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greenhouse temps + will these seeds germinate

UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
in Problem solving
bit of a tricky question for those experienced with Greenhouses.  

i'm in my first spring with a greenhouse.  4mm toughened glass. 8x12 or 8x10...something like that.

so i've set a few seeds in unheated trays+propagator lid and concerned they might not be getting the temps they need....might they rot?    and i was hoping the temps in the greenhouse would improve by this week.   these seeds, generally were saying they need between 12 and 20 Celsius area. 

astrantia(18),
aqualiegia(15-20)
melianthus major(13-18)
crocosmia (13-16)
bunny tails (lagurus ovatus) (cool) 

my min/max thermometer has been showing between 0 and 17 degrees in recent week or so, but it's been a few hard frosts....i just don't know how quickly the temps ramp up in the day and how long it stays above say 13 or so, where gemination might have a chance.

so my question experienced greenhouse keepers, do you think it's holding temps enough during the day to germinate?  i'm thinking about bringing them into an unheated room, that might be better?

i realise i might be over thinking this.   

Thanks!


Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    astrantia and aquilegia need cool not heat


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    nutcutlet said:
    astrantia and aquilegia need cool not heat
    Thanks.  yes, don't know where i get 18 from.  i know the astrantita may also need cold-stratification.  i'm more accustomed to doing seeds that need 20 (in the house) or seeds that need 25 (on a heated propagator).  what i need is to learn how to use the greenhouse best, without perhaps resorting to some sort of temperature data logger ( about £40) or finding time to get in there every hour and manually record one days data which won't be very representative!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Use the heated propagator for seeds you know need heat.

    Use the greenhouse for seeds which don't need special heat and, once the worst weather is over, for growing on earlier, heat sown chilies and tomatoes that need a long season to grow and mature and produce fruits.   

    Seeds that need stratification can benefit from being sown and left outside in a sheltered spot to protect from heavy rains and wind but get the cold they need to trigger germination when they warm up. 

    This info should help with veggie seed temperatures
    https://harvesttotable.com/vegetable-seed-germination-temperatures/ 

    Can't find one for ornamentals but there should be info on the seed packet.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • granmagranma Posts: 1,933
    I realise this post is a few months old  but it may be useful another year!
    I've never been lucky germinating astrantia in the green house and much later I was given this advice by an experienced gardener from the national trust. ; don't bother with seed trays  but sprinkle under the cover of other plants in a border etc cover lightly with alpine or similar small grit.. Seedlings will grow but it's slow.so leave until they are bigger and strong enough  to transplant before moving on .move on with a generous helping of surrounding compost etc.

    I've yet to try this but it sounds promising.
  • arneilarneil Posts: 313
    I pout my packet of Aquilegia seeds in the freezer , forgot them ! Found them , put them in the fridge for a few days , two weeks ago I showed them in the cold ( plastic ) greenhouse and they are all growing ! Don’t know what I am going to do with them , I need to prick them out soon 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've grown astrantia Shaggy from seed.
    I collected the seed from a mature plant, filled a couple of pots with compost sprinkled the seed on top covered with a 1/2" layer of grit, watered them and left them in the shade behind my greenhouse and I got about 10 plants. I can't remember how long it took them to germinate as it was a few years ago.
    Fair to say though that plenty of seedlings have popped up around the original plant too.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Aquilegia seedlings need potting on to 3 inch or 7cm pots of compost with a little grit or garden soil mixed in with Multipurpose compost. Do this as soon as they show the first true leaf. Hold the seedling by the leaf not the stem.  They can then stand outside in a semi shaded position to grow on until autumn. Then you can either keep in a cold frame for the winter, or plant in their final positions.
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