Sowed some Gaura (first pic) and Echinacea (2nd pic) a few weeks ago and they are still so tiny. I guess this is a good thing as i can't put them outside yet. Only 2 of the Gaura have germinated out of 20 seeds I'm hoping more will still come up. Would it be possible to get flowers from both this year?
Thanks aym280. I'm glad to hear yours flowered 2nd year at least. Yes, will keep a few in pots i think. Hopefully the Gaura catch up but i heard they can be slow to germinate. Can't wait to start on annuals but i'm restraining myself
jaffacakes my Gaura I sowed last year flowered the same year and I am hoping they will bulk up in plant this year they are still doing ok in the seed trays in the plastic gh till I get the space for them to go
Logan nice to have seeds started- you collected a lot of kitchen roll tubes, I get the same issue as Aym280 mould on them so may try again - do like to direct sow or use pots
Not sown any seeds yet so much other things to do first
going back to labels, it doesn't matter what you make them of, from whence you buy them, or what you use to write with - the blackbirds will pull them out and scatter them all over the place anyway!! One year I tried to grow what I thought was canary creeper up a fence and was surprised when they turned out to be dahlias, and I put lettuces where I wanted larkspur - thanks to the blackbirds! Gotta love them though…….
Hi Seed growing fans Im doing my first seed sowing this year Cosmos some Rudbeckia, poppies and Scabiosa. Just after advise I know you need the sowing compost for seeds and cuttings would you add anything into that compost like vermiculite or perlite or use those products when the plant has developed more out of the seeds.
JamesO - I just use seed compost with vermiculite mixed in already. Its personal preference a bit. Adding P or V may reduce the amount you need to keep an eye on watering. But I use a cellular matting in the tray, underneath the pots so that I don't have to worry quite so much because it keeps moisture there for the plants to draw up when needed
John Innes 2 is meant for more mature plants rather than sowing seeds, so is rather more lumpy - and it will depend upon whomsoever made it. There is a John Innes 1 and a seed slowing compost which are finer and without feed, as you want for seed sowing. Avoiding peat, I have found that there are several good composts about but if you want them for seedings you need to dilute with seedling compost so mix and sieve it yourself. Many of the supermarket brands are coarse as they are trying to reduce the use of peat too, but seem not to take the time to completely rot down bark etc., which takes time the peat did not.
I love vermiculite and have used it in my compost, tubs, baskets and pots for many, many years, I prefer it from perlite, it is a natural mica and does nothing but open the coarser compost and hold moisture when needed. A nursery not too far from us sells it in huge sacks which makes it quite inexpensive. I often sprinkle it over seeds that don't really need cover as it lets the light in, but stops those tiny seeds from being blown away!! If used with compost in very big pots it keeps the weight down, and does help avoid compaction.
Whatever works for each of us I guess, we'll all have our likes and experiences and can share that and hope someone finds it useful - or not!!
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Aym, thanks. When I watered them, the rolls started falling apart. Hopefully they'll stay together.
Sowed some Gaura (first pic) and Echinacea (2nd pic) a few weeks ago and they are still so tiny. I guess this is a good thing as i can't put them outside yet. Only 2 of the Gaura have germinated out of 20 seeds
I'm hoping more will still come up. Would it be possible to get flowers from both this year?
Thanks aym280. I'm glad to hear yours flowered 2nd year at least. Yes, will keep a few in pots i think. Hopefully the Gaura catch up but i heard they can be slow to germinate. Can't wait to start on annuals but i'm restraining myself
jaffacakes my Gaura I sowed last year flowered the same year and I am hoping they will bulk up in plant this year they are still doing ok in the seed trays in the plastic gh till I get the space for them to go
Logan nice to have seeds started- you collected a lot of kitchen roll tubes, I get the same issue as Aym280 mould on them so may try again - do like to direct sow or use pots
Not sown any seeds yet so much other things to do first
Bit of advice please if possible
geranium buxton blues about 4 weeks ago
been waiting for "true leaves" to pot on but they were outgrowing the propagator tray
all potted on but only 2 leaves since germination, am i misding something
going back to labels, it doesn't matter what you make them of, from whence you buy them, or what you use to write with - the blackbirds will pull them out and scatter them all over the place anyway!! One year I tried to grow what I thought was canary creeper up a fence and was surprised when they turned out to be dahlias, and I put lettuces where I wanted larkspur - thanks to the blackbirds! Gotta love them though…….
Hi Seed growing fans Im doing my first seed sowing this year Cosmos some Rudbeckia, poppies and Scabiosa. Just after advise I know you need the sowing compost for seeds and cuttings would you add anything into that compost like vermiculite or perlite or use those products when the plant has developed more out of the seeds.
pricking out my aquilegias now - though feeling guilty about all the ones left behind! And sweet peas seem to be coming on nicely
JamesO - I just use seed compost with vermiculite mixed in already. Its personal preference a bit. Adding P or V may reduce the amount you need to keep an eye on watering. But I use a cellular matting in the tray, underneath the pots so that I don't have to worry quite so much because it keeps moisture there for the plants to draw up when needed
John Innes 2 is meant for more mature plants rather than sowing seeds, so is rather more lumpy - and it will depend upon whomsoever made it. There is a John Innes 1 and a seed slowing compost which are finer and without feed, as you want for seed sowing. Avoiding peat, I have found that there are several good composts about but if you want them for seedings you need to dilute with seedling compost so mix and sieve it yourself. Many of the supermarket brands are coarse as they are trying to reduce the use of peat too, but seem not to take the time to completely rot down bark etc., which takes time the peat did not.
I love vermiculite and have used it in my compost, tubs, baskets and pots for many, many years, I prefer it from perlite, it is a natural mica and does nothing but open the coarser compost and hold moisture when needed. A nursery not too far from us sells it in huge sacks which makes it quite inexpensive. I often sprinkle it over seeds that don't really need cover as it lets the light in, but stops those tiny seeds from being blown away!! If used with compost in very big pots it keeps the weight down, and does help avoid compaction.
Whatever works for each of us I guess, we'll all have our likes and experiences and can share that and hope someone finds it useful - or not!!