seedling woe

I've been having all sorts of problems with trying to grow from seed. Everything just seems to give up and die. I have a couple of successful pepper plants doing OK but everything else seems to sprout, cotyledons appear then there's either stretching or death. If any of the little bugger's stay alive, I put them in the cheapo plastic greenhouse but I think it must be too hot in there even with the door rolled up. The potting soil dries out within a few hours and that's it. Maybe I'm over watering? Maybe I should leave them in the kitchen til they grow some leaves? Maybe I'm just too damned impatient. Am at a total loss. I use potting soil in the little cardboard cup things and have a propogater which seems to do the job but after that the future is very bleak. Is it too hot to be attempting to grow from seed now?

 

Not at all too hot - it's mild and overcast here, just about perfect, I'd say. A few thoughts :
*Choose easy seeds, big ones like beans, nasturtium or willing ones like calendula, French marigold. Lots of people here will add their favourite easy seeds.
*Buy a fresh packet to eliminate the chance of old seed not germinating.
*Buy a fresh pack of good quality seedling compost - folks on here will be able to supply their own favourite compost recipes but bought stuff will do for now.
*Sow thinly on damp, not sodden, compost, label.
*Water in gently - use a sprayer if in doubt.
*Put some slug pellets on, cover lightly with a plastic cover, piece of clingfilm or such like but do not attempt to seal it.
*Place in a gently warm, shady place.
*Wait for a week to three weeks, keeping everything damp (but not sodden) and gently warm.

Do not leave in bright sunlight at any time until seedlings have appeared and even then, semi shade is better as things in pots dry out fast.

If you do all those things I don't see how you can avoid at least some success. If you are already doing all those things, I'm stumped!

 

If the potting soil is drying out within a few hours then it is definitely too hot in your greenhouse especially for delicate seedlings, you have to nurse them along a bit at first until they have a good root system. Keep them on a bright windowsill instead if it looks like rain and only put them out in a shaded place at first, be kind to them!

Val

 

At this time of year I place pots of seed a] in the house in a bright spot but no direct sun, or b] in a shady spot in the garden (where they risk being forgotten).

Ordinary MPC does dry out too quickly, and this MiracleGro stuff that is sold dry and you rehydrate it is awful for drying out quickly.