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Sowing seed

Sascole77Sascole77 Posts: 8
in Fruit & veg
hi I’m new to gardening so would be grateful for experienced veg growers advice! I bought a few veg multi packs of veg and salad seeds from B&Q last year and have planted them (sowed...I think is the correct term) in John innes sowing compost in cardboard egg cartons ......(saved lots over the past 12 m to use for seeds) ....I’ve sown ....tomatoes,cucumbers, onions, purple broccoli, rocket, parsnip,carrots, peppers, peas and beans. ....it’s been five days and only the rocket has tiny shoots.....could it be a problem with the seed? The packets were left at the bottom of the mini greenhouse 🤦🏻‍♀️....could the seed all be dried out or be damaged?? Hints tips and advice please....

Posts

  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    I've stored seed for years in plastic sweet box's in my cold carport and on the whole they have germinated the next year. Sown seeds need to be kept moist though, do cardboard egg box's dry out? The peppers and tomatoes need some bottom heat and a plastic bag to keep the air humid may help to get them to germinate, remove the bag after they are up, onions and carrots are quite slow to germinate, parsnips seed may not be viable as fresh seed is recommended for parsnips, peas and beans are quite slow too and although they need to be moist if they're too wet they may rot. I'd keep them moist and give them a bit longer. I hope that this helps.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    edited April 2019
    Hello - and welcome to the forum. Feel free to pop in and ask as many questions as you need to - there's usually someone around to help.

    I think many of your seeds will take more than 5 days to show signs of germination so no worries just yet.

    However, some of the plants mentioned are usually sown indoors or in a heated greenhouse or in a heated propagator - thinking particularly of the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

    If your mini greenhouse is outside, night time (and even day time) temperatures are still too low in most of the UK for those particular seeds to germinate. If, however, the mini greenhouse is inside (some people keep them in a garden room or conservatory for a few weeks in spring) you'll probably be ok.

    General seed sowing tips are to keep the compost moist (but not really wet which can rot the seeds). It definitely shouldn't be allowed to dry out.

    I always have problems getting peas to germinate (they can take about 2 weeks so don't give up on yours for a while) so I spread some on wet kitchen paper on a plate and leave them on the kitchen windowsill. They usually start to sprout within a few days and I then put the sprouted seeds in compost in large seed modules to develop into proper seedlings. It just gives them a head start.

    Egg cartons are a good idea for many small seeds but you should really be sowing peas and beans into something a bit deeper - once they get going they develop quite big root systems quite quickly. May also be a bit early for sowing beans - depends what they are.

    You should also be standing your egg cartons in something rigid. The cardboard cartons will go very soggy and soft very quickly and will probably just disintegrate when you try to lift them in a few weeks time - and that will damage your seedlings. A rigid tray underneath will allow you to move them around without handling the cartons.

    Good luck with your venture. This first season will be all about making mistakes and learning how to do things - but hopefully you'll get some sort of harvest. We've all had a first season so we understand how it is!

    PS - If your seeds don't all germinate this year - be kind to yourself. There is no shame at all in buying a couple of tomato, pepper and cucumber plants from the market or garden centre to get you going. The other seeds you mention can be sown again in a few weeks time to give you a succession of crops and the germination rate will be faster with the warmer temps.

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Sascole77Sascole77 Posts: 8
    barry island said:
    I've stored seed for years in plastic sweet box's in my cold carport and on the whole they have germinated the next year. Sown seeds need to be kept moist though, do cardboard egg box's dry out? The peppers and tomatoes need some bottom heat and a plastic bag to keep the air humid may help to get them to germinate, remove the bag after they are up, onions and carrots are quite slow to germinate, parsnips seed may not be viable as fresh seed is recommended for parsnips, peas and beans are quite slow too and although they need to be moist if they're too wet they may rot. I'd keep them moist and give them a bit longer. I hope that this helps.
    Thanks for the advice . I’ll keep watering the egg boxes with a spray and try to do the bag thing with the toms and peppers. I’ll let you know if anything sprouts!! I’m hopeful , thank you so much 
  • Sascole77Sascole77 Posts: 8
    Topbird said:
    Hello - and welcome to the forum. Feel free to pop in and ask as many questions as you need to - there's usually someone around to help.

    I think many of your seeds will take more than 5 days to show signs of germination so no worries just yet.

    However, some of the plants mentioned are usually sown indoors or in a heated greenhouse or in a heated propagator - thinking particularly of the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

    If your mini greenhouse is outside, night time (and even day time) temperatures are still too low in most of the UK for those particular seeds to germinate. If, however, the mini greenhouse is inside (some people keep them in a garden room or conservatory for a few weeks in spring) you'll probably be ok.

