Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: emma h on February 21, 2006, 20:36:40

Title: Germination times
Post by: emma h on February 21, 2006, 20:36:40
I planted some peas i loo roll last week and they already 7inches high ;D

I also plated some broad beans in loo roll and some nasturtium seeds, but no sign of anything yet :(

They are all on a sunny windowsill, that is warmed by a radiator underneath...a bit like a heated propagator. Does this sound OK? Should I cover the beans and nasturtium with a clear plastic cover or have them in the dark (both were bought loose from the garden centre with no instructions)  Do germination times normally vary so much?

thanks
Title: Re: Germination times
Post by: sandersj89 on February 21, 2006, 20:44:42
Quote from: emma h on February 21, 2006, 20:36:40
I planted some peas i loo roll last week and they already 7inches high ;D


That has to be some sort of record! Peas 7" high only a week after sowing!!!!!!!

Sowing times do vary a huge amount, the temperature is the main factor.

But after germination light levels will influence growth. Too little light will produce tall weak plants. Etiolation.

Jerry
Title: Re: Germination times
Post by: emma h on February 21, 2006, 20:51:53
I know! maybe I do have green fingers ;D
The children are entranced, and sit watching them, convinced they can see them growing. The roots are well out of the bottom of the loo rolls, it's amazing.

We had a similar experience with sweetcorn a couple of years ago..you could hear them rustle as they grew, but the day after we planted them out they'd been eaten by slugs >:(
Title: Re: Germination times
Post by: Melbourne12 on February 22, 2006, 15:11:26
We've been planting broad beans recently, in a cool room.  They're taking about two weeks to show through, and are ready to go into the greenhouse for hardening off about two weeks after that.