Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: OliveOil on January 30, 2007, 06:48:09
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Ok SS after my disaster last time, i moved the trainers to the corner of the room, away from radiator and less light. removed the lid as soon as the first leaves uncurled and 2 days later they are all leggy again. I will persevere with this lot and repot them when the true leaves come through but i just cant understand why they have gone leggy (brassicas and tomatos)
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Boo hoo OO! (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/smilies/sad0147.gif)
Legginess = too much heat or too little light.
In this case, perhaps the latter?
They should come right - as you know, both brassica and toms can be planted in the next plot up to their seed leaves.
I think I'm lucky in the light/heat balance on the 3rd floor, although it's a touch on the chilly side (casement windows) that's better than on the warm side. They just need that extra little heat to germinate. At the moment there's room for plug trainers on the south facing windowsills of my flat, though that will change shortly and I'll start to use the new heated propagator on the North side of the house.
Keep trying for the 'sweet spot' in your house, wherever it may be (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/smilies/Cheer_up2.gif)
SSxx
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our house windows are east and west. I have them on the west side as it gets alot more light. and they still have plenty of light, just not too much heat. Don't think i will ever find the sweetspot. The onions havent sprouted yet but they said 14-21 days so another week yet.
I chucked the last lot, but as i have those trays coming i will still continue to tend these and replant them deep when the true leaves come up.
I am topping off with vermiculite... i wonder if i should just use compost next time ???
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Hi OO
Have you found that some seeds need sowing a little deeper than the standard dimple depressions? Beet, carrot, toms etc. seem fine, and can be planted deeper on transplanting, but for e.g. onions I'm sowing deeper as the last lot toppled over. I don't top off with anything :o the lid construction seems to conserve a moist atmosphere without any covering of soil, vermiculite etc.
I did get a wee bag of vermiculite after the Barnsdale course, but it sat on top of the turnip rooted chervil and has gone green, so I won't be using it again >:( :-X
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I actually pushed all the seeds down with a pencil this time as i only used the depressions last time and they werent deep enough... so yeah thought of that one :0
Other thing is - what compost do you use? I imagine my homebase crap is maybe too crap.
I did try JI seedling compost last year but not impressed - very sandy and heavy!
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;D ;D ;D
I use Arthur Bowers Seed Compost with John Innes No.1 - the Which? best buy. When they did their test, there was a HUGE difference between the best and worst seed composts - the pictures said it all! :o ::)
We buy a big bag every year, No.1 son lugs it up three flights of stairs, and I sow peacefully at the kitchen table ;D
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do you get that from a garden centre? ???
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Yes, the family-run garden centre in Downham Market (the one with loose peas and beans in a bucket!) Ya want me to see if I can track down the Which report OO? ::)
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ahh I got the seed one... think the No. 1 will be fine... I remember being torn about which one to get at Downtown, I'll go and get some this week.
My new trays from lbs should arrive this week - i hope so i can get some sowing done and let you know how they are! I hope they arent the flimsy things and are the same as B'dale's .
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ooh yes, will you post pics and report back OO? (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/smilies/watson.gif)
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Hello OO, a pic of peppers and aubergines sown on 18 January:
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/Aubergines_Peppers_2_Feb_07.jpg)
I'm quite happy with their legginess, they'll stay in these plant trainers until March, then I'll pot em on to the base of the seed leaves. If you look closely you'll see they're leaning towards the light. I'm never sure whether rotating the tray would cause them to stretch even further, or whether just leaving them won't matter as they'll unbend themselves when they're potted on. I'm leaving them for the moment - which do you do?
VERY excited today as the new heated windowsill propagator arrived :D Now, which of you lucky seeds is gonna be first? ;D
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mine look a little thinner and leggier - caulis and toms... will take a pic tomorrow.
ANyway guess what arrived???? yes my lbs stuff... had to have it directed back to work so when i get there later today i should know what exactly i have bought... again ... photos tomorrow.
Emma
ps. I rotated mine last time and i think it made them leggier. have left them this time as i am waiting for strawbs to germinate.
Onions started sprouting yesterday!
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carrots and beetroot showing ;D
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carrots and beetroot showing ;D
we have lift-off! ;D
time to sow the next lot then! :P ::)
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hi
i sow mine in the compost there going to be planted up in.
Only thing i have struggeled with is camomile.
Cambourne7
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planted white icicle radish in the poly today ;D
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the trays arrived SS - not what I wanted. But pretty sturdy and will prob last all year... Oh well at least i tried. I have another look in the catalogue and see if there is anything else.
All i can think of now is may a carry tray that you put pots in but lose the pots if you know what i mean.
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OO - if you have a Poundstretcher near you they have trays which hold 18 3" pots. They cost £2.99 each.
Tricia
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the trays arrived SS - not what I wanted.
better ventured than not, it's taken me around 30 years to find the right plant trainers!
give it time :-\ :)
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SS I have John Innes No 1 and i bought some A Bowers multipurpose for potting on.
I'll let you know how it goes. 'm starting to think homebase compost is evil! so i've put it on the single bed in my yard and sown some spring onions and salad into it.
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http://www.plasticsbypost.net/mainpages/seedtrayspage.htm
What do you think of these SS?