sand are ready to roll with the extra paraffin heater i bought - i'm a bit worried about the increased humidity it will produce as i've got other things in there which won't take too kindly... maybe i'm trying to do too much in a small space!

[nick the grief]

I would as they will benefit from the extra light.

As to the damp sand problem cover it over with some plastic ( black is best as it excludes light) & that will keep the mosture in as its the water that transfers the heat not the sand. I haven't had to re-wet mine since I set it all up in November

[Protea]

I would as they will benefit from the extra light.

As to the damp sand problem cover it over with some plastic ( black is best as it excludes light) & that will keep the mosture in as its the water that transfers the heat not the sand. I haven't had to re-wet mine since I set it all up in November

Thanks i've just finished a bag of compost and it's black on the inside - perfect once i've washed it!

[smallblueplanet]

Love the little paperclip 'crutches' protea!

[Poledragon]

Sowed a 48 module tray with a seed per module yesterday. Today, the builders knocked it off the table *sigh* (is in the 'conservatory' bit down the side of the house)

However, the scooped the soil back into the modules, so I'm just going to leave it on the side and see if anything comes through, and sow another batch at the weekend, which I was going to do anyhow.

[Alice]

Early to say, but looks as if the germination rate is low. As I said before the ones which have germinated are growing on great.
Protea, I looked at your pics and don't really see anything wrong with your seedlings. All they need now is cool (not cold) conditions and good light. Mine look similar to yours, just into second leaves, and i've had them outside during the way in a mild south facing position, and in an unheated greenhouse at night with a bit of fleece over them. They really seem to like conditions quite cool. Toughens them up.
Interesting to hear how others are getting on.