Compost mixtures are like reading cookery books. Latest info I found was as follows: Add the following to a large container 70% Mult Purpose Compost 10% Vermiculite 10% Perilite 10% Manure Stir well and add to your pots etc.
If I don't have new compost of any type, I use spent compost from the year before's annuals, or something similar, for seed sowing. Most plants need very little medium to germinate. That's especially useful if sowing in autumn, as you don't want a nutritious mix at that time of year. Different in late winter/ early spring when you're actively looking for them to grow on. There's clearly something not quite right about the seeds if one variety is fine and the other isn't. That's far more likely to be the problem rather than the compost being used. I've grown Rudbeckias from seed [Autumn Forest last year] but most have been sown with either bog standard MPC - of any type, or the old compost I described. I've not had any problems with germination or growing on - the opposite usually. They're pretty straightforward if they're sown at a suitable time of year and with enough warmth and light. They do need good drainage, so if the compost is heavy, it's always worth adding a good amount of grit or Perlite to avoid rotting
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It must be the variety overall. I have noticed the germination rate of the various Rudbeckia’s are variable. Always new seed each year Rudbeckia ‘India Summer’ 70% emerge, ‘Prairie Sun’ 81%, ‘Cherokee Sunset’ 23%. These figures are consistent for the last couple of years, and the type of seed compost doesn't seem to affect the germination rate. It’s once transplanted that further differences emerge. The India Summer seedlings are strong growing and do well and all thrive; conversely the Prairie Sun & Cherokee Sunset seedlings have much slower growth and quite a lot fail.
Years ago a work colleague was having problems and did a germination experiment with just damp blotting paper (kitchen paper). ,He got very variable results. He sent the results to the seed company. They sent new packets of seed, he repeated the experiment and got almost 100% germination. Maybe try a different supplier.
Perhaps - but it’s pretty consistent over the past 3 years - with a variety of different suppliers. I can understand the different germination rates - it’s more that the seedlings do so differently once transplanted that interests/annoys me.
Sorry but it does irritate me when people say the solution is easy, just create your own mix. Many (most?) people don't have the knowledge to create their own mixes, or the space to have multiple bags of different compost and manure to mix it.
I never had a problem before the move to peat free, and it should be the job of the producers to create consistent and effective mixes. It's years since I have even had consistent mix in bags purchased at the same time!
Nobody said it's easy, but most of us have a shed we can keep three small bags of compost... @KT53 if people are prepared to pay for Melcourt they will have a better product, if we use something cheaper then be prepared to improve it.
I agree, @KT53. Most gardeners just want to be able to buy something off the shelf which fits their needs, and until a few years ago this was easy. I have ben increasing my usage of peat free over the last few years, and hope I am getting the hang of it. It is different from peat containing, but probably not worse. The majority of nurseries have gone over to peat free, so I reckon I should be able to manage.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Posts
If you still have some seed you could sow a few of 1 variety and a few of the other variety on different sides of a small pot and see what comes up.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Add the following to a large container
70% Mult Purpose Compost
10% Vermiculite
10% Perilite
10% Manure
Stir well and add to your pots etc.
Isn't it just one persons recipe.....and recipe for what: sowing seeds, potting on, permanent planting?
For seed sowing I am just using peat free MPC + a sprinkle of perlite.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
There's clearly something not quite right about the seeds if one variety is fine and the other isn't. That's far more likely to be the problem rather than the compost being used. I've grown Rudbeckias from seed [Autumn Forest last year] but most have been sown with either bog standard MPC - of any type, or the old compost I described. I've not had any problems with germination or growing on - the opposite usually.
They're pretty straightforward if they're sown at a suitable time of year and with enough warmth and light. They do need good drainage, so if the compost is heavy, it's always worth adding a good amount of grit or Perlite to avoid rotting
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have noticed the germination rate of the various Rudbeckia’s are variable.
Always new seed each year
Rudbeckia ‘India Summer’ 70% emerge, ‘Prairie Sun’ 81%, ‘Cherokee Sunset’ 23%. These figures are consistent for the last couple of years, and the type of seed compost doesn't seem to affect the germination rate.
It’s once transplanted that further differences emerge.
The India Summer seedlings are strong growing and do well and all thrive; conversely the Prairie Sun & Cherokee Sunset seedlings have much slower growth and quite a lot fail.
Maybe try a different supplier.
I can understand the different germination rates - it’s more that the seedlings do so differently once transplanted that interests/annoys me.
I have ben increasing my usage of peat free over the last few years, and hope I am getting the hang of it. It is different from peat containing, but probably not worse. The majority of nurseries have gone over to peat free, so I reckon I should be able to manage.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border