Russethouse Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 This year I have tried to grow a few things from seed, I bought a little windowsill electric propagator but even so some results are patchy. Tomato's were OK 100% success, but Ipomnea were between 50% & 70% and even nasturtiums were only about 40%.Is it me ? Any tips ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Gay, I don't know about Nasturtiums but you could try soaking the Ipomea seeds overnight. It may just be a dodgy batch. I had a bad lot last year, but with this years pack I've had a lot more success, probably 95%, and that was without soaking, or any heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted April 30, 2006 Author Share Posted April 30, 2006 LOL I'm trying a batch of nasturtium seed I have soaked and they are worse !Last year I only grew a variety of Ipomnea called 'Grandpa Otts', I had about 50% germination with them, with or without heat. This year I have also tried a variety called 'Flying saucers' which have germinated better and are making much taller leggier plants.(of course last year my husband thought the ipomnea were weeds so I lost a few that way [:(][:(])Even Sunflowers are tempermental...............A few years ago I was much more into the gardening thing and I seem to remember that a seed company used to publish expected germination rates either on the packet or in the catalogue...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hastobe Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 You definitely need to either nick or soak te morning glory seeds (I'm growing some of those this year too - Star of Yalta variety).You shouldn't need to soak the nasturtium seeds though - how old are the seeds? Have they been kept in a cool dry place? Hastobe Btw: the Ipomea seeds were free with the Cottage Garden Society seed exchange - the CGS ( http://www.thecgs.org.uk/) is a UK based organisation but has members in France, Italy and a few other places... - if anyone is into seed swapping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 You definitely need to either nick or soak te morning glory seedsNot this year I didn't!Hastobe, what a coincidence. I have just complimented your Avatar on the Avatars thread[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 1, 2006 Author Share Posted May 1, 2006 The climbing nasturtiums are last years, but I am also growing a new (to me ) variety called 'Milkmaid'. As they looked quite big seeds, I thought I would give soaking a try.I have quite a few seeds that came free with Amateur Gardening, but some are slow germination, 'Verbena Darlyensis' (sorry spelling !) look as if it could take ages, and others are annuals and we just do not have room to prepare seed beds. ( I give them to my neighbour) You don't see too much in the way of seed at UK garden shows........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hastobe Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote user="Tresco"]You definitely need to either nick or soak the morning glory seeds[/quote]LOL - that's how I avoid having to beg people to take some seedlings away with them! Did you get a good percentage germination Tresco? Although the seeds I sowed were free I had another packet of commercially produced seed so I followed the instructions on that packet... The CGS seeds were quite old but I got quite a good germination rate so was pretty chuffed. Just have to find a willing recipient for the surplus now [Www]Hastobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hastobe Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote user="Russethouse"]You don't see too much in the way of seed at UK garden shows........[/quote]So true - seems lots of people just buy bedding plants nowadays. I love growing from seed / cuttings. Half my garden has been grown that way - which has saved me money but also given me lots of memories. I have plants that have come from so many different friends over the years as a cutting, seeds or a straightforward swap - a walk through my garden reminds me of them all.Hastobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote user="Russethouse"]...we just do not have room to prepare seed beds....[/quote]Seed beds! We had them all over the house, near every window last year. The whole house had a fine layer of compost all over. It was quite charming [:$]This winter/Spring seems/ed even longer. I didn't bother, and everything has gone straight in the ground. I was lied to, about the (supposed) 4 week long winter.[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 1, 2006 Author Share Posted May 1, 2006 Surely people would be thrilled with them !