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fast germination of seeds in propagator

Victoria Smith3Victoria Smith3 Posts: 11
in Talkback

I purchased a propagator which has no adjustment for temperature but works on adjusting to 15 to 20 degrees celcius based on the temperature in the room. It had condensation so I opened the vents which didn't seem to have any impact, so decided to just wipe the inside of the lid dry. Now I have repositioned the lid so it is sitting across the other way and no condensation now! I have various seeds all planted on Saturday, so less than one week. My 'ten week stocks' seeds are showing already! Is this too soon, in which case will they die off, or are my conditions just perfect for them?? I didnt expect to see anything for two weeks at least! I have read about and experienced 'damping off' previously so hopefull I'm on the right track! Anyone else got experience of extra fast germination or know what is considered too much condensation for perfect seedlings?

Posts

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Hi Victoria image



    Its the heat thats brought them on quickly, you need to gently slow the growth down or you will have weak plants as you will need to keep them indoors for too long. Damping off can be due to lots of things, wet, humid conditions dont help im afraid.

    Pop the pot onto a windowsill, not too close to the glass as the temp will go up and down too much, this should slow the growth a little and cut back on humidity, water from underneath and you should be in with a chance image

    Do sow some more though, they are lovely plants and you will want to have a succession of them image

    A little grit ontop of the compost to cover the seeds instead of a sprinkling of compost can help avoid damping off too image
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    Its ok if you have space indoors to prick them out and keep them warm.You will have several little pots to keep warm. You cant harden off till beginning of May, they will have to be potted on a few times by then. It will be too cold to put them in an unheated greenhouse yet.

    I wont be sowing seeds untill mid March at the earliest.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    I sow later too now Lyn, but only after loosing lots and lots of seeds because o was desperate to get going....like we all do at first. Wish i had this forum all those years ago! image

    I try to bring things on hard now, even the squash last year, i find it makes the hardening off process much easier...although i still have my failures! image
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    There is no point in rushing, seeds sown in Feb wont be any bigger or better than those sown in March or April, in fact they will be worse, leggy and week. 

    I am sure we all have failures Bekkie, I always sow more than I need in case of failure, its a bonus then when you get extras. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Victoria Smith3Victoria Smith3 Posts: 11

    Thanks for your views both! I have a conservatory which isnt heated so should be fine in terms of space and hardening off. I did think it was early but wanted to get started. Have got some grit so maybe the next batch of seeds I'll try it out. Likely too late now, or maybe I could add to the other seeds sown on Saturday, also in the propogator... antirrhinums, aquilegia and chocolate orange rudbekia. image

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    I wouldnt mess around with the ones youve already done image, have a look for some of Carol Kliens videos on youtube, shes a bit of a propogation guruimage



    I promise you, each and every one of us has done the same thing as you, its good to be excited and raring to go image



    You can take the aquiligia out of the propogator too, they usually germinate outside, so wont need a propogator image



    Thanks for the kind words Lyn, but i thinl i took things too hard by trying to germinate cues outdoors!image
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    I always start my seeds off in mid Feb - it works well for me.  They are then normally ready to prick out into trays and go into my unheated GH the weekend the clocks change ....which then means it is light enough for me to visit them morning and evening before and after work.  

    If i leave it til later i find that I don't get flowers til mid August - and I like to have them a bit earlier than that.

    so horses for courses - you have to find what works for you - and you can only do that by trying different things each year.  

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    re the aquilegias, you may find they won't germinate in a propagator.

    Some seeds need to be germinated cold, it's what happens naturally.

    Propagators are for seeds that come from a warmer climate and naturally need more warmth than the garden provides.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    I only tend to use the propagator for HHAs / HHPs. For perennials and HAs I sow either in Autumn or in Spring in cold greenhouse.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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