Talkback: Gardeners' World Magazine Seed Club

There has been a thread running here where forum members have been swapping seeds- some have even kindly given them away

http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/seed-swap/64712-16.html

Our seed swap is being very successful and will probably liven up again soon when the next round of sowing starts. I know I shall have extras, especially from those I saved from my own garden. 

Hello Catherine

Try this link below, we are swapping seeds here online if you want to join in with us you can. I thought that the magazine was going to be like that as well but just buy seeds and have help instead which is nice as well.

http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/seed-swap/64712.html

Gardengirl..

All minds think the same there go to the seed swap forum, computer mess up a bit here would of been posted earlier. I have signed up to the seed club and get emails now which is good  www.gardenersworld.com/seed-club  to sign up if you want

The flower chart looks interesting

http://www.gardenersworld.com/images/seed-club/GW-Seed-Club-flower-sowing-calendar-factsheet.pdf

Anyone else signed up?

I recently saw some information, on this forum, on what to do to see if seed was still viable for sowing.  Have searched but to no avail.  Can anyone help please?

break23 wrote (see)

I recently saw some information, on this forum, on what to do to see if seed was still viable for sowing.  Have searched but to no avail.  Can anyone help please?

What you can do is a test sowing in a small flowerpot of a few seeds

Many thanks sotongeoff.  Good weather promised in this area tomorrow so will get out in greenhouse and do just that.  'Someone'  who will remain nameless, left greenhouse door open, the tin with my packets of seeds was blown over, lid came off and envelopes/paperbags laid on floor getting damp for several days before I discovered them.  This was going to be THE year of growing from seeds.  Urgh!

I've signed up and have printed off the sowing sheet. Like the way it says most suitable container for the seed as well.

I was given some seeds of limnanthes, fried egg plants which I believe are loved by bees. Can anyone tell me when to plant them please and do I need to chill them first?

Yes hardy annual so sow in situ-a lot of hardy annuals not like root disturbance.

But if your soil is anything like most others- soggy and cold -wait for it to warm up a bit or they will just rot

Morning Forkers, hope you are all well. I have been so busy with all sorts of other  things that I haven't had a chance to pop in here for ages

I received my first email about the GW Seed Club earlier this week but haven't had time to look at it properly yet but at a first glance it looks good. I must say I like the idea of being told what to do and when and how to do it - being an amateur I need a leading hand until I hopefully get the hang of things.!

Geoff, any news on the house sale front? Hope so for your sake.

Girasole wrote (see)

Morning Forkers, hope you are all well. I have been so busy with all sorts of other  things that I haven't had a chance to pop in here for ages

I received my first email about the GW Seed Club earlier this week but haven't had time to look at it properly yet but at a first glance it looks good. I must say I like the idea of being told what to do and when and how to do it - being an amateur I need a leading hand until I hopefully get the hang of things.!

Geoff, any news on the house sale front? Hope so for your sake.

Sasha-you have gone to the wrong house-you need to be over here

http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/fork-handles/3533-991.html

Hello all - I hope you found the seed swap thread OK. I love seed swaps and try to do one or two each year - online, and also via Seedy Sunday events (see if there's one in your area here http://www.seedysunday.org/)

But this is all about growing the same seeds together so we can compare notes and share results. Totally agree Gardengirl - the flower selection is mouthwatering. I'm hoping to dust down my heated propagator this week and start on the half-hardy annuals!

Re viability - you can pre-germinate seeds to see if they're viable or not. Get a piece of kitchen towel, damp it down and lay some of the seeds on top. I put my kitchen towel in one of those plastic seed trays but a plate is fine. Then pop into the airing cupboard (or anywhere warm & dark) and check every day. After a week or two (depending on variety) you'll start seeing roots & shoots emerging - that's when to pot them up (very carefully) into potting compost. I do my parsnip seeds like this every year but it works for pretty much anything really.

There is a small but informative article in this month's GW about testing viability, much the same as Sally Nex is suggesting, growing a small sample of each on tissue and ascertaining how many germinate.  I think I will be doing the same as I have a glut of older seeds in storage this year! 

thank you Sue H and sotongeoff. Will look forward to seeing them flower.