Planting seeds, problems already!

angie_loves_veg

Caroline2CV wrote:

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.

My recent revelation has been to cut up milk bottles into plant markers. This will be the first year I don't buy hundreds of the things! I get through loads of milk bottles and recyle them anyway - following suggestions from this board, I now use them for plant markers and also as occasional drip trays if I am running out of 'other' packaging trays! Other ideas include cutting them at an angle as a compost scoop!

madhouseof4

I also cut up my 6 pint milk bottles into lots and lots of plant markers, they look pretty good and don't block out the light as they are kind of see through.

vfairbrass

chewy62 wrote:

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:

I use old egg cartons for my seeds - the ones made of cardboard type material. They are the perfect size and shape for a windowsill and I just put the lid down until the seeds have germinated and then lift the lid up so the light can get at them. I then just put the seeds straight into the ground when they are ready and the cardboard seems to disintegrate in the earth so the roots are not disturbed.
Valerie

Noah'strolly

Why do they say sow in seed tray and transplant to small pots? Why not just sew in small pots and save moving the seedlings?

Missy79

You could sow straight into small pots if you've got the patience to separate the seeds. I would sow large seeds individually as this isn't too much trouble but some seeds are VERY tiny and it would be a fiddly job. Also not all of the seeds always germinate so you would take up space wih empty pots. But if you've got the space and the patience then plant separately.

chewy62

:j Hi everyone! Still waiting for something to happen in my seed trays, it's been 3 weeks, should something have happened by now? There are 2 small sprouts in my cucumber tray, but not much else!?
Also. my onion seeds just have big long threads coming out of the style, oesn't look right to me, help please?:o

brindles01

Chewy62 - it sems you have a problem geting the light/ heat ratio right. With my onion seeds I sowed them and left in the kitchen, then just as they started to germinate (just peeping through the soil) I moved them outside to sit on my patio table along with my leeks, onion sets, parsnips and sweet peas. I think onions are quite hardy and so don't need really high temperatures. My cucumbers sprouted really quick and I don't know how to check their rapid growth. I think I may start again with these a bit later on so that I can get them into the ground once they have sprouted.

madhouseof4

My onions also looks a long threads poking through the soil. Is it ok to move them to the little greenhouse I have? They have been on my bedroom windowsill for about 10 days or so. Also, am I best to plant them on into bigger pots or just harden them off and plant into the ground?

One last question...for now! I also have onion sets, can they be planted straight into the ground or pots?

angelavdavis

madhouseof4 wrote:

My onions also looks a long threads poking through the soil. Is it ok to move them to the little greenhouse I have? They have been on my bedroom windowsill for about 10 days or so. Also, am I best to plant them on into bigger pots or just harden them off and plant into the ground?

If they are in a seed tray, I would split them into pots. If you planted in modules, leave them and pop them outside in the greenhouse. They can eventually be left out as they are hardy.

madhouseof4 wrote:

One last question...for now! I also have onion sets, can they be planted straight into the ground or pots?

Straight in the ground if you don't have squirrels that will dig them up! Some people recommend you plant them in pots as apparently the squirrels don't like them once they have sprouted! I just put them in the soil because I don't have many issues with them here.

brindles01

In the gardeners world (March edition) they show onion sets being given a head start by starting them off in individual pots, so that is what I have done also. Then by the time they are ready to plant out the lottie will be a bit drier to work on (wishful thinking!).