Help needed with germinating peppers and aubergines

[rednotdead]

Have you tried sowing single seeds in individual pots, Headfry. Then when one germinates you move into the greenhouse during the day leaving the ungerminated ones where they are ? You can always bring them back on to the kitchen window sill at night if you think it's going to be too cold for them.

[Cutecumber]

I can sympathise with your situation, Headfry. Although there is sometimes someone around at home when I am at work, I don't leave them in charge of the seedlings!

I germinate my tender crops in the airing cupboard - aubergines really do seem to need the even heat for quite a while - and I check them morning and evening. Once they appear, they go onto the windowsill (south facing). I make "reflectors" to give them a bit more light - I stick white card onto the back edge of the gravel tray which the cells or pots stand in, and it helps raise the light levels a little. They certainly lean less, anyway.

It's inevitable that they will grow taller than is ideal on a windowsill, but until the mornings warm up ... well, it's a compromise you have to make.

I still get a good crop in the end - that's the main thing.

[xspye]

I have a similar problem far to many seedlings for window/patio door space. In the end I gave in a brought a grow light and reflector so my kitchen table is now full of seedlings basking under a grow light. It was an extra cost but the peppers (40) aubergines (18) tomatoes (120 ) are all doing really well and i no longer have to keep turning them to stop the light lean!

I got the eco version of the bulb so the electricity bill is not ridiculous and the light does not give off much heat (you can still touch the bulb after it has been on for 8 hours). The only thing I'm concerned about is a raid from the police as my house has a strange glow coming from the windows and there are lots of little plants under it !!!!

[Pottypotter]

I use some cling film over the tray when my propagator is full , seems to do the same as my propagator

[Headfry]

I don't have enough space for lots of little pots sadly. The bigest part of the problem is when 4 out of 10 germinate and start to get leggy. How do I get the remaining seeds to germinate?

[Cutecumber]

It happens to me, too.

I use indivdual coir starter pots or I cut up large cell trays if necessary, then you just move them separately. I'm only talking about four plants, here.

[Alison]

Whoohoo, the Purple Tiger chilli seeds that I planted on 25 Feb (honest!) have germinated - well one of them has. It's been in a heated propogator since then and has seen pots of other chillies, aubergines, peppers and various other stuff come and go and now it's sat next to some of them on the kitchen widown sill. It must have known that if it didn't make a move soon it would have been consigned to the great compost heap in the sky - will have to check tonight to see if any of it's 5 friends are going to join the party! Mind you, still no sign of the Sweet Pimento peppers so maybe have to do without them - couldn't get them to germinate last year either so could also be duff seeds.

[OverWyreGrower]

My courgettes have been planted for ages (well, 3 weeks) and I was despairing that nothing had happened. But this morning, I saw a little bit of green poking through the soil, so felt a bit better...

I'm just too impatient I think!

[smallblueplanet]

Hah! these chili seeds can be fiendishly cunning....tried two lots of scotch bonnet seeds in modules in the heated prop about 4 weeks ago - 1 ickle seedling.

2 weeks ago I thought well lets give 'em another go, maybe they've a poor germination rate - sowed 38 seeds between two 3" pots in the heated prop....we now have 25 ickle seedlings! What the???....

[ysb33r]

2 weeks ago I thought well lets give 'em another go, maybe they've a poor germination rate - sowed 38 seeds between two 3" pots in the heated prop....we now have 25 ickle seedlings! What the???....

Must be herding culture ... they don't want to grow up alone

[Alison]

Must be herding culture ... they don't want to grow up alone

Think it's more bloody mindedness myself

[smallblueplanet]

Think it's more bloody mindedness myself..

Yes! Cos they know now I'm no good at thinning so I'm gonna have to grow them all on and find homes for them.

[Alison]

Would be like murdering your own if you threw any away.............

[Headfry]

They are so small, they deserve every chance! I have to 'home' all my extras too.

[Cutecumber]

it's not just me then, which is a relief...

the weight of a guilty secret has been lifted! lol!