Allotments 4 All
Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: Tee Gee on January 23, 2018, 14:01:07
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Sowed my Onions this morning and a few flower seeds.
Taking the commercial route this year...plug trays rather than standard trays!
Pic 1-Tray prepared for sowing.
Pic 2 - Seeds sown.
Pic 3 - Covered with Propagator lid and on hot bed.
Pic 4 - Flower seeds sown
Pic 5 Job done! Seeds at the rear Chrysant stools at the front and Pelargoniums over wintering above!
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your a few week ahead of me ... crossing fingers for you x
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Progress report:
A week has gone by since I sowed my Onions & flower seeds and quite a few of them have germinated as you can see in the pics below.
The Lupins were through in 5 days from sowing, the Sweet Peas and Geraniums in 6 days and all the onion types within 6-8 days.
Re-potted quite a few over wintered perennials this morning into new compost e.g. Lilies, Nerines and Eucomis.
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WOW
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Onions coming along nicely this is them two weeks after sowing
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I've got some peppers and chillis on at the weekend. Nothing unusual but thanks to poster here I am giving Trinidad Perfume a go plus some Oranage Habenero and some Solero.
I have been down my OHs new plot and that is looking good - totally different soil to my plot so plenty of scope for experiments once we get it clean.
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two scorpion up and one brain strain 18 more varieties still to show themselves
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Brain Strain. I like the sound of them! I like the look of them!
Where did you get seeds - http://www.chileseeds.co.uk??
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"but thanks to poster here I am giving Trinidad Perfume a go "
Oooh, yes, so am I! I actually tried them last year, but didn't have a propagator so trying again this year!
I thought they sounded interesting as they have the flavour withour the heat.
I am also trying Hot Thai, as my family like hot chilli, so those will be for them - hoping I don't mix them up...
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Brain Strain. I like the sound of them! I like the look of them!
Where did you get seeds - http://www.chileseeds.co.uk??
nickys nursery think its in kent they do a wide range of chilli seeds
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first batch of chilli all up only one is not up that's butch T the rest of my hot chillis are up scorpion brain strain orange habernero carolina reaper bhut jokia naga scotch bonnet red and 7pot next week ill sow the milder ones then on to sweet peppers only having one electric propergator its a guggle i can tell you
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Mine are up minus the T perfume but I expected them to take longer.
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Well i have been out and bought a small heater which will take the edge off the greenhouse and that will be going in once i have given it a clean out this week and the gardener has washed it out for me. Went for a tube one which will go under my planting table (metal) as i though that would help absorbe and hold the heat in the greenhouse and ontop of some ceramic tiles over the concrete pad to stop it cracking the cement pad and again hold in the heat. Next weekend now i am pretty much over the flu and bugs i plan on getting my onions, sweetpeas and a few other things sown.
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A bit further on!
I have now sown my Sweet Peppers & Chillis
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How long did your chilli take to come up? I am still waiting for mine, and they are in my brand new propogator, at around 24 degrees.
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How long did your chilli take to come up? I am still waiting for mine, and they are in my brand new propogator, at around 24 degrees.
They are not up yet lil I only sowed them earlier this week so I am not expecting them to germinate for a few days yet, usually I work on about 7-10 days so it could be another week before they germinate.
This link will show you how I grow my Chillis
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/C/Chilli/Chilli.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/C/Chilli/Chilli.htm)
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Ahhh, thanks Tee Gee, perhaps I need to be more patient!
It's the first time I have used my propagator, I wondered if it was warm enough in there. As I said I have the thermostat set to 24, just turned it up a tad though. Now I am wondering if its too warm as you have yours at 21!
The packs both say 21-24, but I guess the trays wont feel very warm against skin!
