This topic contains 66 replies, has 18 voices, and was last updated by KevL 5 years, 9 months ago.
-
Posts
-
Tris, the Johnsons Boltardy sowned 23rd March are now coming through en masse. Same potting compost, same module tray. So definitely OGC seeds were rubbish.
Out of interest, I sowed various pollinators/flowering plants on 25th March at moonrise and many roared through within 3 days – marigold, cornflower and Alyssum being particularly precocious. No seed packet said germination in under 7 days, so maybe biodynamic sowing works very well for flowers too?
Hi all,
could this be the reason why my spinach seeds are not germinating, being too old? I bought Medania from Otter Farm early this year, of 50 sown seeds 2 germinated. I thought it was probably me doing something wrong, so I made a germination test by placing some on wet paper towels for some days, no germination at all. I’ve sown again, and again have more or less the same germination rate. They are sown in good sowing compost and kept indoors on a heating mat.
Any advice would be much appreciated.Rhys that is encouraging to have some positive news on this thread!
Probably moon forces are not strong enough to revive dead, old seed though and that is what you appear to have Hawfinch. It causes such a waste of time.
I hope you can email them, and thanks for posting it here because I have a feeling there may be an iceberg underneath, though I hope not. You have lost an important few weeks of early growth. It’s disheartening as Stringfellow says.Exactly the same problem with Kings Boltardy,multi sown 24 modules – one seedling.
Kings Alderman peas less than 10% germination.
I’m going to E-mail them but definitely won’t be buying from them again…I suspect the latter, and some of the problem is that seed companies’ germination tests are in ideal, laboratory conditions. Then the same seeds barely grow in compost in a greenhouse, or in the ground.
I too have had problems with Kings Boltardy, batch no.67290. I sowed 10 x 6 cell trays on 4th March in the our allotments poly tunnel for re-sale. Similarly, on 6th March I sowed some Boltardy seed from last year in my greenhouse at home. Both sowings have had similar conditions (but different composts) though the tunnel due to it’s more exposed site could have experienced some lower temperatures. The trays of older seed have germinated well, unfortunately those of batch 67290 have all but zero germination. Kings have been quite helpful when I contacted them and they replaced the pack immediately which was OK but sadly does not compensate for the month lost with the sowing.
Have been buying my seeds from ‘Real Seeds’ this last two years and had no germination problems. Even last year’s packets have come up trumps. They also encourage you to save your own. Small company, very ethical.
They don’t do F1 hybrids though, if you want a special crop. They do lots of older varieties and they test all the seeds themselves for germination, growth and flavour.
They are sold in clear plastic pkts, with sowing instructions enclosed. The post is very quick.
They have to charge you 1p initially to become a member of their club, because, apparently, outside the main protagonists, no one is allowed to sell seed without a licence. Ah, this modern, capitalist world🙄
I too have had trouble with some seeds. A packet of Mottistone lettuce has refused to grow even one seeding.
I tried them in the heated propagater, the window sill and the greenhouse bench. I tried growing with a covering of compost and on the surface of the compost under a sheet of glass, not so much as one lettuce.
I have never tried this variety before but they looked so good in Charles book I was looking forward to adding them to my salad bowl.I’m having issues with Tomatoes. Chadwick Cherry and Harbinger only. Both from Chase Organics. 50% germination rate. All other tomatoes from other suppliers (even last years seed) all doing well. e.g Sungold from CN seeds at 100% germination. All seeds sown in same medium, same heat, same moisture etc.
I will be contacting Chase but ever since the recent debacle and sale to Dobbies I will not be using them in the future.
The other tomatoes I’ve had issues with were from Seed Co-op were the Wild variety – Rote Murmel & Golden Currant. Both very unusual, specialist and bought as an experiment so not too worried.Also had issues with Boltardy and Burpees Golden both from Victoriana Nurseries. 2 year old seed but have had older beetroot seeds germinate. Very slow to germinate but finally they are starting to show signs of activity.
Not experiencing issues with anything else as yet.
I eould like to add to Hazelky’s satisfaction with Real Seeds: I have been delighted with their products, maybe onion seed family slightly less good, but I have used them now for 3 years and over 15 vegetable types with good quality outcomes.
Leek, parsnip, winter radish, cabbage, sprouts, beetroot, fennel, dwarf beans, spinach, kale, turnip have all been very good.
Tris, I think the solution to seed saving is forming a group of folks who save two or three seed groups each year, enough to share with other group members.
Question is how you find folks good at making cabbage, beetroot, onion seed well as the obvious pea, bean and tomato bankers.
Paul thanks for sharing that about Chase Organics, and Amanda that is so frustrating. I had the same problem last year and then a friend gave me some of his Mottistone from 2016, it has germinated very well.
Maybe try eBay of these folks https://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/salad-leaves/salad-leaves/lettuce-mottistone-0211a
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.