Nicotiana sylvestris

Lizzie27

I very hopefully sowed some seeds of this a week or two ago which duly germinated but now seem to have just stopped growing. They are very tiny, in a seed tray in the house where temps are usually between 19-21c (except at night). They have bright light (but not full sunshine). Do they always do this?  I'm not very good at seed sowing and usually don't bother so a bit perplexed. The 3 surviving Morning Glories I've sown also seem to have stopped growing.

Lyn

They are very slow growing, I sowed mine on the 21st March, quite early for me as they take a long time to grow, they’re still small, although I made a big mistake in sowing them in seed compost, won’t do that again.

Janie B

Hi @Lyn I've just posted a pic of my nicotiana in another thread (before I'd seen this one), and they look just like yours! Why do you say you made a mistake sowing them in seed compost...? First time I've sown them, so have no idea what they *should* look like...

Lyn

I’ve haven’t used seed compost for years, when I found the seeds slow to germinate and week, the compost seemed to be solid.
since then I’ve used MPC Erin, seeds germinate quicker, the compost is light, it has nutrients that sustain the seedling for longer so you don’t need to prick out so soon, therefore no damage to tiny roots.
This year, because lots of people were singing the praises of the seed compost these days I thought I’d try it, I won’t again, much too slow, and as I said, not enough nutrients to sustain a seedling for long enough, so some dropped before they were at the six I like to prick out,   also not good germination, I expect 90% didn’t get it this year with seed compost. 

gutties

Here's a pic of mine.  I didn't do a great job of spreading the very fine seed too well, but they are coming on well:

Lyn

@gutties which type are they.  They’re looking good.
I'm useless at spreading seeds as you can see by mine.  

Janie B

So, @lyn, do you mean you NEVER use seed compost for any seeds? Just MPC? 

Lyn

No never,  only this year to try. I won’t again, the MpC I use is very light, I mix in some vermiculite and if it’s seeds that need covering I use vermiculite,  tiny seeds don’t need covering usually. 

Janie B

Thanks @Lyn. Think I'll be doing that next year...

gutties

Lyn said:

@gutties which type are they.  They’re looking good.
I'm useless at spreading seeds as you can see by mine.  

@Lyn, they are Nicotiana sylvestris, sowed in seed compost on 9th March.

Lyn

I sowed mine a week or later, see how slow growing they are, you can’t believe they will make almost 6’ in the summer.