To add to Karen’s observations, I have been germinating some sweetcorn seed indoors in soil blocks and many have germinated within 4 days. I sowed them on 16th, I didn’t cover them with any compost and merely put a propagator lid over the blocks (24 fit snugly inside my lids and 32 the lid rests snugly on the outside borders of the blocks) and left them in the middle of my bedroom.
I’ve got successful germination of basil with seeds laid on top of a seed bed without any compost on top too. I wasn’t interested in quantitation this time, just getting some seedlings to grow on.
My final tomato sowing, done on 17th, of Sungold and Capriccio also sees the seedlings just beginning to emerge on day 3. They remain on the boiler top for another day until they are properly out.
I have just sown Marigold, Russian Tarragon and Lovage in modules today – we will see whether a flower day 1 day before full moon is any good.