Patience then.... :blob9:
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Well i may have over done it sunday but GOD it felt good (at the time) gardener had washed the inside of the greenhouse during the week and i spent some time rearanging it and pottering about sunday. Took the top of the soil off the beds with the tomato blight and used this in the bottom of one of my wall planters and then planted up the climbing rose along with some phlox and begonias. Planted up the rest of the plants for the greenhouse and then planted up my rose (long stem rose from October which had rooted in the vase and was still going till sunday and now in a potato and topped up pot with soil. Also fitted the heater and moved my seeds into the greenhouse to be sorted out with a bucket of tea haha Been to wet and cold to do much since and have been very sore :(
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Dsowed my tommy seeds about three weeks ago however most years have chitted first in airing cupboard. Unable to this yeat due to not having one now so put them by a radiatir. However upon checking after one week found that the tissues had dried out. Have rewetted them but still no signes of life. Have I 'cooked' the seeds? Normally got 100% germination.
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I just found the perfect place to chit seeds - on top of any bit of electrical equipment that you leave on 24/7 - this can be a set-top box, or on the back edge of a fridge or freezer where the hot air rises (for a little extra heat you can put a tea tray over the gap it rises through and put the chit box on that - obviously metal trays are best).
You need something that's nearly always warm but never hot to the touch - don't put stuff on top of your boiler!
Cheers.
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Thank you for the suggestion Vinlander but unable to access back of my fridge. Will have to try to buy a propagator. Do you think my original 'cooked' seeds are viane or should I start again?
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Wherever you put your seeds, this time of year is very dangerous because sunshine is starting to be hotter than you expect (or notice) and seeds in a propagator can be cooked to death in a few hours.
I strongly recommend you chit without direct sun, and plant the chits before moving into a bright environment without direct sun. Soon afterwards direct sun in a warm well ventilated place (like a windowsill) should be no problem - but only after they have adjusted to the drier air.
Obviously artificial light is no problem.
Here in NW Europe we rely on the Gulf Stream for our winter warmth, but everywhere else with a similar climate people are more aware of the dangers of direct sunshine - their seeds can overcook in this way all year round, so they are less likely to be caught out.
Cheers.
PS. The warm air from your fridge or freezer has to go somewhere - you just have to find it. If the device is not well-ventilated then the air coming off it will be even hotter because it will have to work much harder (and you are paying for the extra electricity). Obviously if you've put your fridge in an old fireplace (with a working chimney) then none of this applies.
That makes me think - why aren't fridges and freezers properly integrated into air conditioning systems? Maybe they are? I don't know because I rely on fans in summer. Ceiling fans are just brilliant - so much less intrusive - essential in bedrooms.
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"but thanks to poster here I am giving Trinidad Perfume a go "
Oooh, yes, so am I! I actually tried them last year, but didn't have a propagator so trying again this year!
I thought they sounded interesting as they have the flavour withour the heat.
I am also trying Hot Thai, as my family like hot chilli, so those will be for them - hoping I don't mix them up...
Well that was Feb 9th, and they were planted a few days prior to that, and quick as a flash they both have totally failed to put in an appearance.
So annoyed! It could be that I didn't put gravel in the bottom of the tray of the propogator, or the compost wasn't right (multi purpose one by Gro Sure) or perhaps my new toy isn't working properly?
Going to try with the tomato seeds this weekend, and buy some more chilli seeds to try later.
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second wave of chilli all up will take them out of propagator sunday and the start sweet peppers bell and bullshorn will start around 48 seeds 24 of each they should be up in 10 days then will start tomatoes then dahlia's off to portugal easter so will sow rest when i get back unheated propagators in greenhouse so i can get the rest of the 200 tomato plants up ready for summer
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Well that was Feb 9th, and they were planted a few days prior to that, and quick as a flash they both have totally failed to put in an appearance.
I have moved to chitting from Jan-now. Peppers, aubergines and the like - I find it much more reliable for anything tender - only bruisers like tomatoes are worth sowing direct into cells.
I chit on weak napkin paper in a readymeal box that has been set up, watered and microwaved for 1 min & left for 5 min before the seeds go in. I then put the box in a propagator until the roots appear (reliably >80%), then move the box to a much lighter, slightly less warm place until the seed leaves appear. I then trash the paper to get the plantlets out with as much root as possible (I end up with >60% of the original seeds).
