Seed sowing update - 23 March 2024

There is nothing more gratifying than a seed tray, with 100% germination, and rows of beautiful, healthy, green seedlings. And nothing more disappointing than a largely empty one. Here’s my latest success, failure and an experiment that paid off.

Successes

Agrostemma - one of the easiest flowers to grow

Always quick to germinate, consistently great germination and healthy seedlings. (It’s just a shame it’s not a favourite flower).

Failures

Mice ate the Ammi

The Ammi planted last September is about a foot or so tall, and was looking really healthy in the lean to greenhouse. Then this week, the mice ate the tops off them all.

I’m hoping it will act like pinching, and they’ll grow back bigger and better. And I’ve sprinkled chilli powder to deter the mice.

Experiments

Winter sown Dianthus (Sweet William)

I sowed some Dianthus (Sweet William) in November and January as a trial. I should have sowed them indoors in September, or waited and sowed them direct in April.

November’s were moved from big soil blocks to 9cm pots in early December and moved out to the polytunnel, and they’re looking pretty good. I just need to keep them alive until end of April – the last frost date – and then plant them outside. January’s I put into the smaller blocks which wasn’t as successful – germination was poor, and they’re looking a bit leggy.

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