On Wednesday, 4 April 2012 17:07:06 UTC+1, Judith wrote:
Does anyone use particularly Thompson & Morgan's F1 seeds and noticed a
deterioration in germination rates?

I have bought Sungold F1 hybrids for a number of years - I even wrote here
three years ago "I usually grow Sun gold (F1s) and get 95% - 100% germination
success - and all germinate within 2 weeks max"

However - I have noticed that that has dropped off in those three years.

This year I got 16 out of 24 seeds sown - and then sowed another ten - and
only got 7 germinating.

I have them in greenhouse on heated sand tray as I have done previously -
covering the trays to retain warmth.

Last year I sowed some T&M 'Cucino' F1 Hybrid Cucumber 4 seeds : 2 germinated.

This year exactly the same: 2 out of 4.

I've just had very poor germination of their 'Oasis' pea 10% and a packet of F1 sprouts that was so crushed that only 2 or 3 of the seeds were viable. Other sowings of different varieties at the same time in the same conditions and compost were OK.

Rod