Salvia Seedling Query

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by HarryS, Apr 3, 2012.

  1. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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    The photo below is Salvia Coccinea seedlings about 5 weeks old . My question is the ones in the centre are very pale and small , and have been like this since the first true leaves emerged. I pricked all the "good" ones out this evening and have more than enough. Does any one know the reason for these runts :scratch: Am I over sowing ....... I sometimes get a similar problem with petunias where some germinate but stay very small and pale.

    TIA :blue thumb:

    [​IMG]
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    It's strange that they are all in one place, it makes me think it could be a poorly mixed seed compost, maybe just sand or peat or clay lumps in the middle with no nutrients.
     
  3. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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    That is what struck me John , they are all in one place :scratch: I used B and Q seed compost which I always hand sift before putting into the seed tray. No perlite in this case just surface sowed the seeds and a quick blast of copper fungicide and cover with vermiculite.
    Just had a thought they were in my grow box after germinating , I wonder if I have burnt a section on the CFL ? Its all a bit confusing.
     
  4. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    Harry - I don't know. I have a small pot of Hibiscus syriacus with two germinated seeds in it. One seed grew totally green and normal. But the other seed came up totally white. After a while green patches appeared on the seed leaves and its still going, but not as strongly as the other.

    As John said it may well be something with the compost. But I remember reading that not all seeds are perfect. Quite often seeds can form but are not viable, because they were never properly pollinated. I suspect that some seeds can have other in- built problems as well.
     
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    • HarryS

      HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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      Thanks Peter , like you say it could be some seed being not 100% perfect. The peculiar thing though is they are mainly in one area , like a tiny crop circle in my seed tray !
       
    • PeterS

      PeterS Total Gardener

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      Must be tiny aliens then. :biggrin:
       
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      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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        :snork: lets not start that thread off again Peter ! :snork:
         
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