[missmoneypenny]

I often don’t get great germination rates so I’m just wondering whether it’s worth pre chitting?

[Blewit]

I used to start them off in pots, tried chitting them too but achieved the best results by sowing three seeds direct where they were going to grow and remove the weakest. The plants seem stronger too when sown direct, probably the deep roots they put down.

[Subversive_plot]

I honestly can say whether or not it will help. Possibly chitting could help allow the plant to grow a bit before some squirrel or rabbit ears it!

Last year I tried planting a row of them, every seed was dug up and eaten. I tried a hardware cloth row cover, the squirrels somehow found a way in, same result.

This year? A volunteer sunflower is coming up behind the spinach, probably dropped by a squirrel or bird after visiting the feeder!

[missmoneypenny]

Thanks guys, and sorry for being late to reply. In the end I chitted them for about 5 days. None of them sprouted but several swelled up promisingly. Have potted on so we’ll see what happens . Usually when I plant them out I have to massively protect against snails. But I have also had a volunteer sunflower or twosurvive without protection  in the past, I guess those are tougher. Fingers crossed!

[missmoneypenny]

So I chitted  and planted. Radio silence. I had a little rummage around and nothing, just a few husks. They all duds ☹️. Have purchased some new seed.