6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

I agree with the above statement.

Yeah, too much water. You should let the soil dry out 2/3 before watering again. I prefer bottom water which means you set the plants (in the containers) in a shallow pan of water and let them drink (suck it up themselves). When the top of the soil glistens they are done drinking and you can dump the rest of the water out.

Lambs ears also do not like their leaves wet, they tend to rot.

Try to remember that love is not water. It seems like we all water and fertilize our seedlings more when they look sad, but in fact the extra wate is harming them. I would get a fan on them and dry them out for a bit.

Damp off looks like you pinched the stem at the soil line and then they just fall over.....this is a pretty fast progression, 24 hours or less... no real 'heads-up'.

Just for comparison, when my seedlings were your size I watered once a week...but it also depends on temps, container size ect.

Let them dry out and they will perk back up for you!

Keriann~

Thanks everyone!

I will switch to bottom watering and I will try to water less. I just hope I don't let them die of dehydration now! I was watering once a day cuz the soil looked dry on the top but with top watering I might've not been giving them enough in one sitting. Since humidity is up though, that's changed hence the every other day watering. But now I will just spread it out, way out! I'll try to make it once a week if I can resist. *LOL*

How long should I give them before trying to harden off? (Assuming they get healthy again.)

I guess I mixed up misting with the plants I'm rooting? I think I read that they like misting. Then again, I tried that with the coleus I was trying to root and, although it rooted, the whole thing rotted shortly thereafter. More victims! Ahh, another question for another forum section...

I do not waste seeds like that. Some are too expensive to just pinch back 1/3 of what germinates. Besides even if it isn't that expensive it's a waste

When sowing in my greenhouse I start my seeds in shallow containers. You could do the same using lights. My favorite is the 4 x 41/2 x 2 inch plastic containers that mushrooms come in. I put drainage holes in the bottom. When my seedlings get their second leaves--or sometimes before that--I transplant them into individual containers.

When direct sowing I thin and transplant too. In the garden when sowing small seeds like carrots it is easy to get them too thick. I will thin them and cook up the little carrots. When they are small like that and fresh from the garden using a scrubbie removes the skin.

So don't waste seed. It is not necessary

I have had the same thought. And like Taz, I can't bring myself to pinch off or thin out seedlings.

I think the whole idea behind square foot gardening where you plant one seed exactly the spacing you want it is fantastic. If something doesn't come up then put one more seed in that spot.

Check out the square foot gardening forum. Lots of info there.

Birds will pull up seedlings without disturbing the soil at all in most cases. Snails or slugs will eat the plant off, not pull it up. I have to protect my seedlings from rats, squirrels and birds as well as snails. Al

Thanks, sleepy33 and Al

I stuck plastic forks tines up in basket - squirrels not bothered them so far..but like an idiot, I left the nearby nasturtium basket(without forks) and today one of the nasturtium seedling missing - the cover of seed at the root was all that I cud see! maybe its birds this time!!I have stuck forks in that basket too..

I wanted to know - now there are 2 nasturtium seedlings left in that 14" basket(and its only nasturtium in the basket) would 2 seedlings be less to fill up the basket?

Its Nasturtium whirlybird Mix - the packet says - Ht 12" - ideal for bedding, pots and hanging baskets..

Thanks for any advise..

It really all depends on the plant type as oilpainter said.

For example petunias: I would wait till they have 6-8 true leaves, verbena I wait till they are 3-4 inches..... and then harden them off. Be sure to read the FAQs on this forum about hardening off, it would be terrible to lose all your seedlings that far along.

Keriann~

I have a similar question, but have specific plants?

what's the rule of thumb for transplanting the following:
- tomatillos
- eggplants
- thai peppers (anything close)

thanks.

What a coincidence! It's going to be a hectic weekend; my birthday is the 30th, and that's also my parents wedding anniversary. This year is their 40th, and they are having a big party, for which I am making 9 dozen cupcakes. Can you say stress?? :)

I was thinking the same thing, too, that it can't be good for all of the containers to be so wet for this long, but I didn't want to put them under the overhang and limit their sun even more. I'll bring in what I can fit under my basement light setup tonight; it's supposed to be sunny tomorrow (knock wood PLEASE don't jinx it) so I can stick them back outside in the morning.

I would gladly send you some of this rain, I have never seen it rain this much for this many days in a row. We had a terrible winter, too, with several snowstorms that left feet of snow behind- not typical at ALL.

