Posted: Tuesday 26 June 2012
by Pippa Greenwood
[...] this year, many of us have been disappointed with the performance of our seeds. I’m sure the quality is just as good as usual, but many have failed to germinate, often despite repeated sowing.
I’ve always been fond of seed packets. The small paper packages offer such potential – for gorgeous, colourful planters and baskets, and flower-packed beds and borders. A single packet of seed can easily provide more lettuce than a whole family could want, all summer long, and enough sunflowers to brighten up the whole street.
However, this year many of us have been disappointed with the performance of our seeds. I’m sure the quality is just as good as usual, but many have failed to germinate, often despite repeated sowing. I've never known a year like it.
My carrots have fared particularly badly, even though I’ve sown seeds three times this year. My fourth attempt will hopefully be more productive, but only time will tell. And I’m not alone. People have been asking me about poor carrot germination on my website, at gardening shows, in garden centres … even in the supermarket!
The reason for poor germination is simple: it’s been cold and wet for far too long. This can cause seeds to rot and seedlings to damp off. And of course slugs love the wet weather. Slugs can eat a germinated seed before the shoot even emerges above ground.
So, at this stage I’m sowing everything again, even if the theoretical sowing dates have passed.
I’m incorporating more organic matter and extra grit into the soil, and sowing into soil that was previously covered with polythene to keep off the worst of the rain. I’m also watering nematodes onto the soil like there's no tomorrow. They do a brilliant job of killing off the slugs, giving any seedlings that do appear a decent chance of survival.
I haven't given up hope. Maybe the weather will improve, and I’ll finally be able to harvest those crops I adore, in decent quantities.
Robot
28/06/2012 at 23:43
I've given up on my borlotti beans. Seeds sown in the tunnel early and transplanted outside are pathetic and I might as well dig them up. Seeds sown directly in the ground (unsoaked) on 30th May have done sweet nothing and seeds sown (soaked for 24 hours) in the tunnel 10 days ago have all rotted away. Why do we bother?
Lost 3 haricot vert plants today to the dreaded chafer grubs. I hate the bu**ers 
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