[Jimmy Splash]

except spuds, french beans and radishes. Everything i plant from seed takes about a month later than what the packet suggests to shoot. And then it struggles and dies. Even flowers. Sorry, just a rant

[compostqueen]

Are you following the seed packet instructions to the letter, about sowing times etc? 

[DD.]

Everything i plant from seed

If you could be specific, the members could have a think about what the problem may be.

[Jimmy Splash]

my swede packet says the i'll have shoots between 7-14 days. i planted them directly into the soil a month ago (as per instructions)

my packet of wildflowers i planted approx 2 months ago. i've got 1 flowering bud. i water them as per instructions.

i don't lose sleep over this. it's just abit frustrating and odd

[paintedlady]

my swede packet says the i'll have shoots between 7-14 days. i planted them directly into the soil a month ago (as per instructions)

I always sow my swede seed in seed tray modules with compost and plant on when bigger (it originally started this way because I needed to get their bed ready first) - even with seed that is 4 years old, there is still well over 80% germination rate making an appearance after just 5 days.  When they get bigger and the root ball fills the cell but before they get "pot bound", they'll get planted out in their final site.  Swede seedlings make great slug/snail snack so its possible your seeds came up, then got eaten before you got overly excited by it all.

Now flowers - I get mixed results, as they are not really my thing.  Sowing them in trays in a controlled environment at home and planting stuff out seems to work much better for me than scattering/sowing in situ - again, I think the combination of weather (too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry) and hungry pests do a lot more damage than you might imagine.

[sunshineband]

Couple of things to think about

- do you plant into a drill already watered?
- do you plant at the right depth? Seedlings can run out of energy before reaching the surface (unless they are weeds of course  )
- do you water them too hard so the top of the soil dries into a pan they cannot break through?

Just thoughts you understand 

[Livinhope]

Just a thought but has the soil had any 'food', growmore or compost, anything to help because it sounds as though the seedlings could run out of nutrition.

[Springlands]

Hi Jimmy Splash - do not know how long you have been growing veggies but there are a couple of books that may help if you are a beginner (I have been growing for ** years and still refer to them). One is the Vegetable Expert and the other is Grow your own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom. The various areas on this website are also useful.

[DD.]

Ahem - forgetting a couple of useful books aren't we?

[Yorkie]

Ahem - forgetting a couple of useful books aren't we?

You mean the ones by that John chap?? 

http://www.allotment-garden.org/book/index.php

[Springlands]

Oops  That me in the bad books   

[Babstreefern]

Apart from root veg, I start all my veg in trays and/or pots.  You should see the conservatory from January through to April, you can't move.  With root veg, in my case, parsnip and swede, I planted them straight into the ground.  I used drills, and they are doing great.  I must admit I don't grow carrots, I've never been successful with them.

[SG6]

When the packet says germinates in 7-24 days do they specify the conditions?

I wonder if 7-14 days means heated growing medium, optimum light conditions and constant misting/watering as is found in indoor commerical growing. Or similar conditions in their glass houses from which they can then draw the values stated.

You garden soil outside in the wind, cool nights, sun, cold rain etc do not quite match.

Cannot help why they sprout and die, mine seem to sprout, grow a little then stop and neither grow any more or die.

[Jimmy Splash]

Couple of things to think about

- do you plant into a drill already watered?
- do you plant at the right depth? Seedlings can run out of energy before reaching the surface (unless they are weeds of course  )
- do you water them too hard so the top of the soil dries into a pan they cannot break through?

Just thoughts you understand 

that is very interesting....i didn't take the watering of seeds too 'hard' into consideration nor about the depth of seed planting. i shall take this onboard.
i sometimes start out with seed trays but if the packet says i can put them straight into the soil then i normally do!

[compostqueen]

yes, I sow direct into the soil if possible as it saves work.  It's so true though that you think your seeds haven't germinated but they've actually been grazed off by slimeys. This is one of the reasons for some folks getting stuff going in seed trays etc to get a goodly sized plant which will better withstand attack

There are always losses but you'd expect something to come up from your sowings. I mean if you spill a packet of seed you always get 100 % germination