Germinating seeds on a windowsill
January Man
Posts: 212
Hi all
Sorry for all my recent questions! I've got so much to learn...
We're starting to grow our plants from seed this year. We've already done some and have put them on south facing window sills to germinate because they are the warmest spots in the house. We use very little hot water, so the airing cupboard won'y be of use. We don't have the heating on at this time of year. And we don't have a greenhouse or anything like that. Hence why we've gone for the windowsills as all other areas seem like they might be too chilly; especially over night.
I'm trying to learn the best methods for seed germination and having been reading and watching videos. Some strongly suggest NOT putting seed trays on window sills/in strong light until after the seeds have germinated.
So I'm wondering how critical that advice is and whether we are likely to have no plants/weak plants if we continue as we are?
On a separate point, AFTER germination I was going to continue to have the plants on the windowsill. Again, some say this is a bad idea and will result in leggy poor quality plants. They recommend using artificial lighting instead. Again, I wondered what people's thoughts on this are.
Many thanks for everyone's time and for sharing your knowledge.
Max
Posts
I always start my seeds on the brightest windowsill we have (east facing) and they stay there until they're pricked out when they go in the mini-greenhouse outside during the day and the more tender ones are brought back indoors every evening to spend the night on the dining room table until the weather warms up ... I've got OH quite well trained.
I see no point in spending money on artificial lighting unless you're growing something commercially.
Here are my tomato and courgette seedlings
and here's the mini-greenhouse with the sweetpea seedlings and some other pots of hardier plants sown yesterday - I'll be planting them out before the tomato plants are ready to take their place.
Last edited: 10 April 2017 12:05:18
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Sorry ... don't know why they've done that
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Just to add, you see Doves are on a East windowsill, the sun can come through a South window very fiercely this time of the year.
Just been reading the 'budget gardening' thread and it reminded me of the days before my lovely children gave me a proper propagator, I used to cut a cardboard box in half diagonally to make two sort of display trays, lined them with kitchen foil (shiny side out) and stood them on my tea trolley. They were sited in front of the dining room window and wheeled sideways if it got too hot. The foil helped to distribute the light and reflect some heat. They needed careful hardening off as they were always a bit fragile but most of them survived.
Now I have a propagator I usually end up with too many seedlings as I still sow X2 from habit........ Not sure how many people still have a tea trolley, they were essential in the '70s but you get the idea.
LOVE the tea trolley idea herbaceous ?
I also germinate and grow my seedlings on windowsills- I move them all from one windowsill to another as the sun passes at about 1pm - that tea trolley would be sooooo handy.
How energetic Jonesk! Not sure I could be asked to wheel them from room to room but it is a great idea.
As for the tea trolley, bought it in the late '70s and never been able to find a suitable substitute so I still have it - mended and refreshed every few years. Nowadays it has my wonderful heated propagator on it.
It was all drinks trolleys and bling in the '80s and then I guess mobile refreshment dropped off the edge in favour of BBQs. Wish I'd thought to 'borrow' one of the equipment trolleys from work before I retired, bad planning.
By the way Max3 those mini-greenhouses are great for hardening off and less than £20 if you look around. I use mine as shelving once stuff moves to the proper greenhouse.
Just thinking of those heated hostess trolleys .......... you could use one as a heated propagator and find some clear plastic lids for the dishes ............. but they probably get just a bit too warm
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Ah Dove, the dizzy heights of heated hostess trolleys. Aspired to but never attained, much too expensive when they were in vogue. Cracking idea for the heated propagator though, exotics might do well and the cute little cupboard underneath would be great for mushrooms!