Sowing seeds

[horticultural_hobbit]

I've got chillies in the propogator. I will try and put caulis in there too. Other things, I will use window sills for. Having read various seed packets, 20 degrees ish, is what they read. I think there are particular seeds that benefit from being cracked in a heated propogator. In my experiences, seeing them in a unheated prop on a window sill has been successful (and produced an nice fuzzy internal glow). Alas, I am banned from using home window sills, so have to make use of the ones in my classroom. My only concern with that, is the lighting.

I plan to sow and grow on the window sills mainly.

[binley100]

I use the airing cupboard for heat loving and I've found that even If I've removed the pot to the kitchen cos one seedlings come up , the others soon follow .......

[Two_Sheds]

you could end up trying to prick out a 3" seedling next to a 1mm seedling just popping up.

I don't do pricking out at all, too fiddly.
I always have more germinators than I need, so I just nip off the heads of the smallest seedlings, leaving the earlier, bigger ones to grow on undisturbed (until they need potting on).

I plan to sow and grow on the window sills mainly.

There's surprisingly little light, even on the sunniest windowsills. Also, they are very cold at night, quite a lot colder than the rest of the room.

[zazen999]

I only use 2 small heated props, for everything.

I only use 1 and I sow for 5 schools/colleges as well as me and chums.

As soon as the seedlings show, they come out and more go in.

Heated propagators are for propagation, not for growing. As soon as the seed has germinated, they should be taken out otherwise you grow soft sappy plants.

[Bigmallly]

I only use 1 and I sow for 5 schools/colleges as well as me and chums.

As soon as the seedlings show, they come out and more go in.

Heated propagators are for propagation, not for growing. As soon as the seed has germinated, they should be taken out otherwise you grow soft sappy plants.

Likewise, 1 heated prop, at the first sign of seedlings the pot goes under the lights. Then another pot goes on the prop......To be fair, I am using small water bottles & the prop holds approx 20 bottles.

[danniiangel]

Multi-sow in small trays or pots and then prick them out into larger pots. Keep the propigator busy and move stuff out soon as they germinate for the next batch. Many things will be fine for sowing or moving out in March outside.
What's your list?

Sorry for delay in replying...

My list:

purple sprouting broc
Sweet dumpling squash
Lemonbalm
Chillis
Squash yellow scallop
Tomato harbinger & gardeners delight
Spring onion
Sweet pepper
Pumpkin
Sweetcorn
Courgette
Butternut squash

Some of these I sowed direct last year but they got munched by slugs despite lots of pellets/nematodes etc and I want things to get a head start and a bit stronger so that the slugs don't eat them all as soon as I plant them out.

[chris]

All of those can be started in small pots, and potted on when their rots start to show out if the bottom of the small pots.

When it's safe enough (I.e temp, size, location) you can harden if then plant out. Larger plants are more able to withstand pests... Though you need to keep an eye on them really. Slugs- go it with a torch when it's dark and dispatch them as you please (I snip in half, others throw in buckets if salty water etc)

Out f your list though, really the ones to start off now our be the pepper and tomatoes- though you can hold off if you want to, check the packets for sowing dates.

[zazen999]

Sorry for delay in replying...

My list:

purple sprouting broc
Sweet dumpling squash
Lemonbalm
Chillis
Squash yellow scallop
Tomato harbinger & gardeners delight
Spring onion
Sweet pepper
Pumpkin
Sweetcorn
Courgette
Butternut squash

Some of these I sowed direct last year but they got munched by slugs despite lots of pellets/nematodes etc and I want things to get a head start and a bit stronger so that the slugs don't eat them all as soon as I plant them out.

The ones in bold are the only ones you really need to start off now. They can be kept indoors for a fair while and hardened off and put into an unheated greenhouse during March.

The rest are best sown later, in pots in unheated greenhouses anyway.

[Alison]

I'd agree that it's just peppers and chillis that want sowing now. Also, many of the others are better sown in lower temperatures. Brassias (PSB) for an example can be sown in a few months in the cold greenhouse so don't take up your house space at all

[Two_Sheds]

I only use 1 and I sow for 5 schools/colleges as well as me and chums.

well Ner ner na ner

Some of these I sowed direct last year but they got munched by slugs

Yep, that's what happens

despite lots of pellets

Er, you are following the instructions on the pack? ie, one pellet per 4 inches of soil. Do not lay a blue carpet, because this will do nothing as protection, because it repels the slug, when what you want to do is ATTRACT it with a little blue bicky, and kill it

I want things to get a head start and a bit stronger so that the slugs don't eat them all as soon as I plant them out.

That's the way. It's the only way I can grow anything to fruition