    General seed sowing tips are to keep the compost moist (but not really wet which can rot the seeds). It definitely shouldn't be allowed to dry out.

    I always have problems getting peas to germinate (they can take about 2 weeks so don't give up on yours for a while) so I spread some on wet kitchen paper on a plate and leave them on the kitchen windowsill. They usually start to sprout within a few days and I then put the sprouted seeds in compost in large seed modules to develop into proper seedlings. It just gives them a head start.

    Egg cartons are a good idea for many small seeds but you should really be sowing peas and beans into something a bit deeper - once they get going they develop quite big root systems quite quickly. May also be a bit early for sowing beans - depends what they are.

    You should also be standing your egg cartons in something rigid. The cardboard cartons will go very soggy and soft very quickly and will probably just disintegrate when you try to lift them in a few weeks time - and that will damage your seedlings. A rigid tray underneath will allow you to move them around without handling the cartons.

    Good luck with your venture. This first season will be all about making mistakes and learning how to do things - but hopefully you'll get some sort of harvest. We've all had a first season so we understand how it is!

    PS - If your seeds don't all germinate this year - be kind to yourself. There is no shame at all in buying a couple of tomato, pepper and cucumber plants from the market or garden centre to get you going. The other seeds you mention can be sown again in a few weeks time to give you a succession of crops and the germination rate will be faster with the warmer temps.

    Thank you very!!much so much info I keep reading and going back to what you’ve written. I’m really grateful,will keep you posted thanks so much !
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    Good luck Sascole. I'm sure with a bit of time they'll get going for you.

    I sowed all mine 10 days ago. Tomatoes, cucumber, beans, peas, courgette, squash, pumpkin, chillis and aubergine. Everything has germinated now except the aubergine and courgette.

    I don't have a green house and have struggled with keeping seedlings warm but still getting them enough light. This is my 5th year growing and have had mixed success with growing from seed and have had to buy quite a few plants from the garden centre most years. I'm learning as I go and hoping this will be my first year with everything grown from seed.

    I can't add much to the excellent advice above. I'm using some fleece tunnels this year so the plants will get a bit of warmth and shelter once they go in the ground. Fingers crossed for some sunny days soon.
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    Can I hijack this thread to ask a quick question?
    I’ve sown my seeds indoors. We have a garden room that gets good evening sun and stays around 18°. The seedlings are all looking a bit leggy so I’m trying to get them outside to get some sun then back indoors overnight. 
    We’re still getting some cool day time temps, around 9 or 10 today. 
    If it’s that cool do you think my seedlings will be ok outdoors? Or should I keep them in on cooler days?
    Hopefully they’ll be ready to prick out in a week or two.
    Thanks
  • Sascole77Sascole77 Posts: 8
    Womble54 said:
    Good luck Sascole. I'm sure with a bit of time they'll get going for you.

    I sowed all mine 10 days ago. Tomatoes, cucumber, beans, peas, courgette, squash, pumpkin, chillis and aubergine. Everything has germinated now except the aubergine and courgette.

    I don't have a green house and have struggled with keeping seedlings warm but still getting them enough light. This is my 5th year growing and have had mixed success with growing from seed and have had to buy quite a few plants from the garden centre most years. I'm learning as I go and hoping this will be my first year with everything grown from seed.

    I can't add much to the excellent advice above. I'm using some fleece tunnels this year so the plants will get a bit of warmth and shelter once they go in the ground. Fingers crossed for some sunny days soon.
    Thanks, the fleece tunnel sounds a good idea. I’m in Manchester so temperatures can fluctuate. Today is looking promising with a bit of sun 
  • Sascole77Sascole77 Posts: 8
    Hi all I’ve kept watering so that the soil stays moist ....there’s a fine line between the egg pots drying out and the seeds being over watered. I’ve got everything crossed. It’s been 7 days and it’s lovely and warm and humid in the mini green house..about 19/20C in the sunshine so I’m hoping it’s not too cold overnight for the seeds . My windowsills were at risk from my threenager. So moved them ,they’re on baking trays with cork mats underneath for insulation.. I found some germination trays an lids (no drainage holes) so I’m using them for humidity for the toms, peppers and cucumbers to aid germination. I’ve also sown more fresh courgette and cottage flower seeds....the little green house is chock a block! I’m hoping something will come up , my little ones are so eager to see growth! I think growing things is such an education! 

    Happy gardening everyone! 
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