[borderowl]

I've sown a dozen gardeners delight, alicante, cucumbers and courgettes in my propagator. I keep it on the living room window. Three weeks on only two have germinated, what's gone wrong? I keep the seeds in the the fridge and they're not out of date or anything! Since last year everything has gone wrong!

[mumofstig]

is it an electric one, or just a covered seed tray type?

[BabbyAnn]

I think you'll find the windowsill is too cold especially if you've had dull days and no sunlight to warm it up.

To check the viability of seed, why not place some on damp tissue and put them somewhere warm like in an airing cupboard - check every day to see if any sprout (important or you'll end up with 10 inch leggy sprouts)  Any that do start to send a root out, gently pick out and plant in compost.

[shoozie]

I've sown cucumbers and courgettes in my propagator.

I won't be sowing either until around the May weekend.  By then, they'll be sown in an unheated greenhouse and they be fine - so you've plenty of time to try again. 

[DD.]

Thanks shoozie for coming in with what you should be doing at your latitude.

Even here in the balmy Midlands I have not even considered sowing any curcubits.

[borderowl]

Thanks for that, I did'nt know you could sow as late as that? I've learned my lesson with spuds up here, so plenty of time eh? Does that go for tomatos too?

[borderowl]

Sorry Mumofstig, it's a standard unheated one. I had no problems sowing them last year in the same place and the log burners been on full blast lately!

[mumofstig]

no problem - the others have sorted out the problem anyway.

all I was going to say was that they should have been up quickly if in a heated prop 

[shoozie]

Thanks for that, I did'nt know you could sow as late as that? I've learned my lesson with spuds up here, so plenty of time eh? Does that go for tomatos too?

That's ok.  Like DD, i feel there's no need to rush.  My reason for sowing then is I can't put courgettes outside until about the second week of June as the risk of frost is 'usually' past then.  I don't have a heated greenhouse, only frost free in 'milder' temperatures, and cucumbers don't need additional excuses to roll over and die!  So, first week in May seems to work here for both of them.  As the temperature rises, they'll romp away happily and be cropping in July.

Tomatoes here are sown between now and the second week of April indoors.  So, yes you've time for another sowing if nothing comes of your current sowings.  Potatoes will be put in hopefully during the first 2 weeks of April, weather permitting and we need to be aware of the frost risks in May.

We're a bit exposed here, and perhaps others in more sheltered areas of the central belt do things earlier - maybe you can be a little earlier, but don't be afraid to experiment with your timings and find what works for you.

Best of luck !

[borderowl]

Thanks, I feel better now! I' thought I'd push things on a little quicker because I'm fed up up with getting my first toms and cucumbers in late summer, never mind! Regards Kev