Then they go into in microwaved compost (20 minutes for 6L) in the narrowest 6cm+ tall pots I can find (or make - or use rootrainers if you have a trust fund). Ideally set out on permeable landscape fabric over a capillary shelf inside a large tray with an old propagator base under it and very good light or lights (avoiding direct sunlight). Some will fail to thrive, but >50% of the original seeds end up in containers or soil... The strongest growers that became top-heavy in March/April go into normal 10-15cm pots for a better start, but all seedlings get planted out in May. A few go into ornamental pots in my back garden, the rest go into the polytunnel.
I put most of my tomatoes into open ground - tomatoes and normal "furry" aubergines are very bad neighbours and should never be under the same cover.
Cheers.
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:BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: I just wrote a 30-odd word sentence about a complex capillary set-up without any punctuation, and I managed to leave out heated propagator.
Sorry.
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Bl***y failure with tommy chitting since losing airing cupboard AND the darned condensate pipinfroze!!! Beginning to wish I hadn't changed boiler. Oh well back to drawing board and start again.
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First batch of chillis doing well.
Just sowed Red Alert and Sub Arctic Plenty - never tried the later but Red Alert are always good for an early crop.
Not long now and we will be in the thick of it.
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Aadvise please ive started some chillies in a propagator ive done five lines of different varieties down a seed tray , some is up b4 the others and I would like to take those of the heat . can I pot those on with only the two seed leaves showing
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You do not say how long it is since you sowed them,some varieties take longer than others to germinate so what you are experiencing is not unusual.
I think "patience" is order of the day and just wait till you see signs of the growing tip (true leaves) before taking them off the heat source.
One thing you can do meantime is ensure the seedlings do not dry out, but do not over water, misting them daily with clean water should suffice ( use a hand or pump spray)
Moving the tray ( if practical) to where it can get the best light on your heat source would be an advantage and this will help to keep the seedlings from getting leggy!
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First batch of chillis doing well.
Just sowed Red Alert and Sub Arctic Plenty - never tried the later but Red Alert are always good for an early crop.
Not long now and we will be in the thick of it.
they look great mate must pot mine on this week and maybe put them into a cold greenhouse under bubble wrap so ive more room
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Aadvise please ive started some chillies in a propagator ive done five lines of different varieties down a seed tray , some is up b4 the others and I would like to take those of the heat . can I pot those on with only the two seed leaves showing
If you are really gentle then yes you can. I scoop them out with as much compost as i can (use a teaspoon) - they can go a bit wobbly for a few hours but they should be ok..
[they look great mate must pot mine on this week and maybe put them into a cold greenhouse under bubble wrap so ive more room
Cheers! I love getting the early chillis off to a good start - sets the tone for the sesason!
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Ok, take two.
I have bought some proper seed compost, and two more packs of chilli seeds (Raam and Barak) and retrieved four each of the Thai Hot and Trinidad Perfume, which I thought I might as well give one last chance!
Have put damp sand in the bottom of the propagator, put the tray in, and filled a spare cell with compost to put the thermostat in!
It's your last chance seeds! Do it, or I am moving on to my tomatoes!
(I decided to try this, if it doesn't work I will try the chitting method!)
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filled a spare cell with compost to put the thermostat in
I'm curious???? Do you mean Thermometer or Thermostat ?
For example: similar to the thermometer in this picture?
Either way my fingers are crossed for you....Best of Luck
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The propagator has a sensor on a wire attached to the thing that turns the heat on and off!
I have it set to 24 degrees, so it should keep it at that temperature.
Its new, I treated myself, and I am not sure how well it is working!
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I did buy a cheap thermometer, something that looks a bit like your one, only the temp never seemed to go much above 20. Even so, that should be warm enough, shouldn't it!
I will put it back in.
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The propagator has a sensor on a wire attached to the thing that turns the heat on and off!
I have it set to 24 degrees, so it should keep it at that temperature.
Its new, I treated myself, and I am not sure how well it is working!
I did buy a cheap thermometer, something that looks a bit like your one, only the temp never seemed to go much above 20. Even so, that should be warm enough, shouldn't it!
I will put it back in.
So you have both!
