[casper]

I sowed some peppers and tomatoes last Saturday and not a sausage yet. Not a bit happy about this, 6 days today, I have them on conservatory windowsills, could it be because  the temp falls at night, should i pop them near a radiator unitl they germinate? My geraniums have sprouted, but my hubby said anybody can grow them 

[Auntiemogs]

I just checked my diary Casper and my toms took a week but that was in a heated propagator.  I would put them indoors in the warmth (10C+) until they germinate and then only put them in the conservatory if you're sure that the temp didn't drop below 10 degrees.  Otherwise, a south facing windowsill would be fine with some tin foil to reflect the light back on to them (a la DD  ).

[casper]

DD must be sleeping or he would have bit by now   will bring them in because lovely by day but still chilly at night, just hope they have not rotted away in the 6 days 

[Auntiemogs]

 

[Trillium]

Yes, they do need warmth to germinate. I always start toms and peppers off by placing them on damp paper towelling that I close in a zip bag. I check every few days and usually within a week I see roots starting and then pop them into the starter pots.

And they definitely need hardening off before going outside full time, and warm weather.

[casper]

Thanks Trill, Next Day had some growth, a but gutted because they have started to look leggy already, I have not forced them or anything, but hard when I go to work light at the back and when i get home it's at the front and too late to move them around the house, so more leggy seedlings, thought I would know better this year, but still dont have the perfect sowing spot   

[DD.]

DD. was away in Cyprus!

Dare I ask if you deployed the aluminium foil?

[grendel]

I put mine out in the mini 4 tier greenhouses, they have taken a couple of weeks but most have the first couple of leaves showing.
Grendel

[casper]

Okay so Cyprus is a little far for a post, nope no foil, I kinda thought if the sun is gone it's gone, time to start again with foil. Watched them this week and not happy with them. definately learned not to persevere with leggy seedlings. I had one of those 4 tier greenhouses but still got leggy seedlings last year. 

[Ema]

Some of mine took a good 3 weeks and my house temp doesn't fall below 16C, I get so impatient with sowing

[R6robbo]

Some of mine took a good 3 weeks and my house temp doesn't fall below 16C, I get so impatient with sowing

Same here, 3-4 weeks before mine showed, was about to give in and start again when they popped up.
Mine were in an unheated propagator on the windowsill with foil behind.