( Ipomnea)After catching my husband 'weeding' them last year, I saw a stunning display of them at Hampton Court, I took a picture so I could remind him what we missed - - frequently [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hastobe Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 LOL - there has been many an occasion when MOH has proudly shown me the efforts of his labours in the gardens - all my seedlings carefully weeded out and shrivelling in the sunshine. In fact a particular incident with rather a large quantity of (carefully collected) nasturtium seeds comes to mind. I have tried to tactfully suggest that he limits his gardening to digging holes and mowing lawns....Hastobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote user="hastobe"] I love growing from seed / cuttings. Half my garden has been grown that way - which has saved me money but also given me lots of memories. I have plants that have come from so many different friends over the years as a cutting, seeds or a straightforward swap - a walk through my garden reminds me of them all [/quote]I keep a record of where I got everything from, so I have things like 'Yellow Hollyhock from Teds garden, Lingfield' 'Spanish Rose from wall in Wirral near Mrs so and so's house', 'Maltese Cross from Bun-T's garden, Sheffield'. I also have Daffs that were bulblets from the first things I ever planted, very grudgingly: Daffodils for my dad the Autumn before he died. I didn't even know which way up was the right way then. [:$] That was the first year he couldn't plant his own bulbs, and now I have their babies, here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote user="hastobe"] Did you get a good percentage germination Tresco? [/quote]Sorry, I missed this. Not bad this year. Some things, none of them came up. If that happens I assume I have done something wrong. Still, some of them I can't think what I have done wrong, as they have been fine in the past, for instance Cosmos. Great big zero this year. [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 This is my first year trying to grow seeds here, all sorts of sources, UK and French.I'm amazed at how well they have all done - was at a BBQ yesterday trying to give them away. I've just put the seeds in trays and root trainers, some veg in small coir pots to plant them straight out and so far have had to put in three more raised beds.Probably the best seeds so far are the Heritage Seed Library (part of HDRA), Seeds of Distinction and the French pea and bean seeds. But have two large trays of capucines and more species sunflowers and cosmos than I know what to do with - if only I can get the Passion Flowers of the World seeds to germinate, now that would be good.Interesting how many people aren't interested in growing from seed themselves - suits me fine, think giving stuff away/swapping are still two of the joys of gardening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaJ Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 We use Tamar organics who have an excellent range of seeds and are very efficient in delivering to France by post. You can find them here. http://www.tamarorganics.co.uk/regardsLisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 1, 2006 Author Share Posted May 1, 2006 >>Interesting how many people aren't interested in growing from seed themselves - suits me fine, think giving stuff away/swapping are still two of the joys of gardening. <<<Me too Tony, my neighbours have just got into gardening so any extras can go their way. I really started because I wanted to grow the Tumbler tomato's in baskets and last year I didn't see plants available to buy, but this year I have seen them at 60p per plant, I need 8, as it is I have 16 plants, (as long as they do not suddenly all damp off) seed left over and plants to give away.My mother recently commented on what it must have cost her to keep her greenhouse heated through the winters, when really what she wanted was a few trays of bedding plants, I don't think economy really comes into the equation, its the pleasure of doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 2, 2006 Author Share Posted May 2, 2006 Just been looking at my seedlings, should I be feeding them anything ? The tomato plants are OK but the stems look rather skinny and the Grandpa Otts ipomnea are looking aren't doing very much, they are a bit slow. At present they are just in seed compost.[8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hastobe Posted May 2, 2006 Share Posted May 2, 2006 I don't normally feed my seedlings until they are pricked out andgetting to a reasonable size - in theory the seed compost should havesufficient nutrients for the first few weeks or so. You say theylook spindly - are they getting plenty of light? Hastobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 2, 2006 Author Share Posted May 2, 2006 I think the light is OK, they are in a little poly 'greenhouse', but I think the stems are on the the thin side, when I bought plants last year I think the stems were the thickness of a pencil, perhaps its the variety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted May 2, 2006 Share Posted May 2, 2006 Gay, if the light is OK, your seedlings may be leggy due to too much nutrition in the planting medium. Are you taking the lid off the poly house during the day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 2, 2006 Author Share Posted May 2, 2006 I unzip it and roll the 'door' up, then close it at night.............the idea is that if I get enough use out of this we 'might' buy a proper little greenhouse......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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