Allotments 4 All

Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: springbok on March 18, 2008, 08:46:54

Title: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: springbok on March 18, 2008, 08:46:54
My tomatos were sown beginning of Feb and still no sign of germination.  Only Gardeners delight, from 3 seeds I have 2 little seedlings appearing.

They are kept in a glass greenhouse and it never gets below 0 degrees in there.  The San Marino, Tigrella and cherry types have still not germinated at all.  ??? ???

Do I need to resow them all? 

My first attempt at growing tomatos, so not sure why this has happened.
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: kimbobill on March 18, 2008, 08:59:33
Hi, try bringing them indoors near to some heat, our onions and parsley were having trouble on the window sill, east facing, just a couple of days on a table next to the boiler and they all started. it's worth a go, if not you might have to resow them
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: BAK on March 18, 2008, 09:14:51
as indicated above, lack of heat is responsible. Early Feb is too early in what sounds like an unheated greenhouse?

We put ours in the airing cupboard though you have to look at them a couple of time a day and move them into the light (window sill in our case) as soon as the first seedling shows sign of coming through. This can be within 7 days.

Still plenty of time .. we will not sow ours until the end of the month though they will eventually end up growing out of doors.
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: Chris Graham on March 18, 2008, 12:26:15
I would agree, they wont germinante in the greenhouse. I tried this too.

Best to keep them inside
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: Barnowl on March 18, 2008, 12:37:31
Different seeds need different temperatures to initiate germination. Most tomatoes like at least 20degC.

TeeGee has provided a very useful chart which gives timings and germination temperatures. Timings will vary a bit depending on where you live but germination temperatures are pretty consistent for most varieties of a particular vegetable (or fruit in the case of tomatoes).

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Planners/Fruit%20&%20Veg%20planner.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Planners/Fruit%20&%20Veg%20planner.htm)

Once they are up they are much more temperature tolerant - though I suspect 0 degC would make them pretty unhappy.

Dig one out to see if it has rotted - it's been quite cool so you may be all right and just have to bring them in to a warm spot indoors.

PS Some chillies need  25degC plus to get going


Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: davyw1 on March 18, 2008, 12:49:57
Tomato,s realy need a night time temprature of 50 deg to 55 deg Far to germinate. They should germinate within 14 days
The below pictures are of a plastic doenut package the bottom has some black pollytene in, cut from a bin liner to elliminate the light from the roots. Put the tomato seeds, in cover with quarter inch of soil close the lid and put it in the airing cupboard and check it regularly. If you do not have an airing cupboard cover it with news paper to keep out the light and place it in the warmest place in the house during the day then the warmest place at night. As soon as the plant poke their heads out open the lid.  Pot them on as soon as they are ready to handle.
Hope this is of help to all who need help

(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture010-1.jpg)

(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture009-1.jpg)

 
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: DenBee on March 18, 2008, 12:59:37
The year before last my tomatoes took aaaaages to germinate.  They only finally took off when I put them on top of the radiator cover in the conservatory.
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: paddy on March 18, 2008, 13:08:43
After reading the article in gardening which? last year about seed companies and some seed not germinating you do wonder is it something we do as gardeners or are we just being ripped off and what has been done about the findings.

However i agree it sounds a bit cold for them and as my inspirational grandad taught me

if at first you don't succeed try try again!

Good luck

Paddy
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: tim on March 18, 2008, 17:39:34
On the other hand............miss germination by one day & you've got this.

They germinated in 3 days beside the AGA - Gardener's Delight - & I thought it a bit cold to put them into the cold greenhouse. WRONG!

So we now have to resow!!
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: springbok on March 18, 2008, 18:09:27
Well dont laugh, but had a bit of a surprise in the greenhouse this afternoon.

