How Are Your Seeds Going This Year?

[youngmafbog]

I have had a real problem with the Toms shooting up, going straggly and then many keeling and its game over. Other plants seem ok, Good number of cucumbers chillies, even the Peter Penis (yes thats their name) from a chillie that was in the fridge went well.

The real problems seem to be the Lifters, got one left and thats not looking too healthy. The only ones that did well were some Pomodoro cherry with a date of 2019 on the packet!

All grown in a tent with LED grow lights as per all years. Anyone else had this problem?

[Redhelen72]

My tomatoes are not yet breaking through the soil but success with cucumbers, lettuce, micro greens, spring onions, broadbeans - all grown without artificial light

[Old_Geezer]

Mixed. But there again I was using older seeds so maybe that was to be expected.

(Not been a good year so far due to my lack of knowledge.)

[Barmaid]

Ours are doing very well. We've got cucs, courgettes, sweetcorn, tomatoes (several different varieties), peas and sweetpeas that have germinated. They are in a greenhouse which is heated on low temp nights.

If they are keeling over, you should be able to save them by transplanting them very deep. If they are keeling over and dying, is it damping down disease? Ie is it too damp and humid for them?

If your tent is too warm, that can promote leggy growth and also if the lights are too high above them or the light itself is dirty. If the area they are in is TOO perfect that can also be a problem. Eg, exposure to a light breeze is a good thing since that promotes thicker stems. You can just brush your hand lightly over seedlings regularly so that it stimulates the growth of thicker stems.

If none of the above and you are doing everything right, it is probably just one of those annoying things. Gardening can be extremely frustrating at times! I haven't had any "grrrrr" moments this year - yet!

[youngmafbog]

Well done RH, I have only got the rocket to go without light in the greenhouse.

Thanks for the suggestions BM, I tried repotting into those deep tomato pots but they just wouldnt take.

The tent should be ok for heat and humidity, at least the dials all seem to say its good. There is no other heat than the light and being LED its not as overpowing as those other things I used to use. I hadnt thought about the breeze though will see what I can do. I did take some out just after they germinated but too early to see if that's going to work.

Not had this problem before and I've been doing it for years now. As you say could well be one of those things. Everything else is ok so fingers crossed :-)

[youngmafbog]

Keep at it OG, takes a whjile to work out what works best I found.

As for old seeds I generally dump them into a 1/2 seed tray and see what comes up. You normally just get a lower germination rate for instance those Pomodoro chrry toms that were OOD in 2019 gave about 30%. Normally with good seeds I will use 2/3 in each haxnicks pot and then pluck out the weakest. That way the root of the best instn disturbed and in the deep root haxnicks they get a good set of roots before putting them in their final place. My brother does his totally different though!

[rowanwitch]

Mine are doing well on the kitchen windowsill, will be expanding to the spare room when they are potted on.

[Redhelen72]

the first of the toms have breached the soil

[Prudie]

I have sweet peas in seed pots that are already 15cms and flopping about with no support. I have pinched out the tops. I know I'm not supposed to plant them out full time in the garden yet but I think the risk of another frost where I live is minimal. Not sure what to do. At moment put them out on a tray in day and bring them in at night but I feel they want to go into their permanent home and get on with it.

[melv16]

I'll be starting mine next week in an unheated poly tunnel ont allotment.
I saw a method on gardeners World last year, where a person in Oregon used empty 4pt plastic milk bottles. It worked a treat and I got excellent germination with all my seeds.
BTW, how are people coping with peat free compost?