Depends on the seed. Some seeds need a period of cold before they will germinate - most don't. If you sow now, the seed may well just sit there in damp compost until the Spring, by which time they may have rotted away. If you sow anything that's not hardy, the seed may germinate, then die in the cold.
What seeds are you thinking about sowing?
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Depends on the seed. Some seeds need a period of cold before they will germinate - most don't. If you sow now, the seed may well just sit there in damp compost until the Spring, by which time they may have rotted away. If you sow anything that's not hardy, the seed may germinate, then die in the cold.
What seeds are you thinking about sowing?
Lavender,PenstemonNicotiana,Echinacea, If I keep indoors ? just a thought
You'll probably find the problem is giving them enough daylight so that they don't get all drawn out and leggy. If you use growlights as well as maintaining a suitable temperature, it might work.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I'd wait to be honest. As Jenny says the light in winter is almost non-existent from a plant's point of view and the first thing a seedling wants to do it grow tall and strong, but the light just isn't strong enough so they get lanky then topple over by which time they're not really feasible. It's also really tricky to get the watering just right to prevent damping off disease over winter.
I don't sow anything until mid-late Feb, then by the time they're germinated the sun's light is strong enough for them to thrive.
You could start your echinacea off late winter - a touch of frost can help them germinate.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Someone might contradict me but , in my experience, seeds sown later will often catch up and overhaul seeds sown early. Early sowing leads to weak seedlings because of short days and low light intensity. Penstemon and nicotiana would certainly be in that category.
Someone might contradict me but , in my experience, seeds sown later will often catch up and overhaul seeds sown early. Early sowing leads to weak seedlings because of short days and low light intensity. Penstemon and nicotiana would certainly be in that category.
For many things I agree, for example tomatoes sown in mid to late April don't produce fruit any sooner than if I sow them mid to late March (it might be different for people with heated greenhouses or conservatories). Some things, like chillies and some bedding plants (lobelia, petunia and so on that have teeny tiny seeds and so make teeny tiny seedlings that take a while to grow to flowering size) do better with an earlier start under glass, so I tend to buy plug plants of those if I want them because I don't really have enough windowsill space.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
When is the best time to sow sweet peas indoors, without a greenhouse? In previous years I've sown them in March and they've produced thin leggy seedlings which collapse, even if they've been pinched to encourage more shoots. Is it better to wait until April (if it's mild) and sow outdoors? I noticed that Monty sowed his last week, to overwinter, but I'm not keen on the long wait and then seeing them collapse again!
Ken carter
Posts: 19
Posts
Some seeds need a period of cold before they will germinate - most don't.
If you sow now, the seed may well just sit there in damp compost until the Spring, by which time they may have rotted away.
If you sow anything that's not hardy, the seed may germinate, then die in the cold.
What seeds are you thinking about sowing?
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
As Jenny says the light in winter is almost non-existent from a plant's point of view and the first thing a seedling wants to do it grow tall and strong, but the light just isn't strong enough so they get lanky then topple over by which time they're not really feasible.
It's also really tricky to get the watering just right to prevent damping off disease over winter.
I don't sow anything until mid-late Feb, then by the time they're germinated the sun's light is strong enough for them to thrive.
You could start your echinacea off late winter - a touch of frost can help them germinate.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.