My red pear tomato's have germinated 2 out of the 3 seeds I planted. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I have brought all the sown seeds in and the seedlings as suggested, have to see what happens :)

Thanks for all your help .. AGAIN.. 1st time growing things... notes put in my  notebook :)

Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: caroline7758 on March 18, 2008, 18:20:46
Tim, I had exactly the same problem with my G.Delight- two days in the heated propagator and they were shouting for help!
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: davyw1 on March 19, 2008, 20:14:52
With Tomato,s and Cucumbers you have to check them morning and night. This morning i only had one Cucumber just poking its head through, at teatime i had this.  As soon as the the top leaf has developed they will be potted on

(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture-1.jpg)
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: Paulines7 on March 19, 2008, 20:15:41
Tim, can you not repot them into something deeper?  I've had quite a few go like that but I transplanted them deep into compost and they seem to have survived.
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: Emagggie on March 19, 2008, 20:47:54
Yes, I've done the same.The little plantlets look fairly sturdy now, and are happy in the non heated greenhouse. ;D
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: davyw1 on March 20, 2008, 08:35:10
The two on the left Tomato,s popped thro this morning so the rest wont be far behind. I will now leave the top of the propergator of so the don,t get drawn

(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture011.jpg)
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: manicscousers on March 20, 2008, 09:00:14
these are in the unheated poly, covered with fleece when cold  :)
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: tim on March 20, 2008, 09:30:08
Germinated without heat, Manic? And when?

Pauline - not worth the hassle to my mind. I've re-sown.


PS And WHY are some photos large still??
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: antipodes on March 20, 2008, 10:07:28
8 days!!! on the windowsill in my boy's room where there is lots of light.
They are Marmande, Harzfeuer and Garden Pearl.
The sweet peppers sown with them are a bit more shy though. The leeks sown on the same day are on the cooler kitchen windowsill and they are also up and running after 7 days.
Don't have a green house or anything, once they are potted on and the nicer weather comes, they go on the sheltered balcony in the day and come in at night. I plant them outdoors in May. But of course it is warmer here than in the UK so tomatoes are not really greenhouse plants.
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: manicscousers on March 20, 2008, 13:08:51
Germinated without heat, Manic? And when?

PS And WHY are some photos large still??

28/1 sowed in jiffy 7's, Tim..tigerella , on the windowsill over a radiator in a windowsill propagator..got a few gardener's delight in there now, couple of supersteak..sort of heat  :)
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: tim on March 20, 2008, 17:26:41
Looking good!
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: manicscousers on March 20, 2008, 17:37:24
fingers crossed  ;D
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: gunnerbee on March 20, 2008, 20:39:23
my toms are about 5inchs high now and are looking the business!! im really pleased.
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: davee52uk on March 22, 2008, 07:21:49
I have had the same with mine. I sowed a few seed trays with various saved seeds and these started to go mouldy. I gave them one last chance and took one tray home and into the electric propagator - voila - seedlings appear.

I also grew lots of seedlings about a month ago after putting staright into the propagator. I didn't notice for a few days that these were growing and they went long and straggly. I then repotted burying most of the long thin stem in potting compost. This worked O.K. with the seedlings becoming normal again and growing proper leaves. This is something I have done loads of times with toms.
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: davyw1 on March 23, 2008, 10:54:29
one week and potted on so they don,t get drawn.

(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture-2.jpg)
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: Eristic on March 23, 2008, 22:43:44
What did we do before the blue tray was invented?
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: springbok on March 24, 2008, 09:21:14
GOOD NEWS!!!!.

After bringing my pots in that sat and done nothing for 8 weeks, and putting them in the airing cupboard for a few days...

I have tomato babies... :D :D :D :D

Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: davyw1 on March 24, 2008, 11:31:43
I am pleased for you. Well done
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: star on March 24, 2008, 13:40:08
Yay ;D

Even though toms are cold sensitive the seeds are tough as old boots. We have them germinating outside in the UK around sewage works.  ;)
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: saddad on March 24, 2008, 14:09:10
I let yellow currant toms seed into the beds, try stopping them! They are a good indicator that the soil has warmed up enough to put out tender plants!
 ;D
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: kt. on March 24, 2008, 17:23:41
Mine took about a week in a heated propogator in the conservatory. The Gypsy peppers I sowed on 7 March have not come yet though. :(
Title: Re: 8 weeks and tomatos still not germinating.
Post by: posie on March 26, 2008, 16:40:21
Brought mine in and now have gardener's delight, sub arctic plenty, marmande, alicante, tigerella and san marzano all sprouting for Britain!  Just needed warming up!  :)
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal