Healthy plants

This is my first season growing plants (Marigolds, Cosmos, Geranium) from seeds. The seedlings look healthy and growing. I was down at the local gardening store today to buy compost and happened to look at the same plants that I am growing in my house.

Looking at those plants and comparing the size and healthiness of the plants against mine, I find the one's at the garden centre are far superior (height, bushiness, flower buds etc.) to mine, I am feeling a bit discouraged and a tad disappointed after putting in all the effort. Of course the excitement and anticipation of seedlings to grow is greater but the quality leaves much to be desired. Fair to say, the gardening store is a business and they have been doing this for years.

I have a set of grow lights, a seed heating mat which I invested in and use it for germination. I have good quality compost, water only sparingly and when needed. Follow the instructions on the seed labels to the point. I am questioning if I am missing something or should stop doing something to have at the least half of that quality. is it that these garden centres start early or sell more mature plants (1 year+) for instance. How do you get the same or at the least half the quality as a garden centre?

Any help or advice from more experienced people like you would be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Sam

 

I don't think you are missing anything and if your plants are growing well and look healthy then they will be fine when you plant them out in a couple of weeks.
The garden centre probably buy their bedding plants in from a large specialist, they will probably be different varieties to those you have got, they will have probably started earlier and then been grown on in near ideal conditions of light, heat, feed and water. They will possibly have been treated with a plant hormone to promote bushiness. You can get similar results if you pinch out the top bud of your seedlings when they have several sets of proper leaves on them. I always forget.
Remember to harden your plants off before planting out, so stand them outside in good light but not direct sun, out of the wind and bring them inside at night for a few days, then leave them out overnight unless it's a particularly cold night.

 

Hi Sam,
Welcome to Gardeners Corner

Another thing to remember is that Garden centres etc force plants into flower way too early. The last time I went to The Range, about 3 weeks ago they had Lobelia, Marigolds, Fuchsias etc all in full flower, way, way too early.

Your plants are probably where they are supposed to be for early May. I haven't even sown my French Marigolds yet, that's a job for next weekend.

Don't get too downhearted , just remember you're growing naturally they cheat...