Garden Doctor > Seeds
Q I’ve sown my seeds but nothing has come up, what am I doing wrong?
A There are a number of reasons this may have happened and it doesn’t necessarily mean you have done anything wrong. Different seeds take different amounts of time to germinate. Some need very particular conditions before they start to grow. Some seeds, like some tree varieties, can take several months or even a year to germinate. Check the seed packet for details before you discard your efforts. The seed may be dead, it doesn’t stay viable forever and if it’s been stored incorrectly the seed can actually die. Always buy fresh seed from a reputable retailer. Unwins stocks garden centres nationwide and has a fantastic array of seeds for you to choose from. The seed packets are printed with full sowing instructions and information about the plants you are trying to grow. It even tells you how many plants to expect from one packet. It’s always a good idea to sow a few seeds from a packet first so that if there is a problem or you get poor germination you can sow more later. Sometimes if seed is sown too deeply it won’t germinate, this is because some seeds need light to germinate. It may be that the temperature of the compost has been too hot or too cold, check the packet for sowing instructions and try again. If the compost is allowed to dry out it may check germination and the seeds can die, conversely if the compost is too wet the seeds can rot and won’t germinate. Don’t let this put you off, try again and use fresh compost and clean pots.
Q My seedlings came up really well but then all collapsed and died, what’s the problem?
A It sounds like your seedlings have been affected by a fungal problem called damping off disease. It’s a common problem with young seedlings, especially early in the season and is often associated with poor growing conditions. It is essential to use clean pots and trays for each new batch of seedlings and to buy fresh, top quality seed compost to get the very best from your seeds. Dirty pots and old compost can introduce disease problems to your plants. Choose Westland John Innes Seed Sowing Compost. This is a well-drained compost that provides exactly the right growing conditions for your seeds In future try sowing fewer seeds to the pot and spread them out so that there is good airflow between the developing seedlings. Improve the ventilation in your greenhouse and keep the compost moist but not wet. Avoid it drying out as this can also cause seedling collapse.
Q My seedlings are all coming up nicely in pots but there are lots of small flies in the compost. What shall I do?
A It sounds as though the compost is too wet and not draining properly. Once these flies are noticeable they will have infested the compost in your pots and hundreds of eggs will have been laid. It is the larvae of these flies that do the most damage, feeding on roots and stems of susceptible plants, especially seedlings. Immature plants, cuttings and seedlings are most at risk of collapse. Damage to these plants can also allow other plant diseases such as fungal infections entry to the plant tissue. You can help the problem by reducing watering and allowing the compost to dry out a little in between watering. Don’t use reservoir based watering trays for seedlings, as the compost stays too wet. If possible prick out the seedlings as soon as possible into a loam based compost. Choose Westland John Innes No. 1 Young Plant Compost. Top dress mature plants that are growing the same area with 1cm thick mulch of Westland Horticultural Sand. Remove all dead and dying material from the greenhouse, especially within your pots of seedlings. When sowing in future always choose a John Innes Loam based compost such as Westland John Innes Seed Sowing Compost and cover the surface of the compost with a thin layer of silver sand to prevent adult flies from laying their eggs. Do not be tempted to use old compost as this can already be infected with pests and disease.
Q I don’t seem to get even germination from my seeds when I sow them. I’ve tried growing them in pots in the greenhouse and also in rows outside, what’s the problem?
A First of all check the quality of your seed. Seed packets should display a Best Before Date and if you are sowing after this date you are likely to get sporadic germination. For the very best results buy fresh seed and store in a cool dry place until planting. Unwins seeds are all germination tested prior to packing to ensure that only top quality seeds reaches our customers. You also need to look at the compost you are using. Old compost can harbor all manner of pests and diseases that can affect germination. When you are investing precious time and money into growing from seed it is pointless buying economy compost. Choose a dedicated seed compost that is specially formulated for growing seeds to get the very best from every packet. Westland John Innes Seed Sowing Compost is a great choice and will give you excellent results. Don’t forget that some seed is much more difficult to germinate than others, check the instructions on the packet for full sowing information or seek further advice about the plant variety you are truing to grow. If you are sowing the seed unevenly this can also create erratic emergence. It is quite difficult to sow very fine seed evenly, so mix it with Westland Silver Sand so that you can see where you have sown and ensure a more even spread of the seed. Old seed or uneven sowing can cause erratic emergence outside, but it may also be because the soil has not been prepared properly. You need to create a good seedbed for your seeds and to break up the soil to a fine tilth. Line seed drills with a generous layer of Westland MultiPurpose Compost with added John Innes and water this layer before sowing. Cover over with more of the same fresh compost and finally a thin layer of crumbly soil. Keep the seed drill moist to ensure even germination and protect the emerging seedlings from slugs using Westland Slug Buster and or Westland Slug Blocker.
Q I’ve successfully sown a number of different types of seedlings which have all come up but they are very tall and spindly and don’t look like I thought they would, any suggestions?
A It sounds like your seedlings have either been grown in an environment that is too warm and/or they have been starved of light. If they grow too quickly with a low light level they will grow tall and thin and lean towards the light. Another cause of this is if you so the seed too thickly. These plants will probably be OK when they have established. Prick them out as soon as possible into fresh compost and put them in a light and airy place to grow on. Pinch out the growing tips to make them bush out a bit and they may well recover, otherwise sow some fresh seed and start again, it won’t take long for a new batch of seedlings to catch up.
Q My seedlings came up fine a few days after sowing but have now disappeared? Where have they gone?
A The chances are your seedlings have become a tasty meal for something. Usual culprits are slugs and snails or if you have sown outdoors, pigeons can also eat young seedlings. Sometimes cats can dig up young seedlings if they use you seedbed as a litter tray. It’s important to identify the potential problem and to then employ suitable methods to stop it happening again. There’s nothing you can do about this batch of seedlings, but you can be prepared for next time. Slugs and snails can be controlled using Westland Slug Buster and/or Westland Slug Blocker. Seedlings can be protected from birds by covering them with horticultural fleece until they are bigger, or use a bird scarer. Cats can be deterred using ultrasound devices or pungent cat deterrents that offend their sense of smell. Ends
