SWEETCORN SUCCESS OR FAILURE

Damn the weather.

I am having trouble growing herbs and my corn seeds.
Does anyone have any hardy varieties or anything like advice of where i am going wrong. They just won't germinate......

Thanks,
Bex

 

I don't know about corn, but I know a bit about herbs. What you trying to grow?

 

the standard ones. Basil, Garlic Chives, Beet "Bright Lights", Spinach, Rocket, Parsley and many more

 

They all need a bit of warmth to germinate well (with the possible exceptions of chives and spinach). Rocket usually germinates in about a week and is very easy as a rule. Parsley can take ages to germinate. It is easy to give up on it, but it will come if you give it time. Best stick it out of the way somewhere and just be patient with it.

Leaf beet is a bit special. The 'seeds' are not actually individual seeds, but clusters of seed in the dried fruit of the plant. They need a bit of extra moisture and warmth so that the casing can soften and break down before the seeds germinate. In a cheapo heated propagator in very moist compost, I found it takes about 2 weeks to start.

In all cases, the seeds don't need to be covered. In fact covering them will just slow them down. One exception is the leaf beet, which should be gently poked into the surface of the compost then gently tickle the compost to very lightly cover the seed.

Do you grow these in a propagator with a lid? Its much easier to regulate temperature and moisture this way than it is to have them open.

 

i tried and it has be a month since i tried them a third time...

 

they are in the kitchen
no draughts, Temp ok
Multi purp comp
watered regularly and has a propagator on them :D

 

Quite possibly too wet then. I water the compost before the seeds go in. Then sow the seeds, then lid on, and leave it somewhere reasonably warm (but not too warm). You shouldn't have to water them again, as the propagator traps the moisture in. If you're having to water regularly, that suggests to me that either its getting far too wet and the seeds are rotting, or its being allowed to dry out (thus prompting you to water it), which means that any germinating seed is finding dry compost at that most critical of moments when the seed has used its moisture reserves to hatch, and found none to replace it in the compost.

 

I agree with Clueless - they may well have rotted.

As far as Basil goes, I find the paper towel method best.

 

I agree with with Clueless - propagator should be trapping moisture and if temp is good, then you should be seeing shoots. What sort of condensation are you getting on the lid, if any?

 

Corn needs very warm weather to get going

 

i am getting some condensation on the lids mostly droplets.

Do you have any seeds i may have due to fact that i used them all. I have 3 different variaties. And used them all.

 

No, i can't grow corn, sorry

 

Thanks anyway jiffy