I just found this and thought others might find it useful.
http://www.adrians.utvinternet.com/GoodEarth/vegseed.htm
That's an interesting one - wonder where he got his info.
The big trouble, of course, is that most folk don't have several propagators. It's always a fight for 'first'.
If you want a really good if somewhat odd read, try to get hold of a book by a Professor Deno, Seed Germination and Practice. This deals with all sorts of ways of getting seeds to germinate. Admittedly most of them are not vegetables,but it does make fascinating reading.
Thanks Aqui, I saved it for quick reference.
Adrian Saunders used (I don't think he still does) work on potatoes in Northern Ireland - he is a very knowledgeable gentleman
Phil
it is very helpful aqui!
Jem
It's bitter cold here at the moment. Having a job keeping the temp up in the greenhouse. I knew I should have got some bubble wrap. Hardly any movement at all. Still, there's time.
With reference to seed germination temperatures, i am presuming the 'optimum temperature needs to be maintained 24 hrs for best germination?
Of course acheiving these 'optimums' is extremely difficult for us amateur gardeners, I for one am having terrible trouble regulating the temperature in my greenhouse at the moment. Cold by night (even with the heater on) and if the sun shines during the day the temperature soars (even with an autovent).
What kind of effect will this have on germination? Is it worth sowng under these conditions or is it better to wait a bit until things settle down temeprature wise?
Seeds will germinate when conditions are right. Fluctuation doesn't help at all. I'v got some trays underway but as in previouse years I'm waiting a few weeks yet. Most of the 'late' sown ones always seem to catch up. Keeping the g'house constant is not an easy thing. Night time is naturally colder, if it was only cooler it would be more like normal, but we try to play at beating nature and get a head start but it's a constant battle against the elements and heating bills!
I put my seeds on top of my aquariuum,nice bodemheat.Almost all seeds like that warm feet.
Dare I repeat??
Despite the natural urge - unless you're made of money, & have a deadline to meet - just wait till the weather tells you it's time.
John will no doubt contribute on this one but I beleive that seeds germinate reasonably well across a range of temperatures (at least 20 degrees C).
Provided you don't overcook or freeze them they will germinate but the rate will be less than the optimum.
If you wait until temps level off you won't sow anything for a month or so and then may well be behind.
You can play safe by sowing half now and saving half for a while
Phil
I think that the link showed that. But there's a bottom point for everything.
And what do you do with seedlings in an unheated 'house? Ours is well below freezing at present.
just a thought, guys.
allotmenteers seem to be the kind of people who are very interested in recycling stuff either for the allotment, or as a general rule. trying to live without chemicals - generally doing the right thing by mother nature.
running electric heating in a greenhouse in these conditions, however, doesnt seem very environmentally friendly to me... :-\
like i said, just a thought. no offence meant.
Glad you said that Tim. I am begining to feel quite left behind when I read what people have sown already. I have toms, chillis, aubs, leeks and spring onions underway, that is all.
Have the heater all set up in the double lagged greenhouse know tho, so maybe I will start to catchup! ;D
My main interest in the germination temperatures are so I can judge when to sow things outside. I really am rapidly running out of room again indoors. My propagator only does one temperature - far too hot for most things.
Really I just wanted to know when it'd be safe to sow leeks outside. Obviously not just yet!
Emma - that is all?? I have nothing sown yet. Poor me!
Aqui - so sorry to divert. Leeks? I would not risk them till mid-March - at best. The soil will probably tell you?
aquilegia :)
Good information saved it as a Reference...thanks :) ;)
No panic Tim, Out of the trays I've sown there's only leeks and sweetpeas showing, and that's with some heat too. Nah, I'm happy to wait a little while yet. As I said, past experience as proved that most seedling catch up when the weather changes. Worrying about being behind at this time of year is worrying about nowt at all.
I only have broad beans sown so far as I don't have heat. No rush though it will come soon enough. I learned the hard way last year and lost all me hanging baskets and had to start all over again with bought plants. Ouch!! 8) Rosemary
Not too early,not too deep,not too close
QuoteNot too early,not too deep,not too close
That sounds like wise advise. I think I like you, welcome aboard Rose.mary ;) ;D
Like tim i too have nothing (much) sown yet, just a few lettuce and corn salad in a growbag in the greenhouse. My greenhouse is a bit too cold and I havent yet summoned the courage to try anything else yet.
That website somebody found giving temperatures hasnt really given me much encouragement to do so, usefull though it is.
Quote from: Svea on February 28, 2005, 08:25:23
running electric heating in a greenhouse in these conditions, however, doesnt seem very environmentally friendly to me...
