[crilly]

First of all i would like to say thanks for allmthe help i've received over the last few days, its been great.

Now this may sound like a stupid question, but how you you produce bushy seedlings like you buy in the garden centre's.  I have been growing from seeds for anfew years now but have never managed to produce anything near.  What is there secret.

[Baldy]

Hi crilly,

I'm by no means an expert but here's my tu'penny.
Light. (well, mostly)

Not all seeds are the same - obviously - but particularly this time of year the amount/length of daylight available is very low. For many plants if you start the seeds off in Jan/Feb/March they will get 'leggy' - i.e. they grow tall and spindly - this usually leads to poor results. So, its often a case of patience - don't sow the seeds before the conditions are right. Commercial growers will tend to have an artificial environment to bring their seedlings on that is near perfect for them. You can also try to use tinfoil reflectors and artificial lights and so on - as appropriate.

Its not all about that though - for instance I've got lots of sweet peas in my unheated greenhouse at the moment - most of which I've 'pinched out' once they've got a couple of leave - by removing the top growth I'm encouraging this particular plant to grow additional side growth - but you won't see sweet peas in the garden centres at the moment. 

Cheers,
Balders

[Baldy]

Also - my seedlings, like my tomato plants, will go from small and unimpressive to very big and vigorous very quickly ( well the ones that actually do ok) - so in perhaps a matter of two weeks they would be too big for many GC's - who are selling / rotating their stock on a regular basis.

Cheers,
Balders

[surbie100]

Tin foil collars & a south facing windowsill work for me.

[Baldy]

Nice...
 

Cheers,
Balders