Personally, I like using the jiffy 7 pellets, and a cheap window propogator - you can get one from Amazon for around a tenner. The big and medium seeds you push into the moistened pellet (they swell when you add water), the smaller ones you sprinkle on top. The great thing about those, is you can remove individual pellets when seeds germinate, pop them straight into a bigger pot, and grow them on ielsewhere - light levels are very important, you can always tell a gardener's house, as windowsills are always full of germinating seedlings at a certain time of year.
Using vermiculite is a good idea, it stops seedlings getting too wet, whilst stopping them drying out too quickly.
Bagz, you say you sow them in compost, make sure it's seed compost as normal compost has to many nutrients for seedlings, the mould and fur sounds like some kind of botrytis, caused by the humidity, maybe try putting the tray in a clear plastic bag when you see condensation on the bag open it and let some air circulate..
Some good points in all the above, but have to agree totally with Percy-Grower. Monty and Carol Klein both swear by the plastic bag method, and always make sure it's seed compost. Keep them warm but not too hot and dry and always water from the bottom to make sure the seed is not disturbed or washed out of the compost completely. Good luck, I'm sure you'l have success soon.
Are you using Thompson and Morgan seeds, they seem to think every single seed needs to go in a plastic bag, they sweat and the seeds stay to damp, who puts plastic bags over ererything in their garden and seeds set themselves well. Of course, some do benefit from a proagator, but T & M seem to think everything needs a bag.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I start off indoors and in pots or trays , seed compost , pressed down, seeds on , slight cover of compost sometimes then top with grit , into a tray of water to water from underneath until grit is dampened then leave. I dont cover with polythene as found same problem as you. I saw Carol Klein do this and have done it ever since and works every time for me.
Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge.
I think i may be able to salvage some of these. Ive binned the cling film, let the soil dry out a bit and am spraying them with a mist as and when needed. i've also moved them to a south facing window for what sun we are getting at the moment. Already i can see a difference and one or two shoots are now up to a cm tall.
Now i'm starting the learn the basics!!! so thanks again everyone.
Posts
Personally, I like using the jiffy 7 pellets, and a cheap window propogator - you can get one from Amazon for around a tenner. The big and medium seeds you push into the moistened pellet (they swell when you add water), the smaller ones you sprinkle on top. The great thing about those, is you can remove individual pellets when seeds germinate, pop them straight into a bigger pot, and grow them on ielsewhere - light levels are very important, you can always tell a gardener's house, as windowsills are always full of germinating seedlings at a certain time of year.
Using vermiculite is a good idea, it stops seedlings getting too wet, whilst stopping them drying out too quickly.
Bagz, you say you sow them in compost, make sure it's seed compost as normal compost has to many nutrients for seedlings, the mould and fur sounds like some kind of botrytis, caused by the humidity, maybe try putting the tray in a clear plastic bag when you see condensation on the bag open it and let some air circulate..
Davie-S
Some good points in all the above, but have to agree totally with Percy-Grower. Monty and Carol Klein both swear by the plastic bag method, and always make sure it's seed compost. Keep them warm but not too hot and dry and always water from the bottom to make sure the seed is not disturbed or washed out of the compost completely. Good luck, I'm sure you'l have success soon.
Impressed by the advice givn to you.
Are you using Thompson and Morgan seeds, they seem to think every single seed needs to go in a plastic bag, they sweat and the seeds stay to damp, who puts plastic bags over ererything in their garden and seeds set themselves well. Of course, some do benefit from a proagator, but T & M seem to think everything needs a bag.
I start off indoors and in pots or trays , seed compost , pressed down, seeds on , slight cover of compost sometimes then top with grit , into a tray of water to water from underneath until grit is dampened then leave. I dont cover with polythene as found same problem as you. I saw Carol Klein do this and have done it ever since and works every time for me.
Keep trying , you will find your way.
Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge.
I think i may be able to salvage some of these. Ive binned the cling film, let the soil dry out a bit and am spraying them with a mist as and when needed. i've also moved them to a south facing window for what sun we are getting at the moment. Already i can see a difference and one or two shoots are now up to a cm tall.
Now i'm starting the learn the basics!!! so thanks again everyone.
Be warned there will be more questions to come