It's here !!!

hi strongyloden,they did germinate but few and far between and of course the dreaded damping off.i didnt know they shouldnt be covered so many thanks for that tip.tomorrow ill be shopping for more seeds and having another bash.

 

Elaine
I'm not sure how you sowed them but usually lobelia is pricked out in vey small clumps of up to 6/7 seedlings approx, this is easier to do if you sow the seed in drills along the tray. The way I do them is different as my seed is pelleted (I have never looked for these In a GC so am not sure if available) and is easier, though laborious, to sow direct in to cell packs. This way they do not have to be transplanted. I do water every tray with fungicide first.

 

As a matter of interest, do you use cheshunt compound commercially? or is it just something of that sort?

 

No I use Filex but I have used Chesunt Compuond in the past and had good results.

 

and nothing to do with working near there... Seriously - ta for that.

 

Not sure of the active ingredient of chesunt compound but Filex which is only available through the trade (Monros is my supplier) has Propamocarb hydrochloride and is all I use and it is very expensive.

 

So presumably it's very effective, or you'd use the cheshunt compound??

 

from Cheshunt Compound Safety Data Sheet

COMPOSITION / ACTIVE INGREDIENT INFORMATION

Copper Sulphate 15.05% w/w

Ammonium carbonate 82.95% w/w

 

Thanks frogesque, haven't used it for years so i'd forgotten the AI.

 

I suppose Strongy that with you sowing seeds in the bulk that you do, a soluable fungiside is essential but surely if us mere mortals adhere to basic cleaniness ,fresh air and tap water not rainwater for seeds this is unecessary.......

[ 20. April 2006, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: roders ]

 

I find a big problem with sterile compost is it's all too easy for a bacterial or fungicidal mono culture to overwhelm the medium you are using. I tend to use a fresh mix of garden compost and loam for seedlings. It does have weed seeds and everything else in it fighting for survival but it tends to keep the nasties in check. What I do is fill a seed tray, water it, and let it rest for a couple of weeks to germinate weed seeds then remove all green growth before mixing up the top layer of soil. Seeds are then sown either on the surface or in shallow rows and covered over according to need. Larger seeds can be planted a bit deeper with the aid of a pencil. I still get weeds germinating but they are ususally easily identified and can be pulled out.

Overwatering and poor air circulation are the biggest killers of seedlings as it provides ideal conditions for the nasties to run riot.