Germinating marigold

[posie]

I put some marigold (French Bonita) seed into a seed tray about 10 days ago, covered it with compost, stuck a lid on it and put it into unheated greenhouse.  Should I have left the seeds on top of the soil, just asking because the other one's I've done (dwarf marigolds) have been done on top and they've germinated within 3 days but nothing from the French ones!  Start again??

[posie]

[silverbirch]

I cover mine, but I germinate everything indoors.  Have a poke around to see if they've started yet,10 days even in an unheated house seems a bit slow.

[kimbobill]

Try bringing them into the warm for a few days

[posie]

Hmmm, just had a poke around and out of 24 cells, not one is showing any signs of germinating  :o.  Think I'm going to bring them in for a few days, maybe put them in airing cupboard in the nights and see what happens.  If not, then I'll start again and try them just on surface of soil.

[jo9919]

I always start mine in a heated propagator. I lay the seed on top of the compost then cover with vermiculite.

I did this last Sunday and they were through within three days.

Jo.

[posie]

I've decided to start again, the whole tray was covered with some kind of green algae and in most of the cells, the seeds were nowhere to be seen, so potentially rotted.  Ah well, you live and learn and I've still got billions of marigold seeds left!!!

[star]

Some of mine germinated but lots didnt. I pricked out the seedlings and put the tray back in the propagator
two more have shown since yesterday :D

[jesssands]

I planted some seed from 2002, but they didn't take. just went mouldy.
Got some more french marigold seed and just layed them on top of damp compost like Kenkew said with just a lid on, popped them in the airing cupboard, did that last weds eve, the 1st ones were showing friday morning! wow
I just pricked them out and put them in pots. Had a small disaster tho, the ones that were left in the tub I thought I'd put back in the airer, gave them a water and turned my back, the wind blew and there they were plopped in a mess on the patio, scooped it back up and put it back in the airing cupboard.... god knows if I'll get a few more??? thought if I do i could pass them on to my friend, I got 54, that'll be plenty eh

[Tee Gee]

Here are some basic rules I use;

If a plant is half hardy then it needs heat to germinate.

If it is hardy or it says on the packet it can be sown directly into the soil at a given time, these will not require artificial heating.

Having said that it speeds things up a lot if you do.

[jesssands]

the disaster ones worked, couple of days and they have popped their heads up. bless them.

[Sparkly]

My french marigolds have germinated. What is the minimum size plot I could transplant the seedlings in? If I decide to plant them i seed trays, what distance apart is suitable. I have minimum seedling space left!

[Emagggie]

Same here sparkly, running out of space fast. I had a look at the amount that were sown in the garden centre poystyrene trays and did more or less the same amount in my trays (12 in a half size seed tray). They look fine.

[posie]

French Bonita says 8" apart if that helps.  All of mine have now germinated and I seem to have rather a lot of them!  ;D

[mrf94]

I had some saved seeds from my pot marigolds sprinkled them on compost in a tray covered with vermiculite placed over heat and there popping up left right and center.

Today i bought french and african marigolds there turn tomorrow

My propogater is a small single wick paraffin heater ( sump heater ),
placed under a stainless steel shelf big enough for three trays , sprinkled sand on shelf as a buffer and it works a treat.

[manicscousers]

threw all the rest of the seeds windygale sent me last year in the bed I'll be using for squash later, all popping up all over the place  ;D

[Emagggie]

About to sow marigold type seeds taken from flowers in Cyprus last hols, I hope they come true as they were a bit special. ;)