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How long to give seeds to germinate?

omghiomg_123omghiomg_123 Posts: 96
in Problem solving
I showed some lupin, cosmos, and osteospermum seeds on the 23/04 and I’m yet to see any signs of life in them. The cosmos and osteospermum have even been on a heated mat during the day. I’ve sowed over seeds since that have already germinated, and none of the others I sowed before took this long.

how long would you give the seeds before you gave up on them? Should I just accept they’re probably not going to germinate for some reason?
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Posts

  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    Two weeks is not very long, so they might still germinate if you have followed the instructions on the packet. Lupins have a hard coat which can delay germination. 
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    I was thinking same looking at my cosmos trays this morning 😒
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • omghiomg_123omghiomg_123 Posts: 96
    @Alan Clark2 in Liverpool Ok I’ll try and be a bit more patient 😁 
  • omghiomg_123omghiomg_123 Posts: 96
    @M33R4 😢 Fingers crossed for us both. How long ago did you sow yours? 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Cosmos are usually quick to germinate, 3-5 days, Lupins can take several weeks.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Patience is a virtue.  Especiall for gardeners.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Winston_The_Gravity_ManWinston_The_Gravity_Man Posts: 263
    I sowed some lupins in mid-March and, in a cold conservatory, some started coming up after a couple of weeks but the rest took about three weeks before showing themselves.

    This will be the first year I've grown lupins.  Surprising because I really like the look of them.  Before sowing I watched some YouTube videos about propogating them and my resulting, almost 100% successful, method was to lightly abrade the seeds between two pieces of fine-grit sandpaper, soak 'em in tepid water for 24-hours, then I sowed them in ericaceous compost because I read they prefer slightly acidic soil.  Worked for me :)

    When there's always biscuits in the tin, where's the fun in biscuits ?
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Winston_The_Gravity_Man said:
    I sowed some lupins in mid-March and, in a cold conservatory, some started coming up after a couple of weeks but the rest took about three weeks before showing themselves.

    This will be the first year I've grown lupins.  Surprising because I really like the look of them.  Before sowing I watched some YouTube videos about propogating them and my resulting, almost 100% successful, method was to lightly abrade the seeds between two pieces of fine-grit sandpaper, soak 'em in tepid water for 24-hours, then I sowed them in ericaceous compost because I read they prefer slightly acidic soil.  Worked for me :)

    Not lupins but I have also used the sandpaper method successfully with large seeds such as beans and it did help with easier germination - that was years ago but looking at some of my beans, I wish I'd reverted to that method !
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Depends on the seed! I sowed a large number of pignut seeds in a garden bed last year, nothing happened, but right now about 11 months later the bed is full of tiny one leafed seedlings. I Guessed these were the pignuts as I've never seen a single seed leaf before on anything, gentle extraction of one found a tiny little "nut" on the root so I'm pretty convinced.
    My lupins took about 3 weeks to appear, some were only just germinating when I planted the rest out from the tray.
  • Winston_The_Gravity_ManWinston_The_Gravity_Man Posts: 263
    I have to admit to have being been on the sceptical side, @philippasmith2 , having never chitted  seeds with knife, sandpaper, nor even front incisors, and I have no idea if it really made any difference at all.  Problem is that, as with so many things, unless there’s a simultaneous control trial undertaken one can never really be certain.  However, since it worked this time I’ll definitely use the same method in future, with lupins at least 😊
    When there's always biscuits in the tin, where's the fun in biscuits ?
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