Seed help please
Clare Hoskins
Posts: 9
Following a gardening thread which said that plants sown in Autumn would be stronger and bigger.....I sewed masses of seeds a couple of months ago and have transplanted them now into individual pots or seed cells - all about 2 or 3 inches wide. I've got a whole load in my cold frame and the over flow in my utility room which is quite cool. I've lost some due to what I think is due to damping off ?. This is the first time I've grown so much from seed and started off in the autumn. Any help please as to how I should be looking after them, how much watering, how much hardening off and when? Last year (first time at growing seeds) I started them in March and the garden, and my neighbours, were awash with wonderful Cosmos. This time I've sown seeds from Jack go to Bed (similar to lavender Salsify), hollyhocks, delphiniums and lots of different plants. Every type took
Posts
Depends a bit on what you're growing. Make sure the ones in the utility are getting enough light and you may need some extra protection, such as fleece, on the cold frame if we start getting hard frosts.
I start a lot of things in autumn, but not indoors. Lack of light is a problem as well as too much warmth. You end up with dead or leggy plants. I wouldn't put them out now though, they'll be very soft. Keep them as light and cools as you can, have you somewhere you can put them and open the window, at least during daytime.
For the future, unheated GH or coldframe is more suitable for all these.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Missed the cold frame bit, must read more carefully
ventilation is the key, I rarely shut the GH door.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Many thanks for your replies, I think I'm doing the right things (so far anyway!) and will get the fleece out as I think the cold is coming. Many thanks