For the second year running, more than half the seeds I have sown in the
open garden and seed trays, have failed to germinate. All the seeds were
ordered from the same supplier.

To have more than half my sown seeds not germinating in 2005 could be put
down to misfortune, to find that the same has happened in 2006 is bl**dy
annoying. It's too late in the year for me to start all over again, next
year I'll certainly be ordering from a different company hoping that it will
be a case of third time, lucky!

MCT

"MikeCT" wrote in message
...
For the second year running, more than half the seeds I have sown in the
open garden and seed trays, have failed to germinate. All the seeds were
ordered from the same supplier.

To have more than half my sown seeds not germinating in 2005 could be put
down to misfortune, to find that the same has happened in 2006 is bl**dy
annoying. It's too late in the year for me to start all over again, next
year I'll certainly be ordering from a different company hoping that it
will
be a case of third time, lucky!

Is this after having much more success previously ?

Because otherwise it might suggest the wrong conditions in terms of
temperature and moisture.

Most seed companies, including the household names are resellers who
merely package seed which they buy in bulk, often from overseas. Many
of the garden plants grown in the UK are actually easier to grow for
seed abroad where the weather is more reliable even in plants most
suited to the UK climate. And what's more, seeds for different
crop varieties are unikley to have been sourced from the same
supplier.

michael adams

....









MCT

"MikeCT" wrote in message
...
For the second year running, more than half the seeds I have sown in the
open garden and seed trays, have failed to germinate. All the seeds were
ordered from the same supplier.

To have more than half my sown seeds not germinating in 2005 could be put
down to misfortune, to find that the same has happened in 2006 is bl**dy
annoying. It's too late in the year for me to start all over again, next
year I'll certainly be ordering from a different company hoping that it
will be a case of third time, lucky!

MCT

Depending on which seeds, 50% may be considered a spectacular success.
Which seeds?

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in reply:

Depending on which seeds, 50% may be considered a spectacular success.
Which seeds?
---------------
Now retired, having been a gardener for many years, I should know when and
how to sow seeds in the right soil and conditions. You may consider,
depending on which seeds, a germination of 50% is a spectacular success,
I don't. The seeds were supplied by a reputable company that should make
sure its suppliers are not delivering duff seeds. After discussing the
matter with colleagues, I was not surprised to learn that they too have had
trouble with non germinating seeds, more so in recent years. In the open
garden this could be put down to climatic conditions at the time of sowing,
but not in heated greenhouses.The non germinating seeds include, lettuce,
spring onion, 'Stargazer'dahlia, coleus, runner beans, chilli and tomato.
For the second year running I have had the most success with radishes,
even our resident four wood pigeons won't touch them.

MCT

"MikeCT" wrote in message
...

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in reply:

Depending on which seeds, 50% may be considered a spectacular success.
Which seeds?
---------------
Now retired, having been a gardener for many years, I should know when and
how to sow seeds in the right soil and conditions. You may consider,
depending on which seeds, a germination of 50% is a spectacular success,
I don't. The seeds were supplied by a reputable company that should make
sure its suppliers are not delivering duff seeds. After discussing the
matter with colleagues, I was not surprised to learn that they too have
had
trouble with non germinating seeds, more so in recent years. In the open
garden this could be put down to climatic conditions at the time of
sowing,
but not in heated greenhouses.The non germinating seeds include, lettuce,
spring onion, 'Stargazer'dahlia, coleus, runner beans, chilli and tomato.
For the second year running I have had the most success with radishes,
even our resident four wood pigeons won't touch them.

MCT

Well I thought you might be trying to germinate something a little less
common such as Musa or Palms etc.
50% does seem low for the stuff you have mentioned although I would guess
that Seed suppliers might accept that as a pass rate when doing Quality
Control.
Unless you are growing commercially just how many Coleus do you need from a
packet of seeds?

"MikeCT" wrote in message
...

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote in reply:

Depending on which seeds, 50% may be considered a spectacular success.
Which seeds?
---------------
Now retired, having been a gardener for many years, I should know when and
how to sow seeds in the right soil and conditions. You may consider,
depending on which seeds, a germination of 50% is a spectacular success,
I don't. The seeds were supplied by a reputable company that should make
sure its suppliers are not delivering duff seeds. After discussing the
matter with colleagues, I was not surprised to learn that they too have
had
trouble with non germinating seeds, more so in recent years. In the open
garden this could be put down to climatic conditions at the time of
sowing,
but not in heated greenhouses.The non germinating seeds include, lettuce,
spring onion, 'Stargazer'dahlia, coleus, runner beans, chilli and tomato.
For the second year running I have had the most success with radishes,
even our resident four wood pigeons won't touch them.

MCT




For purposes of comparison for different crops, below are the
germination standards for standard vegetable varieties as set
by the US Federal Seed Act for Interstate Commerce.

Most of them are rather lower than might be expected IMO.
I normally get over 90% for toms and caps even after two
years in the fridge, same with beans left in a drawer
for even longer. All started off in trays or pots.
Around the same for most vegetables actually. It's hard
to imagine what you'd need to do to beans to prevent them
from germinating that wouldn't be obvious from their
appearance. Unless they were at least four or five years
old anyway.

Perhaps if you named the company concerned, other posters
could compare their experience.

quote

Artichoke 60
Asparagus 70
Bean, asparagus 75
Bean, fava 75
Bean, garden 70
Bean, lima 70
Bean, runner 75
Beet 65
Broccoli 75
Brussels sprouts 70
Burdock, great 60
Cabbage 75
Cabbage, Chinese 75
Cabbage, tronchuda 70
Cardoon 60
Carrot 55
Cauliflower 75
Celeriac 55
Celery 55
Chard, Swiss 65
Chicory 65
Chives 50
Citron 65
Collards 80
Corn, sweet 75
Cornsalad 70
Cowpea 75
Cress, garden 75
Cress, upland 60
Cress, water 40
Cucumber 80
Dandelion 60
Dill 60
Eggplant 60
Endive 70
Kale 75
Kale, Chinese 75
Kale, Siberian 75
Kohlrabi 75
Leek 60
Lettuce 80
Melon 75
Mustard, India 75
Mustard, spinach 75
Okra 50
Onion 70
Onion, Welsh 70
Pak-choi 75
Parsley 60
Parsnip 60
Pea 80
Pepper 55
Pumpkin 75
Radish 75
Rhubarb 60
Rutabaga 75
Sage 60
Salsify 75
Savory, summer 55
Sorrel 65
Soybean 75
Spinach 60
Spinach, New Zealand 40
Squash 75
Tomato 75
Tomato, husk 50
Turnip 80
Watermelon 70

http://www.victoryseeds.com/informat...standards.html


/quote



michael adams

"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" asked:

Unless you are growing commercially just how many Coleus do you need from
a packet of seeds?
-----
Good question. This year I was hoping to experiment growing Cuscuta with
Coleus as a host.That being so, the Coleus seeds would need to be sown at
least three to four weeks ahead of those of the Cuscuta, making sure that
the young plants are strong enough for the Cuscuta to latch onto.
Having almost given up growing my own for this year, I asked at various
local garden centres how soon their Coleus plants would become available.
First week in June! I'll just have to sow another tray in the hope that now
the weather is warmer, I might get lucky this time.
I would like to thank Michael Adams for his reply together with the list of
seed germination percentages. Although I have had quite a few germination
failures with seeds from T&M, the seeds for the past two years were ordered
from Mr. Fothergill's.

MCT