Why can't they germinate to order?

I spent some time today splitting up the Zaluzianskya. Lots of seedlings, a bit leggy. I now have hundreds of mesembryanthemums, Verbena bonariensis and Amaranthus, far more than I can use. The dicentra scandens never showed and the lobelia are sulking at the two proper leaf stage where they'd normally be rampaging at this time. I've already given trays of aubretia and lobelia to my daughters.
I only wanted a few of the verbena, and only grew them as I had free seeds.... I really wanted the dicentra to grow, just one plant would have done.
Furthermore I think the seeds are taking advantage of my habit of planting very far apart so that I don't have to prick out so many, and all growing strongly so that there are few failures. So I have to pot them all....

 

Our topsy turvey weather has not been kind to seedlings this year. With a Min of 3C tonight forcast and a whopping 10C max for tomorrow I think most self respecting plants will be growing downwards :D

My morning glory Grandpa Otts never did germinate although the Heavenly Blue are all up and doing well. The sweet peas are also cracking on. I've planted some and have another dozen or so ready to go in the ground. Alyssum are going great with some showing bud and I've managed to plant a few in assorted borders - about 70 so far and I've barely touched the seed tray! My first lot of Nicandra failed (apart from one oddball stray in with the asters :confused: ) but the second lot are all away. My early sowing of Livingston Daisys were only moderately sucessful so I did another 'takeaway' sized tray and they have all come up with a vengance!

Other disasters I just don't want to talk about :(

Also, just as an experiment I sowed some Chrysanths - nothing unusual there except it was a free Am. Gardening packet in my Mum's tin box of seeds. As best I can tell they were circa 1986 and a couple have actually come up . Mum passed on last November but wherever she is I guess she's still able to get the b*****rs to grow :D

[ 23. May 2006, 07:22 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Liz and Frogesque

May I join the gardeners with disasterous results. We always grow several rows of beetroot (because I love 'em) and hardly any have shown at all to date. Likewise parsnips - no sign of them.

Tomato plants are a bit slow and the only things growing apace are my pumpkins. They are ready to go out in the garden but in view of the low temperatures forecast for tonight I think it will be safer if they stay in the greenhouse a bit longer.

I think I even heard some places near the Penines might have SNOW! :(

 

Hang on to your pumpkins jjordie
Mine are doing OK, glad I didn't plant them out, I potted them on instead but I think they will need to go out soon.

 

Frogesque, you've beaten what I thought was a record! I planted some of my Dad's seeds, the oldest was a part packet of spinach from 1989, and I have ONE healthy seedling. As it is the perpetual variety I am hoping to keep it!