[madcat]

I cant get them to germinate!

I want to start them in pots and then plant them up in the (old) fire buckets round the workshop.  I thought they were tough enough to cope with the wind and would make a brave show in appropriate (fire-y) colours.  But out of 20 seeds, only 2 plants.  They are supposed to be easy, suitable for kids, tough etc etc, so why wont they go?  They just sit in pots, in the soil, whereever.  Ideas? They are supposed to be easy, suitable for kids, tough etc etc, so why wont they go?  They just sit in pots, in the soil, whereever.  Ideas?

[Snoop]

Patience?

Sorry if that sounds a bit glib.

[Annen]

They like poor soil, perhaps you are pampering them too much?

[LotuSeed]

Have you tried soaking the seed before planting?  I direct sowed some last year straight into the veg beds and it took a while for them to germinate. Didn't really take off until mid to late summer but were quite showy into Fall

[madcat]

Oooookay - advice taken.  A pot now has some of last years spent compost mixed with a couple of handfuls of sharp sand in the bottom and a little seed compost that they were sulking in over the top, with the seeds in it and the whole shouting match outside (by the blowaway).  Good drainage in poor soil, well soaked seed and no more molly coddling.  Nothing to lose at the point and the awkward blighters could just get away out of sheer cussedness!

[robinahood]

My soil is rubbish and very dry, they self seed and grow really well, so yes I would say treat em mean......

[madcat]

And you were all right!     Thank you. 

The pot ended up under the apple tree (because of the wind) and if it got rained on then it got watered.  Not much rain gets through the tree and the sun was hot......

There are now 4 little seedlings .... and I suspect more to follow. 

Lesson learned.  Treat 'em very mean from the off.