Sleepy:

Make your cupcakes now and freeze them uniced. Then the day before the wedding or even the day of the Anniversary, bring them up and ice them frozen. They are much easier to ice when they are frozen. I'd use the canned icing too. I find it just as good as home made and a heck of a lot less bother--especially the cream cheese one.

May is a big month in my family too. My husband's birthday is the 21st, our Anniversary the 29th and my son's birthday the 31st. Add in Mother's and Father's days and it is a pretty packed month.

The seed count tends to depend on whether it's a special variety and also whether it's something that doesn't set a lot of seed. I haven't bought anything from Burpee in quite some time. I ordered Crambe cordifolia seeds about 2 years ago from Thompson & Morgan. They sent 6 seeds. All six seeds germinated, and I now have 6 huge plants (one of them bloomed for the first time this year, it was spectacular!).

When I grew a lot of veggies as a kid, we tended to put 3 seeds in each mound for squash, so 6 seeds does sound a bit skimpy! Of course, 3 plants of zucchini will serve the needs of a fairly large city.

--Ron

This is an old thread, but I have my two cents to add. I bought Burpee Candy Cane zinnia seeds back in March, planted them early, and patiently waited for them to bud. Candy Canes are red and white - these came up all yellow. I am NOT happy. I also bought a pack of purple prince and every flower is a slightly different color purple. I guess that's okay, but they don't look like the photo on the seed packet. :(
Has anyone else had problems this year with the flowers seeds not being what you bought?

You started them far too early. By now they are sure to be very stressed and weak. No matter what is done now, I would not expect much from these plants. Al

One quick question, hope somebody knows the answer?
Are black cherry cherry tomato's real heirlooms? or are they
a hybrid? I read they were invented by a gentlemen named Sapp, in Florida.
I want to save the seeds if in fact they will be true
to this years plant.

Thank you
Tom

She is a lawyer.... she can handle it : )

Now you can say you are a mushroom farmer : )

Keriann~

'Shrooms, man. Between this and the pot farm that the guy at food mart thinks I am running, I may be getting a visit from the feds before long. :) I just can't believe it burst right out the side of the cup like that; I mean, those cups can get a little soggy, but it still usually takes some effort to poke/tear through them. That's one determined mushroom!

A week ago I transplaned 5 Hyacinth Bean plants I started from seed and none of them are going to make it. I'll just plant new seeds in another week or so. The cold nights we've been having were too much for these plants.

Everyone, thanks for the comments.

We had some warmer weather of the last couple of days in Chicago and both the vines did well overnight. I planted everything in containers on Sunday and the vines are doing well.

I think that the Hyacinth in particular was just more sensitive to cold/windy weather. I'll remember that for next year.

Take care, Pat

Oh, and btw Keriann- there are several buds on my biggest nonstop begonias now! They've come a long way from the puny, struggling little things that they were a few months ago. I'll take some pics when they open. :)

Hey Sleepy I am so excited about your begonias :) I can not wait to 'see' them.

Wedding: I think because it is fun and casual, your arrangements should have the same feeling. It is hard to get specific becuase every plant s different, some more mature, some blooming ect. I would wing it and put things together that visual look good. Make sure you take into consideration the height of the conatiner when planting. I have done some amazing pots with all of the same flower and then some mixed... just different looks.

You have a great eye, I would trust it on these arragements. Play around with them, it will come to you!

Keriann~

I have grown annual poppies that reseed every year for me. I start them in styrofoam cups and although poppies hate to be transplanted, I planted the seedlings early enough that they grew fine for me. They would have probably done better direct sown, but at least you know that there may be some hope for your peat pot poppies! ;) California poppies are really good re-seeders for me.

I think the California poppies are the pretty pink ones? I have those and they do reseed for me like crazy too. They are so pretty like paper machete. I also have grown the Oriental Poppies from seed. I direct sowed those too. The first yr. they were just leaves and the second they bloomed. They should be blooming for me in a few weeks... Very robust plant.

Ah, I have asked myself that question on more than one occasion over the years.

I was young and foolish and thought I was in love. So I quit my job and moved back here to follow my heart. I guess it turned out okay. At least I ended up with three of my kids from that ill-fated path. They are worth it.

So you're in HI, momstar? Wow, that was a trek, huh? I suppose the scenery is nothing to scoff at at least?