[spaldingjim]

Last year I sowed some Swiss Chard in April (when it said on the packet) and it just disappeared. Sowed another row in July and again nothing. Then in September 6 plants appeared at random places and we had a good crop from those the throughout the winter and into this Spring.
They are now getting close to their end and I have put some seeds into peat pots in the greenhouse 2 weeks ago but have no sign of them yet.
My success rate for seeds to plants is very low. Is this normal or should I be doing it differently?

[noshed]

The greenhouse might be a bit warm for them. Try them outside, they are hardy plants.

[gobs]

Do them as per your beetroot.

If nothing else let them self-seed, they are very good at it.

[spaldingjim]

Funnily enough I don't have a lot of success with beetroot either. Out of a row I only get a couple of plants come up. Is it a possibility that they are being eaten by slugs as soon as the shoots appear?

[Aidy]

Sounds to me like dodgy seeds, I have never had problems with chard germinating, my method is to sow into little recycled propogaters (grape punits) on the window sill, then at the two leaf stage transplant straight into the ground.

[Trillium]

I direct seed both my chard and beets and they do fine. After seeding, I water them every 2nd day until I see them sprouting. Not all come up but 85% is good (I overseed for this reason). Only have trouble with gold beets which have low germination rate.