Planting seeds, problems already!

chewy62

:rolleyes: hi everyone, think I may need a bit of help with something probably obvious!
I planted some seeds in seed trays 2 weeks ago and put them in the airing cupboard, but the soil has gone really dry, and I keep watering it, is this the right thing to do? My onions have lots of spindly threads coming out, but not much has happened to my tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries.
What do the wee shoots actually look like when they first appear?
Should I put them on the windowsill?
Really grateful for picking your clever brains!:j

Rafter

Gotta have water and a dark airing cupboard is not ideal. The seedlings will get too thin and spindly as the try to find light.

A windowsill above a radiator would be better - covered with cling film to keep the moisure in.

Good luck.

R.

chewy62

Thanks Rafter, it was my Dad who told me to put them in the airing cupboard! i think he's sabotaging my veg!:rotfl:

madhouseof4

chewy62 wrote:

Thanks Rafter, it was my Dad who told me to put them in the airing cupboard! i think he's sabotaging my veg!:rotfl:

Lol!!! Sounds like the kind of thing my grandad would do! I agree that a window sill would be much better. Mine are on a windowsill, above a radiator, but I didn't know about the clingfilm, so will give that a try, although hubby came home with a propagator set for me the other day....he's soooooo romantic...NOT! It's the thought that counts right?! Will put my next "wave" in the propagator.

Good luck with your seedlings, I am only 6 days into mine and impatiently waiting for signs of life

katskorner

chewy62 wrote:

Thanks Rafter, it was my Dad who told me to put them in the airing cupboard! i think he's sabotaging my veg!:rotfl:

He may have meant until they germinate rather than leaving them there. If you can get one why not try a propagator - you can get them from £1.99 upwards. You have to ensure tomatoes do not catch cold or you will lose them.

I have to plant my toms and peppers and chillis very soon. They were in this time last year but got very leggy by May so I thought I would wait a little while this year.

Potatoes are chitting well though!

chewy62

Excuse my ignorance, but is a propogatar a seed tray with a lid on it? If it is, then my dad gave me some of those, or is it something more involved?:o
Does anyone find their seed trays are too wide for the windowsill? Could you put them in a shed or is it still too cold?:rolleyes:
have had some action in the cucumber tray (I think!) just not sure what they are meant to look like!:rotfl:

madhouseof4

Yes a propogator is a seed tray with a clear plastic lid on and a drip tray! Although I hear that donought trays or those clear trays that sticky buns come in make good home made propogators :rotfl: Some of my trays are too big for the window ledges as well, except for my bedroom, which is part of an extension and the window ledges are deeper. I would think it is still too cold to put them in the shed yet, especially if they have been in a snug airing cupboard. I bought one of those mini greenhouses (from Aldi) and also wondered if I could put the next batch of seedlings in there to start them off (as rapidly running out of room inside!).

I'm glad that you are seeing some action. I also have no idea what some of my seedlings should look like, it's all part of the fun!

Missy79

OK basic seed growing. Here goes:
(IT'S ACTUALLY MUCH EASIER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK)

1) You can use pretty much anything for growing your seeds to start with. You can buy seed trays with lids for plants that need to be a bit warmer if you're growing on a very cold windowsill (although most indoor house windowsills will be warm enough anyway). The lids will also help to keep the moisture in. Depends on how good you are at remembering to water. If you think you'll be o.k. at watering then use old veg/meat/cake trays/butter cartons - anything really. To keep them moist you could use clingfilm until they germinate or a put the tray inside a clear plastic bag although this is not usually necessary. If you want to be really posh you can buy heated propagators.
2) Read your packet for specifics some seeds will only germinate in the dark or cold and others will germinate pretty much anywhere. (Germination is the first bit of growing when the first shoot and seed leaves appear from the seed.)
3) If you have to germinate in the dark - check REGULARLY, once germinated the plants MUST be moved into the light or they will very quickly die.
4) "Plant" seeds on moist soil and keep moist - too dry and they'll just sit there doing nothing - too wet your seeds may start to rot. I tend to water when the compost starts to look a little dry at the surface to start with (your new baby plants will only have tiny roots at first) then later as the seedlings grow use more water but less frequently to develop better root system.
5) You know your seeds are germinating when...with big seeds on the surface you'll see the seed start to split, you get a green "arch" this is the stem of the seedling. Gradually this will extend and the "seed leaves" will become visible. The vast majority of seeds you'll be dealing with have 2 seed leaves, the seed leaves of most plants look pretty much the same with the only difference being in size, at this stage its tricky to tell one plant from another. Later your seedlings will develop more distinctive leaves.
6) Keep moist and well lit until your seedlings have grown. When you want to translant them handle them by the seed leaves. To get them out of the seed tray use the round end of a plant label, a lolly stick, your fingers or anything else you think will do the trick - no need for special tools.

Your seeds can take anything from a couple of days to 3-4 weeks to germinate depending on what they are.

Hope this is useful for new seed growers. (It got a bit longer than I expected - sorry )

chewy62

:T Thanks very much Missy79!
Everything seems much clearer now, you made it easy to understand, there's no great skill to it common sense i suppose?:rolleyes: I think I just want it to work as I'm really looking forward to growing things and at least I know what to look for in a seedling now!:beer:

Missy79

No problem happy to help. I love it when my seeds start germinating it's so exciting (sad I know):D

Caroline2CV

Chewy62 - Best to write the name of your seed/plant on a label and add to the container.

Got anything that is white plastic and you can cut it up into labels (strips with a point at one end)? Check you can write on it with a pencil. Using marker pens or biros means you have to clean them with a 'cream cleansers' to re-use them.

With the best will in the world we all forget what we have sown. By knowing the name you can then - eventually - plant them in the right place re sun/soil conditions & moisture etc.