Germinated seeds need help

[wendya]

My first time sowing seeds, firstly sowed Flaxtoad 28/2 started showing  3 days ago

But not much growth at all, compared to Cosmos sown 5/3 that came up same day as flaxtoad but are  much bigger. My question is when should any be moved to a bigger pot, I have no idea.

[Ladygardener]

Well done wendya , different seeds will be of different sizes so don't worry. For most seeds, they say to prick them out / move them to a bigger pot when they develop their first set of true leaves. I tend to bury most seedlings right up to just below where the leaves are, this helps prevent them looking too weak and leggy.

[wendya]

So I am presuming, 2 leaves (like above has) isn't their first set of leaves? sorry i just dont know

[Ladygardener]

Mar 13, 2014 11:11:10 GMT wendya said:

So I am presuming, 2 leaves (like above has) isn't their first set of leaves? sorry i just dont know

Don't apologise wendya, you're right, those are not their proper leaves, only seed leaves that most of the little seedlings produce to feed themselves while the real ones grow. They are called Cotyledon and will sometimes just disintegrate when the plant grows up. You'll know right away when the real ones appear, they'll be very different looking.

gardenworld.proboards.com/thread/7364/show-seedlings Have a look on here wendya, there are examples of a lot of little seedlings here and you might find it interesting.

[wendya]

Brilliant at least now i can see some seedlings like they should be

Thank you

[maggy]

I must say they didnt take long to germinate Wendy have they got bottom heat? cosmos are a leggy seedling dont worry about it as L.G says you will soon notice the second set of leaves and when you do prick them out make sure you only handle the seed leaves thats the first set, a loolipop stick or something similar underneath helps to release them while holding the seed leaves gently lower into the new compost, you might find small cardboard pots are ideal, then you dont have to disturb them again just plant the whole pot in situe.

[wendya]

No I haven't got any heat in the room at all Maggy. But not much change at all.

[maggy]

You don't want them ready too soon Wendy, you don't want to put them outside until late May or early June ideally not like me I am a very wicked and cruel gardener that needs to get hers out late April this year!! usually mid May as I pop off on a six week holiday in our van leaving them to God and good neighbours

[wendya]

Oh no so long think mine will be moving out in April too. But my balcony is very sheltered Maggy so hopefully they can stay there until they can be planted down stairs in the communal garden.

Question,i have cornflower seeds just germinating, so will i need to keep these inside too until April or May

[maggy]

Ive only grown cornflowers straight into the ground outside, even then Ive waited until the end of April when the soil warms up as long as you harden them off by putting them out in trays and bringing them in again for a week then plant them out, you could do a second sowing straight outside in the communal garden so the flowering season lasts longer, they make lovely cut flowers as well.

[wendya]

Thanks will keep them in a while longer yet, having no luck at all with ones i have sown direct (poppys Cherry glow and Californian) so maybe too early for them.

[Jilly]

It may be worth trying again with the outdoor seeds wendya, just a little sprinkle every week until you get something. I will say though, that although it's meant to be really easy to direct sow hardy annuals, I find it very hit & miss. I seem to have more success sowing in around September, I've noticed quite a few poppies & Calendula coming up now that I sowed in the Autumn, they were my home collected seeds & as Poppies produce thousands from just one seed head I could afford to be generous & not worry what came up. I'd be happy to send you some of this years when I get them.

[wendya]

Oh thank you Jilly that would be nice if i dont get any to grow, I will wait a few more weeks and re try the poppies.
But glad to say my 3 cornflower germinated seedlings are looking good now, I will try direct sowing of these too in a few weeks. I just feel better when i can see them in my home or balcony as worried when they are downstairs, either cats foxes or idiots in the vicinity will mess them up.

[wendya]

Oh so excited my poppies that i sowed direct are appearing Californian one definitely, maybe Cherry glow too although not totally sure on those ones, took about 4 weeks.

[wendya]

Have now transferred cosmos one in each small pot, as now got more leaves but my toadflax are a mess i think i will start again with those as nothing happening.

[maggy]

You have to have patience Wendy the toadflax looked fine !! but do you know they are a wild flower? you could have planted them straight outside! I have mauve that grows in my front garden I pull it out as it grows so big!! what does your packet look like.

[wendya]

Its Sarah Raven seeds but your probably right i am not very patient. It says can be sown outside too but not until late May, may try that if these seedling don't work they are not looking too healthy, compared to my cosmos.
Im just really trying things Maggy as never sown seeds before, so quite exciting to me

[maggy]

Well I can tell your enjoying it Wendy and all of us started just the same as you just relax and try different seeds I must admit I don't now sow as many seeds as I used to as we go away a lot once April comes and I only end up arguing with my O.H as he wants to be off and Im worrying about leaving seedlings !! so now I buy plug plants and get them in earlier then just cross my fingers that they grow on their own. But I did about 20 years ago before we got the wanderlust have a greenhouse full to bursting and loved it.

[wendya]

I thought i would show the seedlings and how they are devloping, now these are the cornflowers sown inside. Hopefully soon will be able to sow direct more downstairs



And here we have Cosmos, that are doing rather well



The flax toad I have moved from cell pt too as looked liek they would die, they are looking a little better now but still very small.

[wendya]

whoops not sure how to edit, last one is same pic, here is toad flax, oh dear i think that is the name i have called Flax toad above.

[Ladygardener]

They all seem to be doing well for you wendya, don't worry about misspelling or words going round the wrong way, I knew what you ment.

[Ladygardener]

wendya when you post something, for a limited time you will see edit beside the quote on the right hand side of your post. If you click it, it will bring your post up and you can highlight and delete or add on to or change what you've posted or written.

[Dutchy]

Hey Wendya just found your thread. You are growing indoors and one can see the seedlings stretching to the light.
If you have the space for it try putting some reflective material like silver kitchen foil behind them so the light from the window is reflected back on them and they get light from outside and a little extra from behind the pots inside.
It works for me. Just keeping the flimsy foil in place can be a bit of a haggle but I tend to fold it on the edge of the pot so it stays upright and works like a perfect ( ahemmmm ) mirror behind them.

As for anything else you seem to be doing a good job
Happy growing.

[wendya]

OK thank you, I had foil on the top of the windowsill but when I transferred it was easier to put seedlings into containers to water them. So do you mean standing up at the side of the seedlings ? I have obviously not read this correctly before, if i put the silver foil under the seed trays

[Barbara]

I just turn my pots around every day Wendya, not to make the seeds dizzy, but to straighten them up, I find it stops them leaning over. I hope that helps, exciting this gardening lark isn't it.