@Fairygirl I agree with you about gardeners world. I think that’s why I find myself looking more and more to YouTube for this sort of thing but often even that assumes a decent bit of knowledge. When you want to understand about sowing seed everyone shows you the practical bit about getting the seeds into the soil, covering, watering etc but that’s the easy part. It may be no good me sowing seeds now if I don’t have the same conditions, greenhouse or polytunnel, in which to grow those plants on
Yes - it's why conditions matter so much @Latimer. I've often said how I couldn't understand why I had such difficulty when growing from seed back in the day, because it isn't clear on packets, and G'sWorld didn't take into consideration the differing conditions and climates around the UK either. Unfortunately, seed packets would need to be enormous if they were to have all the info on them! It's why the forum is so useful for new gardeners. It means that people can offer a word of warning about timings/conditions etc. I got a couple of bare root sibirica Irises the other day - a whole page of info on potting up/planting out/conditions etc. That's the difference when you buy a plant from an online nursery as opposed to a seed packet, but it all makes a difference to the success of the plant. Having said that - it doesn't mean I grow from seed successfully every time either
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl the problem for me is that you also feel that difference in your pocket 😂
Regarding instructions on packets, I think what they do tell you, and what I’m trying to understand, is when you need to go looking for more information. I think particularly when being told to sow indoors, what’s the reason for that and how might it affect the germination and onward growth of the plants
@Fairygirl the problem for me is that you also feel that difference in your pocket 😂
Indeed! But you're also paying for their knowledge and experience...
Latimer said : "Regarding instructions on packets, I think what they do tell you, and what I’m trying to understand, is when you need to go looking for more information. I think particularly when being told to sow indoors, what’s the reason for that and how might it affect the germination and onward growth of the plants"
The problem is that, as I said earlier, there are so many variables with timing /growing on, and there's not enough room on a small seed packet for all that info. I understand exactly how you feel though. We see countless threads on the forum at this time of year, or earlier, and it's because people have sown their seeds according to the packet info, but then they hit a problem, and it's often because they're sowing too soon for the conditions they have, and more importantly, the conditions they have for growing on. The good thing about the internet is that you can go onto a site that sells seed, and check out their growing info for the plant you want to grow. There are plenty of very reliable suppliers - Chilterns for example, who give good advice. One of the bad things about it is YouTube IMO. Anyone could post videos of anything - doesn't mean that they actually know what they're talking about.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
A good one I've seen here in France @Latimer is "sow under cover" on seed packet instructions, I know what they mean but would someone starting out understand?
@Desi_in_London - I think we posted at the same time or something, so I didn't see your post earlier. Definitely helps if you have heavy soil, to sow direct into large pots [ at a suitable time ] as you can control the medium more. Yes - conditions/temps vary and have a big impact, but absolutely it can be other problems too. For us, if it isn't pigeons eating the seed [ and for some it's mice ] - when the plants are growing, it's slugs. Never easy is it!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
A good one I've seen here in France @Latimer is "sow under cover" on seed packet instructions, I know what they mean but would someone starting out understand?
I agree - and under cover could mean a shed or garage rather than a cold frame, greenhouse or inside a house itself.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl I agree with you regarding seed packets and how much info they can give but even on the websites it seems to be a little vague.
Here is a screenshot from the Chiltern Seeds website for cornflowers and this has turned out to be a good example of what I find to be confusing.
This is a hardy annual, so grows and dies in one season, correct?
They instruct to sow indoors Aug-Oct, germinate, pot on then overwinter “under glass” which I assume to mean a greenhouse or cold frame outdoors rather than anywhere indoors. Then plant out in spring, Mar - May for summer flowers.
The other option is to sow direct where you want them to flower Mar-May. I assume as this is an annual you still get the flowers sometime between Jun and Aug.
Is the only reason to do the first way in order to get flowers in June rather than say August? What other advantage is there to overwintering them? If any? If I don’t have anywhere “under glass” does that mean I can’t do this method? I.e if I keep them indoors over winter would they fail to go dormant for the winter? And, does my spring weather conditions affect whether I should sow them in Aug or Oct?
Maybe this is just stuff I have to learn from experience and it’s too much for this much info to be given but I can’t seem to find this info anywhere.
Posts
It's why the forum is so useful for new gardeners. It means that people can offer a word of warning about timings/conditions etc.
I got a couple of bare root sibirica Irises the other day - a whole page of info on potting up/planting out/conditions etc. That's the difference when you buy a plant from an online nursery as opposed to a seed packet, but it all makes a difference to the success of the plant.
Having said that - it doesn't mean I grow from seed successfully every time either
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Regarding instructions on packets, I think what they do tell you, and what I’m trying to understand, is when you need to go looking for more information. I think particularly when being told to sow indoors, what’s the reason for that and how might it affect the germination and onward growth of the plants
Latimer said :
"Regarding instructions on packets, I think what they do tell you, and what I’m trying to understand, is when you need to go looking for more information. I think particularly when being told to sow indoors, what’s the reason for that and how might it affect the germination and onward growth of the plants"
The problem is that, as I said earlier, there are so many variables with timing /growing on, and there's not enough room on a small seed packet for all that info. I understand exactly how you feel though. We see countless threads on the forum at this time of year, or earlier, and it's because people have sown their seeds according to the packet info, but then they hit a problem, and it's often because they're sowing too soon for the conditions they have, and more importantly, the conditions they have for growing on.
The good thing about the internet is that you can go onto a site that sells seed, and check out their growing info for the plant you want to grow. There are plenty of very reliable suppliers - Chilterns for example, who give good advice.
One of the bad things about it is YouTube IMO. Anyone could post videos of anything - doesn't mean that they actually know what they're talking about.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes - conditions/temps vary and have a big impact, but absolutely it can be other problems too. For us, if it isn't pigeons eating the seed [ and for some it's mice ] - when the plants are growing, it's slugs.
Never easy is it!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Charles Dickens: “I would have written a shorter letter but I didn’t have the time”
A bit more time on the posters' part would save all those hours spread amongst the many readers.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
An exhortation I like is "keep out of the way of children" on domestic chemicals. I tend to agree.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They instruct to sow indoors Aug-Oct, germinate, pot on then overwinter “under glass” which I assume to mean a greenhouse or cold frame outdoors rather than anywhere indoors. Then plant out in spring, Mar - May for summer flowers.
Maybe this is just stuff I have to learn from experience and it’s too much for this much info to be given but I can’t seem to find this info anywhere.