[suziequeue]

Well - a huge advance on last year - four pepper seedlings up from about twelve seeds  but Aubergine seedlings?? NIET!!


They've been in for a month now although only under gro-lux for the past week.


What am I doing wrong 

[HesterF]

How warm are they? I planted pepper and aubergine seeds in Feb and they've both germinated well but in a heated propagator at 20°./24 hours Think I got about 70-80% germination. I've now pricked them out into pots of their own and still going OK out of the propagator, no grolux but lots of natural light  (although time will tell on that - lack of sunlight is not great). Really heat makes a huge difference - I've just put my second batch of veg seed in and the corn and cabbages were through within a day. I've no idea whether that will be a problem longer term but it's great for germination. My only problems have been ornamental thistles which rotted (with husband questioning why on earth I want to grow thistles when we have a field full of them) and Red Hot Poker plant which were really slow.

H

[Lesley Silvester]

so why did you want to grow thistles?

[Mammyshaz]

I think they need warmth, light and be new seeds. My old seeds of aubergines didn't germinate at all.

Other than that I dont know why, Suziequeue. It is frustrating 

[HesterF]

so why did you want to grow thistles?

  They're the tall, beautiful, not-so-prickly ones that look good in the middle of a herbaceous border (if I do manage to grow any - attempt three is underway at the moment having had a replacement set of seeds sent) as opposed to the low lying, mowing resistant, prickly as hell variety that even the poultry avoids standing on and seems to cover our field.

H

[suziequeue]

Yes - I don't have thm in any sort of heated area other than the normal heating in the room. They are quite close to a window. Maybe I can get a pad or something to just go under those ones

[HesterF]

How does your heating system work? My mum always germinates in the kitchen above the boiler which is the warmest spot in the house. Once they're germinated and growing, you can move them to somewhere lighter but I'd go for warmth to begin with (although probably not an airing cupboard - that's too dark). Unless you've got your heating on 24 hours, chances are they drop quite a bit at night and you'll get away with that for many veg seeds but peppers and aubergines are a bit choosier. Are they covered rather than open trays? That also helps to keep the warmth (and moisture) in.

H

[suziequeue]

Thanks Hester - that's really helpful and consolidates what I have been thinking.


I am going to get a heated propagator to go under the light for the more "Mediterranean" sort of veg and any others that don't seem to be coming on.


Problem is now that we've got six inches of settled snow here this morning which somewhat scuppers my plans to go down to the village  . Typical!!!! 

[HesterF]

Order on line - get the delivery man worry about how to get through! I got mine from Harrod Horticulture & you can get 10% off with the code from here - not cheap, mind you, but I wanted one that would last.

H

[Lesley Silvester]

so why did you want to grow thistles?

  They're the tall, beautiful, not-so-prickly ones that look good in the middle of a herbaceous border (if I do manage to grow any - attempt three is underway at the moment having had a replacement set of seeds sent) as opposed to the low lying, mowing resistant, prickly as hell variety that even the poultry avoids standing on and seems to cover our field.

H

My goats love thistles.  Shall I send them round?

[HesterF]

Yes please! Not much fencing though - they'd probably just head off down the road to the pub or something instead!

[deepinthewoods]

heated propgator. your still early tho imho.

[suziequeue]

I have moved the seedlings to the warmest room in the house (downstairs boiler/dog drying room) for now. There is one microscopic cuke seedling coming up 


I am determined to grow my own cukes from seed this year(last year we I'd get seedlings but they died of hypothermia so we got plug plants)....... but I have planted the seeds end down and not lying flat. Is this going to be a problem?

[deepinthewoods]

no thats fine.

it is early tho.....

[HesterF]

Never grown cucumbers so can't help with that. As for the timing of the aubergines, I don't follow the too early logic? If you were hoping to plant them out, I'd agree but I assume you'll be growing them inside? I know that's my plan and I've got them in early (along with the peppers) to maximise the growing season. They take ages to ripen and I tried to grow them outside (from an established plant) in Switzerland where the summers are much hotter and they never ripened. So my logic is that I need to get them in early so that they make the most of the summer to ripen fruit rather than planting in May and spending most of the summer growing the plant. I'll not be seeding pumpkins, courgettes and squashes until later because they will go outside and I need to time it right re.frost.

H