Poor seed germination, onion, beetroot, spinach…

Community Community General Gardening Sowing and Growing Poor seed germination, onion, beetroot, spinach…

This topic contains 66 replies, has 18 voices, and was last updated by  KevL 5 years, 8 months ago.

Viewing 7 posts - 61 through 67 (of 67 total)
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  • #46403

    Rhys
    Participant

    Picture for you, Tris, of onions sown uncovered in pencil indents in modules…

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    #46409

    Stringfellow
    Participant

    Thanks Rhys for taking the time to sort that. Do you think the pencil indents create a tiny micro-climate that is higher in moisture than say just surface sowing? I’ll try this next year, but with gentle heat from beneath. Thanks.

    #46423

    Rhys
    Participant

    Yes, maybe the moisture is greater, also no barrier to emerging if you accidently sow too deep.

    This is the soil block principle without making soil blocks, since most seeds germinate well in soil blocks without any covering, which is why I assumed this would work.

    #46433

    Stringfellow
    Participant

    Thanks Rhys, I think this method has merit and I shall be giving it a try soon. Great to see your plot (and mine!) filling up. Blooming rain is back though here…grrr…cheers, Tris

    #47677

    Derek
    Participant

    Earlier on in this thread I mentioned I had boltary seeds from Plants of Distinction with poor germination rates. Also had some mixed lettuce seeds from them with the same result. (Other seeds were fine)
    At the time I dropped them an email suggesting they may like a word with their supplier, didn’t ask for any replacemenets or anything.
    I never hear anything until, in the post last week, I received a couple of packets of replacement seed. Seems they do take note of comments, and I praise their customer service!

    #47678

    charles
    Moderator

    Derek that is good to hear. Even though the poor seed cost you probably much more (time, compost, food) than a few new seeds!

    #47722

    KevL
    Participant

    Interesting to see Stringfellow’s comment 24th April ‘Blooming rain is back – grrr’ What price now a steady 48 hours of gentle rain?
    On a seed germination note, I have had moderate germination from Kings, Suttons etc, very good germination from Real Seeds and fantastic germination from Bing. Saatgut, especially peas where I had sown half a dozen 24-cell polystyrene modules in the spring, with virtually 100% germination. Their French beans sown direct in a double row was also well over 90%. Worst germination was King’s lettuce ‘Freckles’.

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