patchy germination
I normally manage to get decent germination rates across the range of veggies that I grow but this year has seen some dramatic differences.
Almost every seed of every type of bean I've sowed has germinated but the peas, three varieties, have been very poor with major losses.
tomatoes, peppers, courgettes are excellent but cucumbers have been a disaster and I'm going to have to buy in some plants.
Brassicas very good but lettuce very poor. Beetroot and turnip excellent but carrots and parsnips slow and patchy.
I could go on but you get the idea. It's a funny old game this gardening!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Flighty on -
It sure is. I've re-sowed beetroot, carrots, lettuce and spring onions this week.
As well as blaming the weather I think that there are other factors to consider as outlined in the excellent recent blog post, and comments, Seed Sowing No-Shows by Wellywoman.
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Permalink Reply by Jade Hwang on -
I have problem with runner beans this year, nothing come up. Wondering whether I can sow direct or sow indoor to catch up with the lost time?
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Permalink Reply by Flighty on
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Jade I sow mine direct in the ground which I shall do in the next few days having put the canes up this morning.
If you've enough seeds sow two per cane and discard the smaller plant, that is if they both germinate. Alternatively sow one per cane and sow another if any don't germinate within two weeks.
Jade Hwang said:I have problem with runner beans this year, nothing come up. Wondering whether I can sow direct or sow indoor to catch up with the lost time?
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Permalink Reply by Mr Sparkles on
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i have runner beans everywhere, i think every one germinmated in the modules even the "few extras" that i always sow just in case now in the ground of course and climbing merrily , Carrots and parsnips are just a no show! Spring onions a total failure but peas and broad beans all in flower, Tomatoes half way up the canes peppers and chilies very slow. marrows and courgettes about a 50% germination rate including some from "robinsons mammoth seeds " which i begrudgingly paid through the nose for !
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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on -
Interesting link, Flighty. I am aware of the minimum germination standards and always assumed the seed companies would be complying with these. Perhaps we need a rethink.
I've been doing this long enough to be pretty sure it isn't something I'm doing wrong but if half the contents of a seed packet are dead it does rather reduce your chances of a successful harvest.
Flighty said:It sure is. I've re-sowed beetroot, carrots, lettuce and spring onions this week.
As well as blaming the weather I think that there are other factors to consider as outlined in the excellent recent blog post, and comments, Seed Sowing No-Shows by Wellywoman.
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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on -
Is it Poundland or Lidl seeds that are letting you down Colin ???
Colin Robinson said:Interesting link, Flighty. I am aware of the minimum germination standards and always assumed the seed companies would be complying with these. Perhaps we need a rethink.
I've been doing this long enough to be pretty sure it isn't something I'm doing wrong but if half the contents of a seed packet are dead it does rather reduce your chances of a successful harvest.
Flighty said:It sure is. I've re-sowed beetroot, carrots, lettuce and spring onions this week.
As well as blaming the weather I think that there are other factors to consider as outlined in the excellent recent blog post, and comments, Seed Sowing No-Shows by Wellywoman.
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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on
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Sorry to disappoint you Fred but it's the big names. My cheapie seeds have given virtually one hundred percent germination, as have saved seeds from other gardeners.
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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on
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I'd like to give an update to the thread with a specific experience. Because my pea germination has been patchy I sowed ten each of Alderman and Kelvedon Wonder in small pots to fill gaps on the plot. Both lots of seed have the same sow by date (2013), both stored in the same way, both sown the same day in identical compost. Of the K/W all ten germinated but only two out of the ten Alderman managed to. The only difference was they were from different suppliers. Make of that what you will.
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Permalink Reply by Sue Gollop on -
Not one of my runner beans has germinated-from a big name seed company and only 3 out of 20 french beans (all in separate pots in my plastic green house. Am I too late to sow direct into the ground?
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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on
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Not at all, Sue. Get them in asap.
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Permalink Reply by Flighty on
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Sue I sowed some of each direct in the ground this week, and will do more in the next week or two.
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Permalink Reply by Bobby on -
I chitted my peas in the airing cupboard (Alderman) - I'd say 95% germinated, and all continued to grow well in loo rolls and subsequently in the ground. Runner beans all germinated well in loo rolls in an unheated conservatory, as did broad beans. I also started off carrots (in containers) in the conservatory, and got good germination. Salad leaf germination hasn't been great, in containers outdoors, but lettuces in modules germinated well, nearly 100%.
However, once all my lovely seeds had germinated I went away for two weeks just when the hot spell started and quite a few are suffering form lack of water over that period, I'm hoping they'll recover...
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