Low germination rates

FlowersFlowersEverywhere · March 2023

Is anyone else also having low germination rate? I blaming the appalling lack of sunshine we’ve had in the South this March. From whole trays I’ve only had one or two seeds germinate - across a variety of flowers and vegetables, and even for types I’ve had great success with before. And, they are all in a greenhouse!

Feeling disheartened… and laying in bed listening to the rain and wind absolutely lash out once again…

tui34 · March 2023

Hello @FlowersFlowersEverywhere

I am having difficulty with germination of my tomato and pepper plants this year. I live in a warm clime and my seeds are in a conservatory (non-heated) but on sunny days, perfect for seed germination. It's the first year that this has happened.

Fairygirl · March 2023

I've only just started sowing toms etc -pretty standard for here though. I never sow anything before around mid March. Nothing else half hardy sown yet - too early.
I did some basil and lettuce recently as an experiment, in the kitchen as normal, but although they've germinated, it isn't warm enough in the house for them to grow much, especially as the heating isn't on as often.
The growhouse is only suitable at this time of year for things like sweet peas, or overwintering small plants.

Busy-Lizzie · March 2023

@FlowersFlowersEverywhere is your greenhouse heated? If not it will still be too cold in there. Better to germinate your seeds on a warm window sill.

JennyJ · March 2023

For germination the soil/compost temperature is more important than sunlight or air temperature. It's after germination that you need the light to stop them growing leggy. Maybe try a heated propagator or mat if you don't want your seed trays in the house.

Obelixx · March 2023

Last year I was late to sow tometoes and chillies and assumed ambient temperatures would be fine. Not a success.

This year I've sown them a little earlier and with heat mats and germination rates are much better - same seeds too, not new ones. They have now been moved to grow on in covered shelving in the polytunnel.

I sowed onions and spring onions around the same time, without heat, and got two seedlings so I've re-sown on the vacated heat mats using the same packets of seeds and just a few days later I have lots of babies.

mac12 · March 2023

I sowed red, yellow and orange French marigolds on the same day same compost yellow all germinated red about 40% and orange nothing

CrankyYankee · March 2023

I sowed seeds last year indoors using just grow lights and had great germination rates, albeit they took a while. This year I'm using the same setup but added heat mats to the process, and I'm finding that the seeds on the outer edges of the tray are germinating within days, but the ones in the center of the tray are much slower to germinate if they do at all. The grow lights are suspended at the outer edges of my shelving, so it appears the light with the heat definitely speeds things up. I think if I were to suspend one in the middle of the shelf as well, germination would be more uniform.

philippasmith2 · March 2023

Given the shape of many trays, filling with compost for seed sowing can be difficult to completely level over the whole surface. The outer edges tend to shrink a little whilst the centre of the tray remains the same depth. The seeds around the edges have less compost to get thru so often pop up first. Not terribly technical but something I've noticed on more than one occasion.

Simone_in_Wiltshire · March 2023

mac12 said:

I sowed red, yellow and orange French marigolds on the same day same compost yellow all germinated red about 40% and orange nothing

The same here. Maybe Marigolds want to tell us that the summer is not worth it. </joke>

M33R4 · March 2023

FlowersFlowersEverywhere said:

Is anyone else also having low germination rate?....

Glad you posted as I thought it was my compost.

Night stock just peeking through now after ages
Lavatera nothing yet
Sweet pea nothing yet

Low germination rates

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