On Apr 3, 3:46*pm, "David E. Ross" wrote:
On 4/3/12 1:45 AM, candy girl wrote:

having grown seeds saved from last years plants and alway using a good
seed compost we have hardly any appear. been doing this for years so not
a novice any suggestions would be welcome seeds are rudbeckia cosmos and
marigolds so nothing temperamental there

I assume you are trying to start the seeds in pots, flats, or other
containers. *Instead of a compost, use a mix of half coarse sand and
half peat moss. *If the seeds are planted near the surface of a
container that is not very shallow, put the compost in the bottom half
and the sand and peat moss mix in the top half.

Nutrients in compost promote mold and rot, abetted by the fungi that
create compost. *On the other hand, peat moss inhibits mold and rot. *If
you can get the seeds to sprout in the sand and peat moss mix, their
roots will grow down into the compost when they are ready to take up
nutrients.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: *California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Whats This group about?
Thanks