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Growing Tithonia Seeds on a Heated Seed Mat

maralyn.butlermaralyn.butler Posts: 2
in Plants
A couple of months ago I watched Monty plant Tithonia seeds in the little 'plugs' that expand in water.  I have tried growing Tithonia from seed before without success so thought I would try these plugs.  Additionally I was given a heated seed mat so carefully soaked the plugs, placed in a tray on the mat and planted the seeds.  How many germinated? Not one!  Last week I planted another batch so we shall see.  The seeds are on the mat in my greenhouse and over the early Bank Holiday it did get extremely hot in there so I wonder if the first lot of seeds got 'cooked'.  Any ideas for gaining success with the second batch?  Also, just how often and liberally should the plugs be watered?

Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,052
    Hi Marilyn, see

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1013739/keeping-these-tithonia-seeds-alive#latest

    Total benign neglect, I didn’t expect any to survive - I think they need 25degC to germinate, so my kitchen must have been warm enough! Now hoping for some advice on how to keep them alive...
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I sowed mine back in the second week of April in an unheated greenhouse (check my location!). Got about 18 seedlings up and have just potted them now into 3 in pots. They are growing strongly and will be planted out in a few weeks. Don't know if they need a long growing season before they flower or not but fingers crossed. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,052
    That’s some achievement, @hogweed, so six to a pot, what size pot? 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 312
    I think Hogweed means 3 inch pots - so 18 pots altogether....
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Yes, I did mean each to a 9cm pot @Nollie. Here they are. 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I have never grown them before and not sure how they will cope in Scotland. But you can’t fault a trier!🙏🏻
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,052
    They look fantastic, Hogweed. Ah yes, just got the inch thing!  Mine have a way to go yet.

    Maralyn, mine were just sown direct in a propagator seed tray, lid on, vents closed, watered once, put them on the end of the kitchen table then forgot about them. You could try putting your plugs in a similar propagator if you have one, put this on your heated mat (maybe in the house not the greenhouse?). I really have no idea to be honest, just this worked, unexpectedly, for me. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • maralyn.butlermaralyn.butler Posts: 2
    It's funny that Hogweed, living in Scotland, has got the best results so, with that in mind, I planted yet more seeds in fairly deep seed trays and have just left them in the unheated (except by the sun!) greenhouse.  We'll see what happens and thank you!
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