The Seed Sowing Thread 2015

[Lawa]

OK last weekend I sowed 2 trays of peas is said germination 7-10 days they have now been in 8 days and out of all the cells I have about 4-5 germinated! I am really dissapointed not sure what I have done worng?

I also planted thyme and corriander and again nothing come up?

This weekend I have planted some alpine strawberrys

[Kristen]

OK last weekend I sowed 2 trays of peas is said germination 7-10 days they have now been in 8 days and out of all the cells I have about 4-5 germinated! I am really dissapointed not sure what I have done worng?

Any chance that Mice have eaten them? They absolutely LOVE peas

[Penellype]

I planted 12 hurst greenshaft peas in pots for pea shoots a few weeks ago and only 5 have come up. Definitely not mice as they are indoors, and were in a closed propagator. I think it is just a bit too early for them - I had the same problem with early onward at this time last year. Having said that I sowed 15 half pint in a large pot in the same propagator and 14 of those have germinated, so I may be talking complete claptrap!

[ash25]

Got my Tomato, Parsnip, Carrot and Chilli seeds delivered last week.

Hoping to grow some decent quality varieties to show at some local shows.

I've gone for...

New red intermediate (carrots), Cappricia F1 (tomatoes), Dutchess F1 hybrid (parsnips), and Bhut Jolokia (chillis).

Was thinking about getting the toms and chillis started around the 1st February in my makeshift grow chamber in the spare room but not sure if this might be a little early as they will eventually go into the greenhouse when it warms up enough.

What are peoples opinions on sow dates? Would be looking for finished fruits around beginning of August. I can get a good start for them in the grow chamber but the greenhouse is a little shaded for parts of the day so they may slow down a little when they go outside.

[Bacchus]

I've already started a few chilli's. Its probably too early but I do have a grow tent and lights - but it's a long time until May...

[Lawa]

Definatley no Mice as they are on the windowsill in the house! Neither have the herbs come up either very strange I will see how they get on and do some more in a couple of weeks!

[Kristen]

I would dig up a pea and see what it looks like (and if it is still there!)

Herbs might take a bit longer ...

Not getting really-cold on the windowsill at night (behind curtain etc.) If so perhaps move them off the windowsill at night?

Not overwatering? Compost should be just-moist or well-watered-once and left to drain. If it has a clear plastic lid over it, or the pot/tray is in a plastic bag, it definitely won't need watering again until after germination.

[Lawa]

Nope at night being bought into kitchen in pantry where is is warm. It was damp and i have used a water mister once has a clear plastic lid on them?

[Gema13]

This last two weeks I have started off courgette, sunflower, borage, BlackBerry, French lavender, thai basil, nasturtium and basil. Have seen a show of seedlings from courgette, Thai basil, borage and sunflowers.

[Dorothy rouse]

This 'thread' is getting me worried, it's freezing here, and I wasn't planning to do anything until end of Feb, should I go 'break the ice' do you think?

[Kristen]

This 'thread' is getting me worried, it's freezing here, and I wasn't planning to do anything until end of Feb, should I go 'break the ice' do you think?

Nope

Onions, Peppers and that's it for me.

Thinking about Sweet Peas and Broad Beans.

[Kristen]

This last two weeks I have started off courgette, sunflower, borage, BlackBerry, French lavender, thai basil, nasturtium and basil. Have seen a show of seedlings from courgette, Thai basil, borage and sunflowers.

I hope you don't mind but I'm worried about:

Courgettes - plants will be huge by the time you can safely plant them out

Blackberry I think would be better buying a known cultivar - named varieties which have been carefully bred for cropping are a lot better than the Heinz-57 ones that come from seed. Some time before you have a crop to know whether your seed has given you a good'un or a not-so-good'un

Possibly a bit early for Nasturtium too.

I'm not a fan of experimenting where the odds are not good, I resent the time, effort and precious greenhouse growing space! used up ... others are of the opposite view though

[Penellype]

Everything I am sowing, with the exception of leeks, is staying in the house. While long term forecasting is a mugs game at best, there are serious signs from the longer range models that the 2nd half of the winter is going to be colder than the first. In particular there seem to be signs of a "sudden stratospheric warming" over the north pole, similar to the one that occurred in January 2013. That was considered responsible for the extremely cold March of that year. I'm not saying we are going to have an extremely cold March, and the current hype in the newspapers is way over the top regarding a "big freeze" etc, but I wouldn't be banking on being able to harden plants off outside early this year.

[Laney]

Garlic, chili, aubergines, coriander, sweet basil, pak choi on the go and look happy, except the snails seem to be having a mid winter snack on the pak choi seedlings so will grow from seed indoors next time.

Nothing happening with asparagus seeds planted 3 weeks ago at least

Comfrey, lemon balm, lovage, spinach, purple broccoli and sage seeds on the way, and a few tomato plants pre-ordered.

So exciting!!!! Bring on Spring!

[GardenGayle]

I sowed some alpine strawberry seeds today in a little propogator, maybe a bit early but I was itching to sow something!