Seedlings help

If you're just starting out in the world of kitchen garden growing, then this is the place to ask for help. Our experienced forum members may have the answer you need!

Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud

daxtell71
KG Regular
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2020 10:53 am
Location: Oxfordshire
Contact:

How do I tell when they are ready to transplant from the seed tray? I have had several failures and am a little worried I am doing something very wrong.

Thanks
Daxtell71 :D

How many beans make five? :lol:
Westi
KG Regular
Posts: 5908
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:46 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset
Has thanked: 671 times
Been thanked: 238 times

Usually when a few true leaves you pot on as seed trays are too shallow for the roots. You might have to pot again a few times getting bigger pots if weather doesn't play! Maybe leaving them a bit to long in the seed trays?
Westi
User avatar
Geoff
KG Regular
Posts: 5574
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:33 pm
Location: Forest of Bowland
Been thanked: 129 times

The easy way for the future is to use modular trays. If you three quarter fill them with potting compost and top up with seed compost you can thin to one plant per module then let them grow quite big before you have to handle them. What were you growing by the way?
daxtell71
KG Regular
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2020 10:53 am
Location: Oxfordshire
Contact:

I am growing Marigolds, Aquilega and Radish not in that order :-)
Daxtell71 :D

How many beans make five? :lol:
sally wright
KG Regular
Posts: 722
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:32 pm
Location: Cambridge

Dear Daxtell,
Marigolds (either Tagetes or Calendula) are best done once the seed leaves are big enough to handle. Leave them longer and the roots can become too entwined and they risk having their roots damaged by the transplantation process. That said the Calendula kind are really best sown outdoors where they are to flower if at all possible.

Aquilegias are quite frail as babies and are best left until at least the second or third true leaf has appeared. The roots are stronger than the leaves on these seedlings.

Radish (winter or summer types) are best sown in the ground where they are to spend the rest of their lives until harvest. They do not transplant well as they have a main root called a taproot. It is from this root that the radish swells from; so any interference or damage to this root will cause misshapen radishes. If you have to start off radishes in pots for what ever reason then I suggest sowing five or six seeds to a very small pot and then putting the whole rootball out as one into the ground without splitting them up. With about 8-9 inches between the potfuls in the row.

Regards Sally Wright.
daxtell71
KG Regular
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2020 10:53 am
Location: Oxfordshire
Contact:

Many thanks I will follow your advice its very helpful :-)

Best Wishes

Debs
Daxtell71 :D

How many beans make five? :lol:
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic