Morning Forkers, hope you are all well. I have been so busy with all sorts of other things that I haven't had a chance to pop in here for ages
I received my first email about the GW Seed Club earlier this week but haven't had time to look at it properly yet but at a first glance it looks good. I must say I like the idea of being told what to do and when and how to do it - being an amateur I need a leading hand until I hopefully get the hang of things.!
Geoff, any news on the house sale front? Hope so for your sake.
Sasha-you have gone to the wrong house-you need to be over here
Hello all - I hope you found the seed swap thread OK. I love seed swaps and try to do one or two each year - online, and also via Seedy Sunday events (see if there's one in your area here http://www.seedysunday.org/)
But this is all about growing the same seeds together so we can compare notes and share results. Totally agree Gardengirl - the flower selection is mouthwatering. I'm hoping to dust down my heated propagator this week and start on the half-hardy annuals!
Re viability - you can pre-germinate seeds to see if they're viable or not. Get a piece of kitchen towel, damp it down and lay some of the seeds on top. I put my kitchen towel in one of those plastic seed trays but a plate is fine. Then pop into the airing cupboard (or anywhere warm & dark) and check every day. After a week or two (depending on variety) you'll start seeing roots & shoots emerging - that's when to pot them up (very carefully) into potting compost. I do my parsnip seeds like this every year but it works for pretty much anything really.
There is a small but informative article in this month's GW about testing viability, much the same as Sally Nex is suggesting, growing a small sample of each on tissue and ascertaining how many germinate. I think I will be doing the same as I have a glut of older seeds in storage this year!
Posts
Sasha-you have gone to the wrong house-you need to be over here
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/fork-handles/3533-991.html
Hello all - I hope you found the seed swap thread OK. I love seed swaps and try to do one or two each year - online, and also via Seedy Sunday events (see if there's one in your area here http://www.seedysunday.org/)
But this is all about growing the same seeds together so we can compare notes and share results. Totally agree Gardengirl - the flower selection is mouthwatering. I'm hoping to dust down my heated propagator this week and start on the half-hardy annuals!
Re viability - you can pre-germinate seeds to see if they're viable or not. Get a piece of kitchen towel, damp it down and lay some of the seeds on top. I put my kitchen towel in one of those plastic seed trays but a plate is fine. Then pop into the airing cupboard (or anywhere warm & dark) and check every day. After a week or two (depending on variety) you'll start seeing roots & shoots emerging - that's when to pot them up (very carefully) into potting compost. I do my parsnip seeds like this every year but it works for pretty much anything really.
There is a small but informative article in this month's GW about testing viability, much the same as Sally Nex is suggesting, growing a small sample of each on tissue and ascertaining how many germinate. I think I will be doing the same as I have a glut of older seeds in storage this year!
thank you Sue H and sotongeoff. Will look forward to seeing them flower.