Seed or Dodgy Weed?

sam bevington

Hi

I scoured the web for Petunia Tidal Wave Red Velour seeds as many others after the review on GW. I received a small package from China (!!) yesterday,  how it wasn't intercepted by Customs i don't know?My OH has made me a lovely planter with trellis for my birthday - the intended destination. No sowing instructions- the seeds are tiny, advice please?

BobTheGardener

Well, they look about the right size, so fingers crossed!  They need a bit of heat to germinate so I would sow them on the surface of a seed tray filled with multi-purpose compost (which you have already watered before sowing the seed) and put the whole tray inside a clear polythene bag and place it on a warm windowsill which gets plenty of light.  They should germinate in 1-2 weeks.

AnniD

They look like petunia seeds, fingers crossed they are what you're hoping for.

sam bevington

Thanks, should I gently blow them onto the compost? Cover them or virmiculite?

AnniD

Sarah Raven recommends sowing on the surface of the compost and not covering, so no vermiculite..
Others may say different though! 

BobTheGardener

Yes, on the surface although I admit I did cover with a very fine sprinkling of vermiculite.  They are indeed tricky to sow evenly, especially out of a plastic bag due to static electricity and they tend to stick in the bag.  You can mix them with very fine sand and spread that as evenly as you can, but a bit of a hassle even then.  These are mine, with seed collected from last year's plants on the left and 'Grand Rapids' mixed on the right:

sam bevington

Thanks Bob, I'll give them some special attention tomorrow and buy a seed tray with underwater mat! Better be worth the GW recommendation, I have the Black Knight seeds already sprouting in the greenhouse

sam bevington

Are these ready to pot on or are they still too small?

Hostafan1

I'd say too small , and perhaps too wet too.

sam bevington

Thanks,  I'll remove the lid and let them have a blast of this glorious sunshine!😎

Lyn

No lids now on those, I’ve just pricked out these, I wait until my seedlings are at least this size, that’s why I don’t use seed compost,  they can grow on to be stronger in MPC.