This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Seed disc for hanging baskets
Jo Paterson
Posts: 2
in Plants
Hi
This morning I bought some seed discs. There was two discs in the packet - perfect, as I have two empty hanging baskets. I really thought I would be able to cover the discs with compost, water and hang up straight away. However, the instructions state that I have to cover the baskets with a plastic bag and wait till shoots appear before hanging the baskets outside.
As its how mid (ish) April, I'd really like to think that we won't have any more frosts. Do you think I could hang the baskets now, or should I leave the baskets in their bags?
Any help would be appreciated
Cheers a lot x
0
Posts
Depends where you are ,we had a very keen frost last week.
I think they want the plastic bags over there for moisture retention in order to germinate the seeds. Think of the plastic hood on a windowsill propagator.
Take the bag off once the seedlings emerge.
It's a bit early to be putting hanging baskets out. Don't they usually go out around mid-end May same as bedding plants.
It was down to 0.4C in my unheated potting shed a couple of nights ago. I might risk putting mature geraniums out at the beginning of May (they don't mind the odd coldish night) but I wouldn't risk tender seedlings for at least another month.
As Blue Onion says you also need to ensure the discs are kept damp (not wet) for the seeds to germinate.
Lovely stuff - thanks chums
I've used them - they do need to be kept moist and I kept mine inside until I saw strong seedlings, plastic bag is just for germination, as soon as you have that remove the bag, keep them under cover if you can for a while until you have strong seedlings and then TLC
I thinned mine out from the discs last year as there were far too many plants for one hanging basket. I filled 2 borders (1m x 3m) with huge petunias with the extra seedlings.
I planted mine two weeks ago and kept them in an un heated Woden greenhouse. Kept them moist and I can already see seedlings.
Didnt use any plastic bags.