I often write about seeds, I did a quick search on the blog and found 9 posts that had something to do with seed buying, planting, growing, looking, dreaming….. I think you get the picture and you may have read some of these past posts.
Growing from seed is one of my greatest pleasures in gardening, I love waiting and anticipating the first sight of green from the soil. I decided that I would try and grow as many flower and vegetable seedlings myself this season and try not to buy any.
I started August 20th, I made soil blocks for my fist batches, I have 2 heating mats and used these as well. I was very happy with my first batch of flower seeds most of them germinated, I have salvia, rudbeckia, scabiosa, poppies, zinnia, corn cockle and cosmos about 40 seedlings to plant, a great success for me.
My vegetable seeds I planted at the end of August, I have been very unhappy with the germination rate. I have had to re-seed tomatoes 3 times and of the 25 I planted I have 10 germinate. Capsicums and chillies have been shocking, I have had them on the heating mat as they need heat to germinate and again have done 3 re-seeds and only 2 germinated. No chillies have come up yet, basil only 1 plant, beans super slow to germinate, no eggplants and I can see a couple of cucumber shoots only now.
I am still sowing seeds and will continue to do it weekly, I think I will have to buy some single advance seedlings to have some early crops but fingers crossed for some of the capsicums to sprout as I was really excited about the varieties I found.
Harvesting
- Fennel
- Peas
- Coriander, it’s going to seed now
- The last of the broccoli
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Beetroot
- Lots of spring flowers
Jobs to do
I need to connect the irrigation for my 3 new garden beds, I bought a 50m roll of water pipe which I use to make the shade structures for my beds have a few more to make. Get ready for early October planting.
Thanks to the girls from Garden share collective, Lizzie, Kate and Krystie who each month encourage us to share our gardens and what we are growing. I have really enjoyed having a theme to write about, thanks girls
gardening hands 
I enjoyed reading all about your seed sowing Jill. It’s addictive isn’t it? In Spring here in the UK I had one occasion where almost none of the plants I sowed on that day germinated. I sowed again and they all came up. I knew my methods work and the seeds were all viable so what could it be? Then I came across an article about biodynamic gardening and discovered from their timetable that my failure day was the worst possible time to sow. It could be a coincidence or it could be that the moon does have an effect on our plants.
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Thanks Gillian, the moon cycle is something to consider.
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Growing from seed is always a bit hit and miss, but it’s a good feeling when you pick the end product. I’ve had years when the germination rate is so bad, and I’ve re-sown so many times, I’ve just given up and bought punnets of seedlings instead.
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I know Jan, that may be me with capsicums this year!
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I don’t think I have ever seen someone use a heat mat for seeds before! I use to have one for hatching baby chicks but I guess if it works you go with it. Plenty going on in your garden and loads of fresh seeds waiting to burst through the soil – I can already see some happy tomatoes.
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Really, the hydroponic shops do a roaring trade in heat mats of all different sizes and for a good price.
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I’ve always wanted a heating mat to start peppers and eggplants and soil blocks seem like such a great way to start seeds. Your flowers are so beautiful and your fennel and pea plants look really healthy. And the new raised beds look amazing.
I’m not sure what seed starting medium you’re using but when I got away from peat moss based ones I had more success starting peppers, my theory is they don’t like the acidity. Baker Creek seed company says peppers need light to germinate, so I plant the seeds fairly shallowly as well. Peppers and eggplants are definitely a challenge to start.
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Thanks for that info, I have been making my own seed raising mix and coir/peat moss is 50% of the mix I will try some commercial mix I have.
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A heating mat is a brilliant idea! I too did not have much luck with the capsicum or chilli seeds planted at the end of August. I am replanting them this weekend. Your peas, fennel and flowers are gorgeous 😀
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Good luck Merryn, I am seeding once a week now so will hope for more capsicums.
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