[GraciesGran]

Bought some Amish paste tomato seeds.  Treated them to new pots and compost, followed the instructions to the letter and not one of them have germinated.  The half packet of unknown beefsteak type tomatoes, best before 2018 are going great guns in an old pot with some cheap compost!

[jaydig]

It might be worth getting in touch with the seller just in case you have received a bad batch of seed.

[GraciesGran]

I will do.  Have given them every opportunity, perhaps I'm better off ill  treating me seeds!  My sister sent me some heritage tomato seeds and they are being sown today - under the ' bung  them in a pot and hope method'.

[Growster...]

I'm having trouble with 'Tiger Stripe' and 'Sungold' at the moment! 60% germination.

The 'Shirley' and 'San Marzano' have only been in a few days, but I'll do some more of the latter today!

As this year is already about three weeks behind, I'm not that bothered yet, but it looks as though my record of fresh toms in the second week of July won't happen in 2021...

[Christine]

Hmm my Sungold seeds dated plant by 2020 seem to be coming along gently.

[GraciesGran]

Have emailed them.  The website says they aim to reply in 48 hours.  Which makes it Wednesday as they are a Monday to Friday set up.

[Subversive_plot]

I get increased germination by chitting tomato seeds before putting them in a pot with compost.

Fold a paper towel in the bottom of a plastic food storage container. If you are growing more than one type of tomato, write the variety name on the towel with a waterproof pen. Get the towel thoroughly wet, drain off standing water. Put the seeds on top of the wet towel and put the lid on the container. Stick the container somewhere that is a little bit warm (top of the refrigerator will do). Open every three days or so, when the roots make little white points coming through the seed coat, they are ready to go into pots. I get better than 90% germination this way.

[GraciesGran]

Short exchange of emails and replacement packet of seed on its way.    Can't complain at that

Subversive plot - I do that for parsnips because my dad did!!!!  I've done it with beans but never occurred to me to do it with other seeds will give it a try

Am so impressed with the service I've received.

[jaydig]

I'm glad you will be getting replacement seeds.  I always say that any company can make mistakes, or have problems with their products, but it's how they deal with any complaints that matters.

[mumofstig]

Replacement is all well and good, but if the batch of seeds inside isn't much good, it won't help much..

I hope they are, fingers crossed, but we'll see...

[Aidy]

I love the Amish Paste toms and I am a massive fan  of pre-chitting.

This method works, I have been using it on most seeds and funny enough I started doing a good few years back after reading an article written by.... a Amish farmer.
All my hard seeds are pre-chitted, some are fiddly but germinate quicker and more reliable.
Hope this batch is better.

[madcat]

All my hard seeds are pre-chitted, some are fiddly but germinate quicker and more reliable.

Do you pre chit your courgettes/marrows/squashes?  I struggled last year germinating them and was wondering about prechitting this year.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

All my hard seeds are pre-chitted, some are fiddly but germinate quicker and more reliable.

Do you pre chit your courgettes/marrows/squashes?  I struggled last year germinating them and was wondering about prechitting this year.

I always do. One year I struggled to get them to germinate and ever since I've chitted them.

[GraciesGran]

Replacement pack of seed arrived yesterday.  Just been to the greenhouse where the disaster tray has been for the last few days and as to be expected I have 12 seedlings!!!!!!!

[mumofstig]