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Seeds not germinating

GunStreetGirlGunStreetGirl Posts: 62
in The potting shed
I grow cosmos every year, and I always sow some shop bought seeds and some I collected from last years plants. 
My home harvested seeds have a very low success rate though, with only a very small amount even germinating.
What am I doing wrong? I collect when flowerheads are very dry and brown. Any advice for this years harvest? Thanks.

Posts

  • Nel_StaffsNel_Staffs Posts: 93
    edited April 2023
    This has happened to me too. @GunStreetGirl .  2 seeds trays sown indoors and 3 seeds have germinated.  Last year, all germinated. It's a mystery and very disappointing 🙁
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    It may not apply to your seeds. but I felt that last year, after the drought and 40C, some of my seed heads had been 'fried' rather than ripened


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I have a tray of psyche white, all germinated in 3 days.  Seashell mixed, 3 germinated after 10 days.
  • Nel_StaffsNel_Staffs Posts: 93
    Ah, good point @nutcutlet.  
  • GunStreetGirlGunStreetGirl Posts: 62
    @nutcutlet very possible, I suppose. But it was similar last year...shop bought do well, but mine didn't.  The seeds look perfectly fine. Suppose I'll just stick to shop bought, but I like the idea of just sustaining myself.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    @GunStreetGirl we are like you and want to use what we have from our own garden so we collect seed from many plants and resow. We do have some that give us poor returns but this doesn't happen often. Don't sure if this is down to when we collect the seeds and/or how we keep them for the next sowing.
  • GunStreetGirlGunStreetGirl Posts: 62
    @bertrand-mabel it's frustrating as I find it so satisfying to sow the ones I've saved. My nasturtium do wonderfully, and marigolds quite well. I've tries cornflower for the first time this year. But cosmos are my favourite annual in the garden and the failure rate is disappointing.
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    I am also still waiting for the 2 varieties to germinate  :(
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I find that my cosmos happily self-sow … they’re a bit later to flower than ones I’ve started indoors, but they do flower 🌸 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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