[sharky]

I sowed some marigold seeds for companian planting and they came up within 36 hours, and also the beetroot seeds that I planted on friday are popping up today also! Very fast germination IMO, esp the beetroot with their tough woody pods.

[retrorose]

Gosh, are they outside? I planted mine on sunday; marigold, californian poppies, poached egg plant as well as some veg. Must check.

[purplebean]

Some of the aubergines that I sowed on Saturday are through today, the packet says 14 - 21 days but it took 3!!

[richyrich7]

Marigold are some of the fastest plants to sow for flowers, expect to have flowers in 13 weeks from sowing.    

[cawdor2001]

are the marigolds to distract cabbage white butterflies?  will you plant them next to brassicas?

Cawdor

[DD.]

Never heard of them being used to deter cabbage whites, but certainly white fly.

[gobs]

Never heard of them being used to deter cabbage whites, but certainly white fly.

I believe that to be true, for white fly of brassica, which is a moth, indoors, now how much it works outdoors I donno...

[fivespud364]

yep its surprising how quick things germinate geraniums are on of our quickest usually about 48 hrs

[littlelisa]

I think marigolds were the first thing I ever planted as a kid - used to collect the dead flower heads around my parents' swimming pool in Cape Town, and throw the seeds into empty containers... and they just sprang up like crazy :-)

[cynthialilly]

Littlelisa, they were my first plants as well (at the age of 5).  Coming from an equally warm climate (Bahamas), mine went directly into the ground and it never ceased to amaze me how quickly they flowered and all they required was a bit of water.

[littlelisa]

Speaking of fast germination... what about slow germination?? I sowed some herbs last week (28/08) in seedling trays. (Curly and flat parsley; sweet basil, red basil, sorrel, mint and rosemary, all planted in compost called Miracle-Gro) They've been out on the balcony since then, so not particularly warm. Not a single green shoot yet. How long should I wait before assuming they're a lost cause and planting more??

[WhippetMaster]

Give it at least another two weeks before you dig down and disturb the seedlings. A lot of things take a couple of weeks to surface.
Be aware of cold weather crops as they rot in heat, I have just sowed some peas and they were too warm and rotted in the soil. Don't overwater!!!

[littlelisa]

Hey Whippetmaster, thanks for the advice - will leave them as they are and carry on planting more in trays just in case ...

I don't think heat is the problem right now, with the bbc forecasting *snow* again at the weekend  :roll: ... but SOOO glad the sun is out today :-)

[Ruby Red]

Marigold are some of the fastest plants to sow for flowers, exp
ect to have flowers in 13 weeks from sowing.    

 
 Do you mean pot marigold or the french marigold. (tagetes). I keep reading posts about them but I thought it was the french ones because of the horrible smell that put the pests off.  :?

[richyrich7]

Marigold are some of the fastest plants to sow for flowers, exp
ect to have flowers in 13 weeks from sowing.    

 
 Do you mean pot marigold or the french marigold. (tagetes). I keep reading posts about them but I thought it was the french ones because of the horrible smell that put the pests off.  :?

It's the french type Ruby...well I hope it is that's the one I use:lol:  but I must admit the pot marigold are far more charming and pretty IMO.