[Lottie Digger]

I planted cucumbers courgettes squash corn a few weeks ago and nothing came up. I dug them up and they had started germinating but gone mouldy so what am I doing wrong?

[Aunt Sally]

Was the compost too damp ?

[al78]

I have a similar problem with French bean seeds going squishy. I make the compose damp prior to sowing in pots then don't water until they have come through the surface. If you are using old seed they can rot instead of germinating.

[CHRISDONOHUE]

I had a similar problem this year raising vegetables in a greenhouse.   It arose because I was not differentiating between established plants which needed large quantities of water and plants yet to germinate which required water infrequently.   When I put them in different places and sowed the seeds in damp material underneath and dry material on top and watered only infrequently, the problem reduced.   But older seeds will tend to rot rather than germinate.