Help With Growing Seeds

I wouldn't sow at the moment unless you have lights, wait at least a month.

They are better grown cool after the initial germination.

They only do well around here in summer if its a washout, mostly you never see them other than spring.

 

If I waited until March then that would July to have a full flowering plant, I could start now indoors but it’s lot of effort to get some plants or would I be better off treating pansies/viola as bi-annuals and sow with foxglove/wallflowers and put them out of mind until August?

 

I'd always go for overwintering and a spring show, they dont like heat or dryness

 

Okay so I guess you plant these late summer and stick them in a greenhouse?

My Wallflowers and Foxglove was just left outside in the garden all winter, as they were the year before and survived are pansies less hardy than these?

 

Well pansies do suffer if its really cold, but the rain can also allow some rot to get going, so a protected position is best but not too much codling.

If going in the ground I'd time it to plant out in late Feb/Mar, then rip them out in late June and put in something more interesting
You can tell I'm not a fan.

 

There is no prettier plant than the pansy (imho) when in spring with the range of colours, but when it grows hot and bolt, they turn ugly and need to be ripped out. The first real colour from annuals of the year.

Last year I learnt a big lesson that light was everything in growing spring seeds. So reading a couple of articles in Gardeners World on seed growing they both mention growing seeds is simple, which maybe correct and if you haven’t got a greenhouse, put them on a windowsill which is also correct but there is no explanation why you need to put them on the windowsill. Also with the compost it doesn’t go into explanation what kind of compost is best for growing conditions. They assume that seed growers will know this which is incorrect.

Hence why in another thread I bought shelving to go on my windowsill for the best possible light use. Not going to put any seeds in for at least a month.

 

Okay would you say treat pansies/violas as bi-annuals get them going in mid summer and the best I can do is put them in a grow house for protection. I may have just got lucky with my foxglove and wallflowers, as the last two winters haven’t been too severe. I would like to grow pansies as it would be one off the list, as a success.

 

I think you end up with stronger plants by overwintering, maybe just my thinking, long time since I've grown them. Tbh.

Fox gloves and wallflowers are a bit tougher IMO.

 

I could put them in the spare room over winter. Would I treat the same for violas and carnations as pansies?

 

Anyway I was in B&Q today and for 4 trays of pansies, so 48 plants for £14, also had a look in Morrisons who do good plants and they normally sell a big tray of plugs for £5, but non in yet.

Anyway I never see any Viola seeds ever for sale, which I mean retail shops that have a garden centre, maybe different in actual Garden centres?

 

A bit early, the incessant rain would pound them into the ground.

 

Remember I posted this in the new purchases thread.



This is to make best use of my south facing window. But looking at it the top shelves are too high as the sun shines downwards, so would be ineffective, as having my seeds further back in the room. So I had a brainwave and made a change. So what I have done is cut it in halve, to this.



So got my first seeds going. My first and second earlies.

What I intend to do is on my first batch of seeds and fill the front, this will be in 5/6 weeks time, then on my second batch fill the back shelves in 7/8 weeks time, when the sun is longer and more intense. Then rotate the trays as I water them between the front and back shelves.

 

I may have missed something earlier but why don't you buy a growlight?

You don't have to spend a fortune on them you can get one that looks like a fluorescent tube. Hang it up over your set-up. Doesn't need to be on all day , put it on a simple time switch. It will make a huge difference.

 

I do have lights, which I will use but sparingly. But Pete on here said last year with heat mats and lights and all the techy stuff gets people too sow to early, which turns out Pete was right and was my big mistake. As I was trying to grow stuff in poor light, that was stringy then tried to harden off to early, disaster ensured. You really cannot fight nature, there will only be one winner.

So this year I will use lights but secondary, but primary I am going to the sun.

My first sowing in middle of March will be with last year’s seeds, my second sowing at the end of March will be with new seeds.

I also haven’t bought any seed compost this years, got some normal compost, peat free. I know a place near me that sells Jack’s Magic, might grab a couple of bags of that.

 

I grow pansy and viola from seed for spring displays, sow mid to late August I over winter them in the greenhouse a cool room will do or up against the house outside . Greenfly are a pain they're a magnet for them at that time of year. Also they won't germinate if it's to warm no heated propagator a bright windowsill will do even north facing.

If you want summer flowering plants I'd consider sowing in March