No offence taken Svea, the amount of heat used to heat a bench or propagator to beta the freezing that Tim complains of is trivial - my 4' x 2'6" uses around a unit a day in v. cold weather.
Phil
As comparison, may I show this again?
As I understand it, a heated whatever can only give you a 20F lift. I could not, therefore, be raising toms etc in the lean-to at present.
If I raised them inside, they would go out onto the bench where, again, I could not maintain 60F bottom heat. And although the toms in the pic are almost ready for out (April), they certainly can't go for some weeks - into a cold house.
In this weather, a 6'x3' 300W bench would cost about 50p/day. Too much for an OAP! If I bide my wee, it will be less than half that in a month's time. I reckon.
So -Â we wait until both the unit & my pocket can cope.
PS Capillary bench with tanks on the left.
Tim,
I was only suggesting the electrical heating to stop your freezing problems and hence speed the germination of theings like Broad Beans at this time of year.
Sowing toms etc for planting out or even an unheated greenhouse now is far too early.
You could vote Tory and spend your Council tax rebate on electricity! ;)
Phil
We don't get it - 'cos one daughter lives with us!!!
My spiel, btw, was for general elucidation.
What Tim Tories !! or Council Tax!!
I don't think one can generalize about times to sew outside as it depends on the area you live in.
My plot is in Halifax and I have been digging and working on it, Saturday(not so good),Sunday and Monday superb after 11am. I have a friend who lives in Alwoodley, Leeds and he has snow on the ground. That is a distance of only 20-25 miles.
Nothing to do with temps - but our ground won't be even diggable, let alone sowable - for at least 3 weeks.
It's just sog!
Tim ;)
Nothing to do with Gardening.....Checked out the Photo
Excellent as an Ex Serviceman....my Complements
On this Point Tim I am Very Serious
Mike
Quote from: tim on March 02, 2005, 09:07:15
My spiel, btw, was for general elucidation.
Sorry (again) Tim,
I didn't quite rise to the level of General in my 20 years working for the Queen so I missed your point ;)
Phil
Hello Tim,
As you have probably gathered I am new to allotments and I only got to share a plot on January 15 2005. It was in a bad state as the man who has it had lost heart a bit.
I had to start diggong at once if I wanted to plant in Mar/April and I have been very lucky with the weather. I have managed to dig 3-4 days a week(apart from last week) from 11am - 4.45pm. At first my boots got very heavy with mud until I hit on the idea of laying a layer of sand down before I started digging. So far I have dug 8 plots, the minimum being 4' x 16'. I have had to cope with clay soil,couch grass,bind weed, dandelions,and docks. I have added lots of river sand and because I have not got any compost ready I have bought lots of cheap grow bags and added those as well.
By the way I too remember the war days and digging for victory. ;D
Rosemary
Well done you!
Yes - 'breaking the ground' is an essential, and something you can do, as opposed to the 'refining' that I have to do. Walking on mine now would just clod it down & negate all the lovely work the frost has done.
Rose.mary,
It sounds as though you have beds - one of the great advantages of which is that you can cultivate them when the soil is too wet to walk on.
As Tim says - well done you
Phil
Thank you Tim and Phil. I do feel in need of encouragement at the moment.
I am in my late 60's and gave up my garden 3 years ago thinking I was getting too old to keep up to it, but I suffered badly ever spring my fingers itching for the soil :(, so I took on this challenge not knowing if I could even dig. :-
My plot did not have beds as such , but on reading the good advice, given out by your goodselves, I decided to create raised beds to aid drainage. I just trod down the dug soil (very messy)where I wanted the paths to be and dug it down a little -thus creating raised beds. I have now laid down bits of carpet on the paths to reduce muddy boots. It seems to be working O.K. as I went down to check if things were O.K. this morning and there are one or two little pools where the beds have drained off. :)
Rosemary
Blimey Rose.mary. You must be fit and strong! I have a 3m x 3m patch of clay soil to dig (hasn't been cultivated in years), with Mr Aqui's help and we're half your age. But it's far too heavy and cold to start on yet. I'd do my back in after one hour's digging!
I like the idea of carpeted paths. Good practice for when you meet the Queen for your devotion to duty medal??
Nothing doing Tim, the carpets are not red, or if they are you can't see the colour for muck[/i
Rosemary
Rosemary - this is for many others too - if it makes you cross that you've mucked up your spelling, or photo or whatever, just 'modify' & re-do it??
Good to Know :)
Thank you Tim