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Hi Charles,
I sowed Basil Sweet Genovese last weekend for indoor growing.
I’m concerned I may have sown too deeply at 1.5cm in seed compost.
I looked through your books but couldn’t see a reference to depth.
I would appreciate your advice.Don.
Don yes, too deep, they are way down, probably having a good sleep!
The info is in my books e.g. I just checked in the index of my Course Book for “sowing depth”, its p104,
“Sow seeds shallow rather than deep… cover seeds with twice as much compost as the seeds are thin ( width not length)”.
So the baseline is hardly anything on top – and I was looking at mine, also sown last weekend, they are emerging fastest at the sides where I sprinkled less compost. I think it would be best perhaps to cover them with none!If in doubt cover less, just be sure to water thoroughly at time of sowing.
Even watering newly sown seeds pushes them down a bit into compost.I find that broad beans can go in deep, say 2in/5cm or more, but everything else I sow does better not too deep = what I say in the books, a dusting on top equivalent to twice the depth of the seed’s thinnest cross section.
So lettuce is v thin and needs almost nothing on top, in fact mostly I simply leave it on the surface uncovered, but in the shade to stay moist until germinated.I always sow my Basil onto damp kitchen paper. Fold a piece in half and wet it. Sow the seed onto the paper, always gives a good germination rate so you dont need to allow much for non germination. I am still using seed that is 5 years old. Fold the paper over and place in a zip lock bag. Usually germinates in a couple of days and then I tranfer to plugs with tweezers after making a small indent in the compost and sprinkle with vermiculite. Then give the vermiculite a good spray to moisten.
I have been doing the same with Parsnips but transferring to the growing bed when germinated.
Hi Plantmark I have had problems getting basil to germinate in the past but appear to have cracked it this year by covering the tray – so I guess they not only need light but humidity too. Hence the success of your method.
I recently sowed 20 seeds of Sunflower Teddy Bear in compost and only 3 germinated. I tried the other 20 in damp tissue and 17 out of 20 germinated. Its quite an interesting method to use for testing seed germination.
I had poor results with T & M Spinach Medania with only 6% gemination in seed compost. Tried again in tissue and achieved 10% germination so I was confident in complaining to T & M . Clearly a poor batch of seed.
I’ve got a tray of basil just germinating now and it seems to have started within 4 days with the lid on i.e. moisture retention.
Does this look normal? The 2 cotyledons are turning yellow, while the true leaves in the middle are still green. The variety is Sweet Genovese. Not sure if it´s the compost I am using as it has a fair bit of “woody bits” or if the compost is too rich for basil? Some of my other basil variety e.g. licorice is looking rather odd too…couldn’t get a proper picture with the lighting… will try tomorrow. Not sure if it´s because it is a different variety? My Corsica variety is purple in colour.
Yes I reckon its poor compost, maybe the woody bits pulling nitrogen before plants can.
Yellowing cotyledons tell of a plant running out of food for growth. You may have some poor compost, there is a lot around!
Maybe pot them into a good compost.
Also basil seedlings need little water so don’t overdo that.Thanks Don, that gives me a little bit of hope. Fingers crossed.
Hey Charles, I was thinking that too… however, some of my other plants are on the same brand of compost and they seem fine. I am not sure if it was the same bag of compost. Not sure how consistent their mix is. The problem in Germany is that there aren’t many choices and most of them aren’t organic (Bio) compost. The one am using is supposedly peat free hence they had more woody bits and more brown than the usual black. I have had to use some non-organic ones to test how effective they are too. I am making comparisons and observations from the different brands.
I might have also over-watered them, will ease back and monitor them. I think I am gonna cry if I have to repot over 450 basil seedlings. 🙁 I may resort to feeding them with comfrey/nettle tea. I am just going to give it another day or 2 as it is definitely warming up and see if there´s any improvement on the seedlings.
Do these leaves look burnt or look like sunscald? Strange that only this variety is only affected. It looks similar to Sweet Genovese, but this a Naples variety (translated from a German word).
Karen,
My Sweet Genovase are looking similar on my return after having been away for a week. I think it may be sun scorch but not certain.
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