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Very slow start or is it just me

pclark42pclark42 Posts: 186
in Fruit & veg
Only these last few days have I noticed an improvement in seedlings popping up, I always start some things off indoors then move to my polytunnel, but even then cucumbers went brown and died, luckily I always sow more in case, Aubergines, Courgettes all very much the same, and as for tomatoes, I have been and purchased plants from the garden centre due to not having any faith in my little blighters, I only wanted one Ailsa Craig, one Moneymaker and one Suncherry crush, I multi sowed 6 of each and I ended up with one of each, and they are tiny. I am afraid to do a thing with them, I try to sit them on the indoor window ledge to get the sun, but they are stunted, I must be a bad person or something ah ah ah

Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Where are you, how big were the plants before you put them in the polytunnel
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think Frolesworth is in Leicestershire, but l'm wondering if it's more to do with the compost that you're using ? Is it fresh compost this year ?
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We haven't been able to sow outdoors for the whole of April and early May.
    Too many frosts and the soil is too cold.
    We have sown indoors (not in our polytunnel still too cold) and then tried planting out the seedlings now the weather is slightly warmer.
    Even planted out tomato seedlings into the polytunnel...they died one by one as it was still too cold.
    The veg seedlings have still suffered outdoors and we are in rural Somerset.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Yes, it has been a very slow start to the growing season.
  • pclark42pclark42 Posts: 186
    My cucumbers were a decent size about 3 inches across and one inch tall, I have tried a variety of composts all brand new, I find some are too woody so I put it through a riddle, I think it's the cold weather.. I have some good ones on the go now but it's middle of May.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I had to smile last night at Monty saying it was time to plant out annuals etc. including Cosmos. 
    My cosmos are still in the greenhouse and have just about got their first true leaves.
    Sounds like the compost you're using is fine, l was just wondering about reports of some being contaminated with weedkiller, but it sounds like it's down to the cold weather. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    All as per usual here. Our season is much later than the south. 
    Night time temps are still low for getting things like toms into the greenhouse, but only by about a week or so. 
    If you have toms that are very small @pclark42 you'll need to keep them inside for a while. They'll probably need potting on if you've only just got them and they're very small. They'll soon catch up, but they need warmth and light.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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