I have it set to 24 degrees, so it should keep it at that temperature......only the temp never seemed to go much above 20
This is fairly normal .....most mass produced thermometers /thermostats are accurate to around +/- 3° unless you go into buying one that is accurate to + / - 1° but these cost a lot more.
I have four thermometers and I can sit them all in the same location and no two give the same reading.
The setting you have set should be OK for tomatoes, peppers etc but a bit high for brassicas for example.
It looks that you have a 4° discrepancy between your thermometer and thermostat so when you get to sowing your veg drop your thermostat down from 24° to around 20° and this should be sufficient, plus it will be cheaper to run.
I hope this helps
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Thanks Tee Gee,
Yes, it is funny though the cheap thermometer is registering about 24 now, so perhaps it is ok after all. I wonder if adding the sand to the bottom has helped with the temperature somehow.
I was going to turn it down a bit for the toms, and probably wont need it for the brassicas as they seem to be so willing to spring up at the drop of a hat!
I might use it for the peas and beans later though, to give them a kick start.
It is fun experimenting, isn't it!
Thanks
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I wonder if adding the sand to the bottom has helped with the temperature somehow.
I would say yes particularly if you know the composition of the propagator.
Depending upon the size of the propagator its base has a number of copper strips molded into the plastic meaning the base directly above a strip gets the warmest ( hot spots) with the gap in between slightly cooler the damp sand helps to spread / equalise the temperature over the base of the propagator.
An alternative to sand is to use capillary matting as a heat spreader.
The same principle operates if using a soil cable in a hotbed.
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weather has been very unseasonal this month here on the sunshine coast things are starting to wake up in the cold greenhouse. cauli barcelona are doing well.
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Looking well Johnny my lot is still in the seed packet and will be for at least another couple of weeks!
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Having not been able to get to the greenhouse for a week due to ill health and snow found my sweetpeas have started to germinate no sign of anything else as yet. Hoping to check again this afternoon and husband is going to put the hooks onto the ceiling of the greenhouse for my baskets. Planning these to be strawberries with beans of some sort apparantly this helps fix nitrogion. One basket will be filled with tomatos with basil on top and the 3rd basket is going to also be strawberries but maybe with some freesias on top. Sowing chillis this week i hope.
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think i overdone the lettuce lol :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie: :drunken_smilie:
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Yay! My Raam chilli seeds have come up, they are the milder of the two new packs I bought!
:blob7: :blob7: :blob7:
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Not put anything in yet- the temptation is easy to resist as I'm still in the Middle East and moving back permanently to the UK next weekend after 18 years away (yay!).
In January, I managed to get a quarter plot in the UK which I weeded, put compost on and covered over with membrane in the freezing weather at the end of February, the soil was not frozen- just very cold. I have a ton of seeds waiting, potatoes chitting away, onion sets, shallot sets and garlic ready to go in when i return (straight away for the garlic, will hold back until Easter for the onions, shallots and spuds). I'm going to be busy!
As to the plot here, the perpetual spinach, turnips, herbs and tomatoes did great in the past few months. I managed to overcome the extremely sandy soil by dosing up with Agroleaf soluble fertilizer on a regular basis which was pretty much all I had on hand.
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yesterday was a cracking day here on the sunshine coast 16 at the allotment today we have snow and a -5 wind chill . so it was fine enough yesterday to put my bean trench in either side of the troughs have had copious amounts of manure green waste put in over the last 5 months so it was time to finish it the middle trench has a layer of cardboard layer of well rotted pigeon poo a layer of leaf mould then the troughs put on top ill let it settle for a month or so then put the canes up
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Wow, the soil looks lovely! Good work!
My plot is not looking anything like that :( even though I am on the sunny south coast! ;)
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Wow, the soil looks lovely! Good work!
My plot is not looking anything like that :( even though I am on the sunny south coast! ;)
thanks lou i try to take great care of the soil as its very sandy so every year its as much humus as i can get my hands on around 4 tonne a year is layered on top as well as compost and leaf mould depending on what im going to plant where the next season i truly believe if you look after the soil the crops look after themselves im sure your get there with your plot after time good luck