Dates for sowing on seed packets are deceptive-some are distributed all over Europe-so what might work in Southern Spain might not work in the North of Scotland
You have to provide the right conditions for growing plants on-germinating the seed is the relatively easy part.
Use your propagator to start off stem cuttings from house plants abot 4" long cut just below a node ( see this weeks gardening tips) You can put the cutting in a glass of water and keep in the propagator at low temperature in a light place. By the time you can start planting seeds (mid March earliest) you should have rooted cuttings. Try anything - at worst it can only fail.
For anything germinated in the cold growing on won't be a problem. It's only germinating with heat that leaves you with a crisis of space and heating. I do have a heated propagator but I use it later on, take things in and out, try to stimulate a bit of action. The warm days cooler nights of an unheated greenhouse is very good for promoting germination with some seeds. A lot depends on what you're growing. Most of my experience is with hardy perennials, shrubs and trees. No heat required. If they don't get it naturally they don't need it from me.
Thanks everyone for your advice,you never cease to amaze me. I will try some pansies and snap dragons to start.I have a greenhouse to grow them on , so hopefully will be ok.
Something like this -there are lots available--gives bottom heat to aid germination rooting etc-this one is electric-there are simpler ones which are just a seed tray with a perspex lid-
In these cold areas we have plastic boxes with electric heating cables in the base to assist germination. Some seeds need more heat than we're likely to get naturally
...okay, now I understand. Many people talk about this, I understand the functioning, but never I heard this word, thanks. I think, it's a clever invention. Greetings, ThaiGer
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Dates for sowing on seed packets are deceptive-some are distributed all over Europe-so what might work in Southern Spain might not work in the North of Scotland
You have to provide the right conditions for growing plants on-germinating the seed is the relatively easy part.
Use your propagator to start off stem cuttings from house plants abot 4" long cut just below a node ( see this weeks gardening tips) You can put the cutting in a glass of water and keep in the propagator at low temperature in a light place. By the time you can start planting seeds (mid March earliest) you should have rooted cuttings. Try anything - at worst it can only fail.
For anything germinated in the cold growing on won't be a problem. It's only germinating with heat that leaves you with a crisis of space and heating. I do have a heated propagator but I use it later on, take things in and out, try to stimulate a bit of action. The warm days cooler nights of an unheated greenhouse is very good for promoting germination with some seeds. A lot depends on what you're growing. Most of my experience is with hardy perennials, shrubs and trees. No heat required. If they don't get it naturally they don't need it from me.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks everyone for your advice,you never cease to amaze me. I will try some pansies and snap dragons to start.I have a greenhouse to grow them on , so hopefully will be ok.
...sorry, but what is a "propagator"?,ThaiGer...
Something like this -there are lots available--gives bottom heat to aid germination rooting etc-this one is electric-there are simpler ones which are just a seed tray with a perspex lid-
Hi ThaiGer
In these cold areas we have plastic boxes with electric heating cables in the base to assist germination. Some seeds need more heat than we're likely to get naturally
In the sticks near Peterborough
...okay, now I understand. Many people talk about this, I understand the functioning, but never I heard this word, thanks. I think, it's a clever invention. Greetings, ThaiGer