Times and Temps

[Silverfox]

Hi again,

Sorry for the simple questions but I need some advise on a few things I have sow and not seen any sign of life yet. I was wondering if I am watching them a bit too closely (like watching paint dry) and they will pop up in their own good time, or if I have not given them the right conditions of heat and they have not germinated due to this.

Sowing conditions: All were sown in damp warm soil, then placed next to a window (with no nets so extra light). Heat would be that of an average house, with the heating that comes on twice a day am 4.30 – 7, pm 4.15 – 9.30. I water these everyday with a spray gun and give each pot 10 pumps.

Aubergine – Florida Market sown 29 days ago, no sign of life unless they have decided to grow upside down.

Aubergine – Purple Long sown 22 days ago, just started to see life and are about 1 cm tall but germination rate was very poor

Pepper - Jalapeno sown 16 days ago, no sign of life – how long do I have to wait this one I am really excited about

Pepper – California sown 16 days ago, again no life line, not even a pulse.

Chilli – Only know as Hot Keith (Not that Keith is hot the chilli is, and the name who gave me the plant last year was called Keith), only sown 7 days ago but as non of the above have grown I have now become worried about these.

Can anyone tell me the times I should be waiting to see life, and the Temps these plants may need.

[Alison]

It can be quite infuriating waiting for seeds to grow. From my personal (rather limited) experience, I find that an outside window ledge is a bit cold in our house for most seeds to germinate at this time of year - although can be great when they've started growing as there's all that natural light. Also, 10 sprays sounds quite a bit of water every day, you may be getting rotting occuring. Perhaps you could try to warm the soil a bit by tying a freezer bag over the pots and perhaps moving them off the window ledge at night.

You've plenty of time yet, many of my chillies and some of the aubergines haven't germinated yet (including my Californian Wonder peppers, may be the same sort you have) so it may be worth trying a few more. If you're worried about germination, you could get them sprouting on kitchen paper (see germination test thread) and then plant up with more security.

[Alice]

Hello Silverfox, my jalapenos and aubergines germinated within a week. You could put them into freezer bags and fasten them closed, that way they stay damp and no need for watering. Also move them into the warmest location you have for a few days and see if they pop up. Good luck.

[Two_Sheds]

Me, I think you're a bit premature with your sowing. We aren't sowing ours till mid to end of March. Have learned from experience not to sow in Feb...still too cold and not enough hours of daylight
Try again in a bit

[SueA]

Hi Silverfox, I agree with the others, I think your seeds may be a bit too cold & wet. They would probably be better started off in a propagator with a little even warmth as at present they are probably warming up with the heating & freezing when it's off. If you don't have a propagator try the plastic bag over the top method & try to resist watering them so much, they only really need watering if the compost is drying out.

[greenlung]

Hi - I'd leave it another couple of weeks if you can. No need to water seeds while they're germinating - humidity & warmth is what they're after, so I always use plastic bags over pots / seed trays, water once and leave alone. I've never grown aubergines, but i hear they need loads of light - knew someone who grew them hydroponically indoors under lights. Good luck ; )

[Nicos]

Most seeds don't need to be near a window to germinate as they are under the soil in the dark!!
As soon as they peek out, then light is needed.
I agree that a windowsill is a cold place at night, so you could move them away when it's dark.
Bit too early and moist and chilly at night for them
On the up side....you've still got plenty of time to alter their conditions, and if the seeds have rotted, to start afresh!
I think someone posted a site within the last couple of weeks- (forgot to save it!!sorry!) about sowing times didn't they??

[SueA]

Nicos, it was the lovely Supersprout who posted a site that had lots of germination times & temps on this thread.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=4560

[Silverfox]

Thanks for this. I have printed it out to take home with me. I have taken the pots of Keiths Chilli, all peppers, and the rest of the aubergines and popped them into a plastic freezer like bag, and then put them on top of the radiators (well resting on top of some clothes that I have drying there).

I have also given the germination on kitchen rool a go for some more Jalapeno and used the same method so I will let you know how that goes. Only thing with this is I only have another 10 seeds left with this one and I don't want to loss any (out of everything I am growing this year this is the only item I am really really excited about - I eat them on everything - even my roast dinner)

[Nicos]

Nicos, it was the lovely Supersprout who posted a site that had lots of germination times & temps on this thread.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=4560

There you go...she's still helping us!
Thanks SueA - I've printed it off now too!

[bramble]

Nicos, it was the lovely Supersprout who posted a site that had lots of germination times & temps on this thread.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=4560

Hi all, just wondering did this site open for everyone else, as it just won't open for me and i really wanted that bit of info.
Someone help please.

[Mrs Dobby]

http://www.heirloomseeds.com/germination.html

Opens for me. no problem!

[rustylady]

Hi Silverfox, Anything like tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers, courgettes etc needs a fair bit of warmth to germinate. Temperatures should be stated on seed packet. I'm lucky I have a small electric propagator which I germinate these in, but if you don't have one you can germinate on a radiator or in an airing cupboard if you have one. You do need to keep checking, though, as soon as the shoots show they need to be moved to somewhere light (this is where the kitchen windowsill comes in!

If you're germinating things like cabbages, lettuce etc they don't need so much heat so would probably do fine going straight onto the windowsill. Lettuce in particular won't germinate at all if the temperature is too high.

As for watering, the aim is to keep the compost moist, not waterlogged. Don't give water unless it is needed - I usually water by standing the pots or trays in a container of water and let them take up what they need. Watering from the top tends to knock seedlings down and unless the compost is free draining can lead to waterlogging and rotting of the seeds/seedlings.

[nick the grief]

Putting them in the window can be a problem. During the day they get baked then at night when you draw the curtains it can get to below freezing if there is frows outside. What they need is moist ( not wet) and a fairly constant temperature. Put them in your airing cupboards but check them everyday (or you could fit 2 or 3 low energy bulbs in there and use it as a propogator but you'll still need to check them regularly & move them out as soon as they show.

[Silverfox]

I looked at them this morning as I was leaving to go to work and see that I had new shots come through (so made a personal note to myself that I would take them off the rads tonight when I get home – As always I was running 5 mins late for work already).

Anyway just got a call from OH to say that 2 of them had committed suicide and jumped off the radiator and fallen to there deaths on the laminate flooring!!!!!!! I will have to see what I can salvage in 10 mins when I get home.

I really don’t know if I should laugh or cry