Propagating experiments;

[Tee Gee]

Hi all,

I think a bit back I mentioned that I was planning taking pictures of my propagation methods to put in my website when I review it next winter.

This is a draft of some I took this morning and thought I would put them out to you guys for comments (warts and all)

Please remember it is a draft and when I eventually put it on my website it will be most likely separated into the various genus covered.

I am also trying a few experiments with my sowing methods and thought you might like to see what I have done.

Runner Beans & French beans  are as normal i.e. into cells to germinate then growing on in 3” pots.

Beetroot; I thought I would try some as plug plants and the remainder of the packet conventionally i.e. directly into the bed.

Courgette / Cucumber; I think when I put these into the website I will just make a category for ‘flat seeds’ as opposed to individual genus. Simply because the sowing method is the same!

Squash / Pumpkins; I will probably consider these as one as I mentioned in Courgette & Cucumber.

Parsnips; I have been reading all the postings in the forum and saw where people were having problems getting these to germinate. I must admit this last couple of seasons I have not done as well as I would have liked.

So this year I am conducting a couple of experiments to see how I go on.

In experiment 1. Instead of chitting on damp paper I though I would try chitting on damp compost and spray regularly to keep them moist.

Then subject to how I go on I might lightly cover them with compost then transplant them. I think this might be easier than dealing with soggy paper.

In experiment 2; I have often thought that parsnip seed which is flat should be treated as flat seed i.e. sown on edge. So I have sown individual seed in this manner in a tray to transplant.

I will sow the balance of the packet in the traditional manner and see how they compare.

Here is a slide show showing what I mean;  http://tinyurl.com/24h759

[Tee Gee]

[caroline7758]

Look forwrad to the results! My experiment of chitted versus unchitted courgette seeds is completely conclusive- the chitted ones were way quicker, andfrom what I remember from last year, leaving them (forgetting them :-[) until the tails were about an inch long made them even quicker!

[markfield rover]

Love it ! inspiring.

[coznbob]

Especially interested in the parsnip results...

As ever, looking good.

[cleo]

Sounds good to me-now what would be interesting seeing as we have some impatient gardeners here would be to test just how late we can plant -

[allaboutliverpool]

I planted Beet in modules last year for the first time and had such fantastic success that I have repeated it this year.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_beetroot.html

[*Mia*]

I am loving that slide show....a proper idots guide (no offence meant there)......just what i need! lol

[Emagggie]

Started my beetroot off in modules this time. It was greeted with the usual
' well I don't think that's going to work' from a fellow plottie. They are going great guns, deffo the way to do it for me. Also did parsnips in toilet rolls, germination was quicker than the seeds in the ground (of course)and nothing showing there yet :-\

[MrsKP]

that exactly something i would look for and could follow Tee Gee.

Are you going to carry on with the "what to do next" ?

particularly the cucumbers and squashes as i'm a bit hit and miss on them atm.

::)

[Barnowl]

If you chit courgettes, which way up do you subsequently plant them?